Fiji's victory over Wales in 2007 was one of the greatest days in their rugby team's history. Photo: Getty Images/Frank Perry
Every Rugby World Cup requires amazing upheavals, and no game in 2007 generated such a seismic reaction as Fiji's victory over Wales. He sent Fiji to the quarter-finals and brought home a faltering Wales, before resurrecting the following spring with the start of Warren Gatland's first term.
Until that day in Nantes, Wales had never lost to Fiji and, as center Tom Shanklin recalls, there was a sense of complacency.
“Fiji was different back then. They had some superstars and quality players, but they weren't very organized, they just met,» says Shanklin. “For 30-40 minutes they will be good enough, and after that they will start to get tired, and our physical form will show. In fact, we greatly underestimated them. We were not going to do this, thinking that it would be difficult, hard. In fact, it was like this: «Let's win and go to the quarterfinals.»
Wales left out a well-rested Fiji team. Ilivasi Tabua, head coach of Fiji, decided to rest the main part of his first team against Australia in the previous game. Both matches were played by only four players in the starting lineup, which means that Fiji were fresh.
“Even in preparation for Australia the focus was on Wales, we needed to beat Wales,” says Akapusi Kera. “Once the week in Wales started the concentration, the hype, it was all there. It was a tactical move by the coaches to achieve our goal, which we were striving for.”
Wales could not explain the scale of pure emotion that pushed Fiji to success. Speaking publicly for the first time about the stunning incident, which took place less than 48 hours before the start of the match, Kera highlights how the already tight-knit group has become even closer to each other.
«We played for the brotherhood»
“In the week of that game at home, a political problem arose and my father was called to the police. I got a call on the day the captain ran out, and when we were heading to training, I refused to go because my father was captured by the military,” says Kera.
“Many questions arose. I play for Fiji, but the government allows it. I'm here in France fighting for my country and they turn around and do the same to my family.
“I stayed at the hotel and was very upset. I wanted to pack my things and leave the camp. But it was thanks to the pastor of the team and the coach of our forwards, Reverend Joji Rinakama and coach Ilivashi Tabua, who were at their best and tried to console me. Moses Rauluni and the boys were by my side.
“This is where we broke out. We promised each other that everything would be fine with us and we would come out victorious. Therefore, we had such emotions. We played for a brotherhood that was indescribable that year. In no other team that I have encountered, I have not felt such closeness.”
Inevitably, it was Kera who, crying at the national anthem, scored Fiji's first try. In the blink of an eye they took a 25–3 lead, the best try being an outrageous flank rebound by Wilimoni Delasau who beat Mark Jones and Gareth Thomas in the air. The Welsh were dizzy.
“I remember looking at the scoreboard and thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, what just happened,’” Shanklin says.
Kera adds: “We knew we couldn’t chase the game because, if we pursued, we would have no chance of winning.”
Wales rallied as expected with four tries in 17 minutes, including a try by tournament rival Shane Williams. As the lead oscillated back and forth, Martin Williams broke out of the defensive line and intercepted Nicky Little's pass to give Wales the lead with seven minutes left.
«Fiji won't have the mental toughness that we have»
» I just thought that was it. Fiji will surrender and we will retreat,” says Shanklin. “They probably won’t have the mental toughness that we have. This has happened many times in the past with Fiji, where they played well, but in the last quarter of the game, the teams hit.
Only this time, Fiji did not give up. Wales was «unrivaled» that day in Fiji's powerful close-range shot, Shanklin notes, and Graham Deuce, now Fiji's strikers coach, was another big rumble at the line.
The feeling of shock palpable after that, it hit both sides: Fiji enjoyed their achievements, and Wales suffered a colossal setback.
Shanklin remembers the silent dressing room. “It was a huge milestone for our captain Gareth Thomas to win his 100th cap. Throughout the Six Nations tournament, which was bad, the main task was to referee us and Gareth Jenkins, the coach, in the World Championship. What have we just witnessed? It's really hard to accept this. Nobody talks, nobody cheers the guys up.”
The thoughts of the Fijian players turned to those who returned home. “Everyone was in shock. Nobody expected anything from us. Even when we said goodbye to Fiji, it was like, «Those guys are going on a November tour»! Everyone in the locker room was in tears. We knew what we had to go through, how our families had sacrificed. I can really remember every minute of it because it's something I hold dear. It was an incredible feeling that day.”
Fiji may have stunned everyone in 2007, but beating Wales in Bordeaux on Sunday won't upset you — just ask England. The Fiji fans, once again led by the 8th Man fan group that created a great atmosphere at Twickenham, will no doubt be superb. Desperate to avoid a repeat of the Nightmare of Nantes, Wales needs no warning.
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