Try Scorer Vilimoni Waqatabu Delasau (Fiji)

Wales 34 Fiji 38

Rugby World Cup 2007

Stade de La Beaujoire Nantes

ITV Commentary Martin Gillingham

“These two teams have met on 8 previous occasions Wales have won all 8 but the last one was very tight indeed 11-10 it was a couple of years ago in Cardiff, and here’s another chance Fiji really on the ramapage Delasau there looked like a knock on but he’s got another crack at it  Delasau it’s a foot race does he get the bounce he does”.

I think I should explain the title.

Firstly declaring October as mid summer is stretching artistic license to its limits, also, sadly this was not a dream but more like a nightmare and one that occurs fairly regularly for us masochists that follow Welsh rugby.

The title came to me over an early morning coffee and I was so ridiculously pleased with myself that I couldn’t bear to change it.

There are two certainties in life, death and taxes, actually make that three, Wales drawing Fiji in any Rugby World Cup tournament pool is another cast-iron certainty.

If you are Welsh or of a nervous disposition, or even both, please look away now.

There are people in Llanelli still receiving counselling as a result of the affects of the match that took place on French Atlantic coast.

This game in Nantes was a riot of rampant rugby and the flying Fijian winger set it alight

In the final pool game, already having an early try under their belt, Fiji chose to attack from a scrum inside their own twenty-two.

Seru Rabeni produced a magical offload behind his back to midfield partner Seremaia Bai who in turn passed out of the tackle to Vilimoni Delasau, with the winger hacking on despite the ball going to ground.

Seemingly overcrowded out on the touchline, Delasau chipped forward before towering above the covering defenders to collect an impossibly high bounce and touch down to complete a remarkable solo effort.

Fiji would eventually go on to win a thrilling game 38-34 thanks to a last-minute pick and drive by second row Graham Dewes and earn a first quarter-final appearance since 1987.

However, it was Delasau’s sensational score for which one of the most entertaining games the World Cup has ever seen will always be remembered.

As Fiji headed to Marseille for a semi final showdown with South Africa Wales headed to the airport but not before sacking coach Gareth Jenkins in the hotel car park.

A late try from Graham Dewes saw Fiji dump Wales out of the World Cup and get a quarter-final against South Africa.

Wales’ open style played into Fiji’s hands, big hits and strong running leading to tries from Akapusi Qera, VilimoniDelasau and Kele Leawere.

Alix Popham, Shane Williams, Gareth Thomas and Mark Jones brought Wales back, and Martyn Williams’ 73rd-minute interception try looked the clincher.

But the islanders rallied, Dewes bullying over from short

It was Fiji’s first win in nine games against Wales and sees them advance to their first quarter-final since 1987.

With a record of six wins from 20 games in charge of Wales, coach Gareth Jenkins’ position will now come under serious question.

His side had aimed to banish their slow-starting blues at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, and in the first minute a superb Stephen Jones break deep in his own half should have led to a try.

Jones found the supporting Tom Shanklin, but he delayed his pass to a free Mark Jones, allowing the defence to rally.

Stephen Jones put Wales ahead with a penalty and Chris Horsman and Gethin Jenkins had Fiji under pressure at the scrum, but Jones missed with a straightforward kick and Wales continued to spurn overlaps.

Seru Rabeni had already made his mark on Shanklin and Thomas with trademark hits, and another on James Hook in midfield forced a turnover.

The islanders attacked quickly with a flowing move, the ball coming to Gloucester flanker Qera who stormed over from close range.

With confidence flying, Nicky Little and Rabeni attacked from their own 22.

The ball fell to Delasau, who chipped over the top of the defence, a wicked bounce flying over Mark Jones’ head and collected his own kick for the second try.

Little added two penalties, before a dynamic Qera break from his own 22 ended with Kele Leawere barging over for the third try from close range.

A panicked Wales spurned penalties in front of goal, and were finally rewarded in the 34th minute as a five-metre scrum was walked over for Popham’s try.

Fiji relished Wales’ desperate, expansive style, but their discipline fractured with a late hit from Leawere on Popham.

Qera was then yellow-carded for aiming a knee into Stephen Jones’ chest on the stroke of half-time, but Hook missed the resultant penalty from in front of the posts.

Wales pounced on 14-man Fiji after the break, and after a Martyn Williams turnover in his own 22 Shane Williams danced inside from the wing with a superbly balanced run, beating three defenders and crossing under the posts.

A fine three-quarter move from an attacking scrum saw Hook free Mark Jones with an inside pass.

The wing found Gareth Thomas, who celebrated becoming the first Welshman to 100 caps by taking his record try tally to 40.

Williams thought he had sealed the win for Wales

Dwayne Peel found acres of space from a line-out to spark the next try, accurate passing along the line sending Mark Jones in at the corner and regaining the lead for Wales, Stephen Jones’ conversion making it 29-25.

The outsiders found their second wind with some thrilling attacking rugby, two Little penalties putting them back in front going into the final quarter.

Wales wheeled on the replacements, but needed a desperate, brave tackle from Thomas on his own line to deny SeremaiaBai a try.

As Fiji went for the kill, Little floated out a needless pass – and Martyn Williams plucked the ball out of the air for a 65mrun-in.

But the islanders regrouped once more and, when Delasau was held out inches short, Dewes picked up to cross for a try awarded by the video referee, sealing the biggest upset of the 2007 World Cup.

It was Wales’ third south sea island embarrassment in World Cups following defeats to the Samoans in 1991 and 1999

Wales (10) 34 
Tries: Popham, S Williams, G Thomas, M Jones, M Williams
Cons: Hook, S Jones (2)
Pens: S Jones

Fiji (25) 38
Tries: Qera, Delasau, Leawere, Dewes
Cons: Little (3)
Pens: Little (4)

Wales: G. Thomas, M. Jones, Shanklin, Hook, S. Williams, S. Jones, Peel, Jenkins, Rees, Horsman, A. Jones, Evans, Charvis, M. Williams, Popham.

Replacements: Phillips for Peel (57), R. Thomas for Rees (47), D. Jones for Horsman (66), Gough for Evans (66), Owen for Popham (66). Not Used: Robinson, D. James.

Fiji: Ratuvou, Delasau, Rabeni, Bai, Neivua, Little, Rauluni, Dewes, Koto, Railomo, Leawere, Rawaqa, Naevo, Qera, Koyamaibole.

Replacements: Ligairi for Rabeni (67), Bobo for Neivua (52), Daunivucu for Little (80), Sauturaga for Koto (78), Qiodravu for Railomo (54), Ratuva for Qera (74). Not Used: Lewaravu.

Sin Bin: Qera (40).

Att: 34,000

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

Delasau went on to score a try in Fiji’s semi final defeat to South Africa, he was regarded by many as the best right winger in the tournament. He played 17 times for Fiji between 1998 and 2005 and also scored 85 tries for Fiji sevens, but that sunny day in Nantes he lit up the Rugby World Cup.