Fiji 72 Wales 6
Wales coach John Kear does not believe a tier two country will topple Australia, New Zealand or England at this World Cup. Fiji, having run in 130 points in just two games, understandably disagree.
Jarryd Hayne brought back 'the plane' celebration when he scored in the 41st minute to break Bob Fulton's record of 13 World Cup tries as Fiji matched the Immortal's tally in one game against the sorry Welshmen.
The Bati, whose post-match celebration was typically stirring and tuneful, are set to meet Tonga or New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
But since the World Cup was expanded to include developing nations in 1995, none of the 'big three' have been knocked off. Asked if it would finally happen this year, the experienced Kear answered "No.
"That's just as it is. The tier one countries are exceptional. The only one you might get ... are Tonga tier two? That might be the only one, against New Zealand but New Zealand are outstanding as well.
"I don't think so. It will be Australia v New Zealand or England in the final. I'm pretty certain of that. I don't think games like this do (Fiji) much good, to be honest, to prepare."
Fiji captain Kevin Naiqama and coach Michael Potter thought that a little pessimistic. "Everyone's coming for them," said Naiqama. "That's what we're training for. If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best.
"We rock up to training, we're real professional. The coaches don't have to crack the whip. There's lots of NRL players in all the Pacific nations and it's definitely lifting the standard in all the tier two nations."
Potter said the perfect record of the sport's titans would fall eventually - and probably very soon. "You look at the Tongan team, the Samoan team, the Fijian team, they're getting more and more NRL players in their World Cup squads.
"They're getting better year on year. That's an indicator for you that something's going to give at some stage - whether it's Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, one of those teams is going to start pushing through."
If one of the 14 Bati tries demanded description in a match report full of quotes, it was winger Marcelo Montoya's 34th minute effort. Akuila Utate beat, bounced out of, recovered from and evaded attempted tackles by six defenders who ended up looking like hired extras in his own personally-directed highlights video before the ball was slipped to the unmarked bulldog when he sucked in two more.
Suliasi Vunivalu posted a hat-trick for the Bati. Two-try Viliame Kikau came off with a minor injury. Brayden Wiliame was a late withdrawal due to an infection.
FIJI 72 (Suliasi Vunivalu 3, Viliame Kikau 2, Taane Milne 2, Eloni Vunakece, Salesi Faingaa, Marcelo Montoya, Henry Raiwalui, Jarryd Hayne, Joe Lovodua, Petero Benjamin Nakubuwai tries; Apisai Koroisau 4, Milne 3, Vunivalu goals) defeated WALES 6 (Morgan Knowles try; Courtney Davies goal) at 1330SMILES Stadium. Referee: Chris Kendall (England). Crowd: 7732.
