Wales equal worst losing streak after first home defeat to Fiji

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Wales lost a record-equaling 10th straight rugby test when it was defeated at home for the first time by Fiji 24-19 on Sunday.

Fiji overcame a 14-3 deficit and red and yellow cards to beat Wales in Cardiff for the first time in nine attempts dating to 1985.

Flyhalf Caleb Muntz kicked Fiji into the lead for the first time in the 49th minute and a powerful try by inside center Josua Tuisova gave Fiji breathing room on the scoreboard.

Wales rallied within two points but replacement flyhalf Sam Costelow missed the conversion to tie the score.

Muntz's fourth penalty in the 76th put the pressure back on Wales, which made one last surge until hopes died in a knock-on in front of the Fiji try-line.

Wales' losing streak matches its worst sequence in 2002-03, and dates to the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals in France 13 months ago, and the Welsh face the possibility of going through 2024 without a win. Its last two matches host Australia next weekend then world champion South Africa.

Wales paid for not taking advantage of two-man and one-man advantages for 23 minutes either side of halftime.

Fiji was crucially bolstered by six European stars who missed the 57-17 defeat to Scotland last weekend, and Muntz and scrumhalf Frank Lomani managed their game brilliantly. Muntz Houdini-ed a try, kicked smartly, and was five from six off the tee.

The game started well for Wales, which used 18 phases to reach the Fiji try-line until Kitione Salawa poached the ruck.

Then the new backline Wales fans wanted produced slick handling to give left wing Blair Murray a try on debut. Mason Grady came off his right wing to take Ben Thomas' offload and give New Zealander Murray an overlap to score in the eighth minute in his seventh match in Wales.

The packed crowd was buzzing under the roof, but the excitement waned as the rest of the half stuttered to video check illegal plays.

Cam Winnett's first try for Wales was scratched off after Tommy Reffell was caught dangerously clearing out Fiji's Semi Radradra. Reffell was yellow-carded.

Fiji No. 8 Elia Canakaivata joined him in the sin-bin when he collapsed a maul, also earning Wales a penalty try, and a 14-3 lead after 19 minutes.

Play was delayed again when Radradra tackled Winnett dangerously. Radradra's yellow card was upgraded to a 20-minute red and the game became Wales' 14 versus Fiji's 13.

But Fiji produced a try from nothing when Muntz stepped two defenders, slipped through, and had the pace and strength to carry Winnett and Murray over the try-line. Muntz converted his try.

Wales had man advantages for the remaining 16 minutes of the half but couldn't exploit them.

Instead, Fiji came closest to scoring. Right on halftime, referee Luc Ramos gave Fiji a penalty try from a lineout maul but that was scrubbed after prop Samuela Tawake was caught obstructing.

Wales led by a nervous 14-10 at halftime and not for long.

When the game returned to 15 on 15 with the arrival of Sireli Maqala, the French Top 14 leading try-scorer, Muntz kicked another penalty.

Canakaivata turned over Wales in front of the Fiji try-line and Fiji returned to the end of the field for another penalty kick and the lead for the first time in the match. It was Muntz 16, Wales 14.

Fiji co-captain Waisea Nayacalevu then made a break that finished with Tuisova beating Murray and Thomas to the line.

Replacement Ellis Bevan, normally a scrumhalf but slotted onto the wing, was on the field for just seconds when he dotted down in his first home game. But Costelow couldn't convert to make it 19-19.

Fiji refused to be denied. A Muntz forward pass chalked off a try for rugby league convert Vuate Karawalevu, but his fourth penalty finished the scoring.

___

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby