Chiefs youngster makes Test debut

By Jack Lewis
14/11/21

Exeter Chiefs youngster Christ Tshiunza made his international debut as Wales beat Fiji in a physical battle on a bright afternoon at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff.

In a back and forth game which saw an incredibly dogged and physical Fiji side push Wales all the way, a key red card in the first half proved to be a telling factor as Wales ran out 38 -23 winners.

It marks a remarkable rise to the international stage for Tshiunza, who only made his Chiefs debut in September, and will be looking to break into the Exeter squad more consistently on his return from International duty.

It was the visitors who made the early running, carrying powerfully and making easy meters, imposing their physical running game on the Welsh defence from the outset.  It didn’t take long for the powerful South Sea Islanders to cross the whitewash, some slick handling in the Wales 22 saw captain, Nayacalevu cross for the opening points of the match, successfully converted by Volavola .

Slowly the home side began to make their mark on proceedings, Liam Williams breaking nicely down the right wing, and from the ensuing penalty, it was Ryan Elias who dotted down at the back of a powerful Welsh driving line maul.

The breakdown was an early area of concern for Wales, with penalties mounting up allowing the flying Fijians to make easy early metres, and with Will Griff John, himself a late call up into the starting tight head birth, going off Injured, Dillon Lewis was set for a long shift in the front row.

Perhaps the most decisive moment of the game, came midway through the first period with Fijian winger Eroni Sau seeing Red for a swinging arm to the face of Welsh centre Johnny Williams.

As the first half drew to a close it was Wales who began to pile on the pressure against a stubborn Fijian defence. When No.6 Albert Tuisue was sent to the sin bin for a cynical infringement under his own posts, it seemed inevitable that the home side would cross the white line to end the half on the front foot. Opting to go for the scrum from the penalty, Welsh scrum-half Kieran Hardy used his pace to dart around the side and exploit the extra numbers.

With only seconds left in the half, Wales thought they had scored their third try, after a lovely break down the right wing from former Chief Alex Cuthbert, a Dan Biggar cross-field kick looked to have released Louis Rees-Zammit for a closing score, only for it to be ruled out by the TMO, after it was adjudged that Rees-Zammit was in touch earlier in the move.

After the break, it was once again the visiting side who made the better start, Volavola scoring a quick penalty as the Fijians re-took the lead, and missing a second opportunity at the posts moments later, as the weight of penalties began to take their toll on the home side. 

Despite being down a man, Fiji were throwing everything at the home-side, capitalising on some wayward kicking to slice down the Welsh left wing. Some slick handling between full-back Tuicuvucu and his captain, sent Nayacalevu in for his second of the day with a 50 metre charge to the line. Volavola's conversion stretched the score to 14-23 and it looked like Fiji could be poised for another major upset against Northern Hemisphere opposition.

It was do or die time for Wales, who entrenched themselves on the Fijian line, returning to their driving game which had caused the visiting side so many problems in the first half. Fiji were once again reduced to 13 men as replacement prop Eroni Mawi saw yellow for an infringement at the maul, and from the subsequent driving line-out - Wales crossed through Elias once again to reduce the gap to four points.

Willis Halaholo, a late call up into the team for the injured Josh Adams, scorched down field from the re-start, before feeding Tomos Williams as Wales continued to look for a way back into the game, but the Fijian scramble defence held firm.

It didn’t last long, however, and from a mistake at the Fijian line-out, some slick handling by the Welsh midfield sent Cuthbert away to finish in spectacular fashion in the corner. The Ospreys winger, who left the Exeter Chiefs in the summer, was making his first start for Wales since 2017 and looked delighted to be back on the scoresheet, as the hosts retook the lead after some tense moments in the Principality Stadium.

On the 70th minute, Exeter’s young starlet Tshiunza made his bow, replacing Will Rowlands in the Welsh pack to a rapturous welcome from the Welsh crowd.

The weight of numbers began to tell for Fiji and Wales struck again, this time on the opposite wing, Rees-Zammit breaking down the left, before showing incredible pace to chase down his own kick and dot down. Sheedy’s conversion took the game to beyond one score on 75 minutes and seemingly sealed the victory for Wales.

Fiji weren’t going to go without a fight, bringing pressure down on the Welsh line once again and threatening to make the final moments very nervy for 63,000 packed into the Principality. However, a big tackle from Tshiunza in the midfield won the home side a penalty that relieved the pressure coming down on the home side.

The victory was capped off by a Williams try after the clock was in the red that stretched the scoreline out to 38-23, and despite an incredibly spirited and physical performance by the visiting side, it was Wales who took the spoils in this bruising encounter.

Wales Captain Ellis Jenkins was quick to praise Tshiunza post match commenting "It's Great for Christ to get his first cap, particularly to get a win in front of a packed Principality stadium, its a moment he’ll never forget.”

Fiji: S Tuicuvu (A Tuimaba 75), J Tuisova, W Nayacalevu, V Botitu (A Naqalevu 58), E Sau, B Volavola, F Lomani (N Matawalu 71), P Ravai (E Masi 50), S Matavesi, M Doge (L Atalifoo 50), A Ratunoyarawa (T Ratuva 71), T Mayanavanua, A Tuisue, M Kunavalu (M Dakuwaqa 50), V Mata. Replacement (not used): Z Togiatama, 

Tries: Nayacalevu (2); Conversions: Volavola (2); Penalties: Volavola (3) 

Wales: L Williams, A Cuthbert, N Tompkins, J Williams (W Halaholo 50), L Rees-Zammit, D Biggar (C Sheedy 63), K Hardy (T Williams 50), R Carre (G Thomas 48), R Elias, W John (D Lewis 7), W Rowlands (C Tshiunza 70), A Beard, E Jenkins, T Young (S Davies 58), T Basham. Replacement (not used): B Roberts

Tries: Elias (2), Hardy, Rees-Zammit; Conversions: Biggar (2), Sheedy; Penalties: Biggar (2) 

Referee: N Berry (ARU)

Attendance: 63283