Wales were sent crashing out of the World Cup by Fiji after an extraordinary 38-34 encounter at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.
After a quick start from Wales, which earned them a 3-0 lead, Fiji had them on the ropes with 12 startling minutes of rugby.
Wales had never lost to Fiji in eight previous encounters but their attacking threat is known and feared the world over.
They smashed Wales with their lethal combination of heavy tackles – not all of them legal – and ruthless finishing.
James Hook turned the ball over under a huge hit from Rabeni and, despite Stephen Jones’ best efforts to stop winger Isoa Neivua, the Fijians had the momentum and Qera scored under the posts.
Within minutes, Wales were stung again as Fiji attacked from deep. Rabeni was again at the heart of it as he broke down the right before offloading to Delasau.
The winger, short on space, chipped in-field and then beat both Mark Jones and Thomas to regather one-handed and touch down.
The try was confirmed by television official Carlo Damasco and, although Nicky Little missed the conversion, it extended Fiji’s advantage to 15-3 with a 45-metre penalty.
Fiji were insatiable and unstoppable. Little landed a second long-range penalty before Qera linked twice with Seremaia Bai and Leawere crashed over.
Little’s conversion opened Fiji a 25-3 lead. Wales had to produce something and after some heroic defending from Fiji, they eventually cracked.
Wales were furious at not being awarded a penalty try when referee Stuart Dickinson penalised the Fijians for not staying bound at their own five-metre scrum.
But the scrum was re-set and Popham touched down for a simple pushover try. Hook took over the kicking duties to convert.
Popham was clattered by a late hit from Leaware and Fiji then lost Qera to the sin-bin on the stroke of half-time for use of the knee.
Hook missed the simple penalty to round off a desperate first half for Wales.
They had to score first after the restart and ended up giving Fiji a double dose of their own medicine.
Martyn Williams snaffled possession at the breakdown and Tom Shanklin sent Shane Williams away on a searing counter-attack down the right.
The diminutive Ospreys winger stepped inside three defenders to score a brilliant 60-metre solo try, topped off by a swan dive, to breath life back into Wales’ campaign.
After Dwayne Peel’s break had moved Wales back into Fijian territory they struck again as Hook combined with Mark Jones for Thomas to score and mark his Test centenary with a try.
Qera returned – but only to see Wales surge ahead.
Last week, Fiji split the Australian lineout for Rauluni to burst through the middle and set up a try. Today Wales did the same.
Dwayne Peel scampered through the middle and Mark Jones finished off Wales’ third try in 11 minutes.
Fiji, back to their full complement, regrouped and came again, earning a penalty after some brilliant handling which Little converted to put his side one point ahead.
Fiji seemed out on their feet but still they tested Wales.
Bai scooped up a long pass, beat Duncan Jones and as Thomas stretched to ground the ball as Thomas tried to tackle him into touch.
This time the video official ruled against Fiji and as they continued to press Martyn Williams picked off a pass from Little and raced clear.
It was a try which, eight minutes from time, should have sealed the win.
Delasau cut inside when the overlap was begging and the chance appeared to be gone – but they kept the pressure on and Dewes drove over for the winning score.
It was a try which sent Fiji to Marseille and Wales home.
