South Africa edged an absorbing clash with the exciting Fijians 37-20 to book a World Cup semi-final place.

The Springbok forwards laid a platform for total domination and South Africa romped to a 20-6 lead in Marseille, but the Fiji backs had other ideas.

Two Fijian tries in two second-half minutes levelled the game at 20-20 before South Africa crept ahead.

Juan Smith and Butch James added to earlier tries from Jaque Fourie, John Smit and JP Pietersen.

South Africa will travel to Paris to play either Argentina or Scotland next Sunday.

The Springboks made a thunderous start but Fiji were let off the hook when Montgomery’s early penalty bounced back off the posts.

A change of kicker saw Steyn make amends shortly after but Fiji emerged more or less intact from the early Springbok forward barrage and demonstrated their intent to play fast and loose.

It almost paid off, too, when Fiji pressed deep into Springbok territory and charged down Steyn’s attempted clearance, only for Rabeni to knock-on in midfield.

But South Africa were playing a controlled game and by sticking to their plan of patient forward effort they rumbled back down the other end and went close when Juan Smith was held up on the line.

But the threat remained and they soon worked in centre Fourie for a try in the left corner.

Montgomery missed his conversion and Fiji, sparked by the spiky scrum-half and captain Mosese Rauluni, eventually established a foothold with a Seremaia Bai penalty after Bakkies Botha had illegally felled blind-side Semisi Naevo in the line-out.

The green machine renewed normal service soon after and a bullocking run from Botha led to a period of intense Springbok pressure, leading to a simple push-over try from skipper Smit.

Another score early in the second-half from South Africa might have extinguished Fijian hopes, but it was the Pacific Islanders who narrowed the gap when Bryan Habana held onto the ball and Bai stroked three points.

For the first time the Springboks looked rattled, and Fiji went for the jugular with a stunning move orchestrated by, among others, the livewire Rauluni.

But maddeningly, for those hoping for a repeat of Saturday’s underdog heroics, South Africa turned over the ball and romped upfield before eventually conjuring a good score in the right corner for Pietersen.

Fiji suffered a further blow when Seru Rabeni was sin-binned for a late tackle on James earlier in the move. And that seemed to be that.

But out of nowhere, Fiji left wing Vilimoni Delasau chipped over the head of Montgomery and won the race to touch down the ball.
 
That seemed to light some sort of magic touch paper and from the restart, Fiji full-back Norman Ligairi broke through the South African defence and set off upfield.

The languid Fijians are deceptive movers and the pacy Rauluni took the ball on and offloaded brilliantly to Sireli Bobo, who used his momentum to crash over.

Bai’s conversion levelled the scores, but South Africa edged back in front when a Fijian infringement during a driving maul gave Montgomery a cheap three-pointer.

But the increasingly tense drama was set for more twists. First, Fijian hooker Sunia Koto was held up inches short, before lock Ifereimi Rawaqa was denied a try by the desperate lunge of Pietersen as he dived for the line.

And to Fiji’s dismay, the South African forwards punished them heavily when they muscled their way to the Fijian line for Smith to touch down.

Tempers flared in a fraught final 10 minutes when South Africa set up camp on Fiji’s line.

The Springboks squandered two scoring chances when Schalk Burger and Fourie du Preez fumbled over the line but with the time almost up, James dived over to seal the win.
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South Africa: Percy Montgomery, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Dannie Roussouw, Juan Smit, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, John Smit, Os du Randt
Replacements: Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp, Jannie du Plessis, Johann Muller, Wikus van Heerden, Ruan Pienaar, Wynand Olivier, Andre Pretorius.

Fiji: Norman Ligairi; Vilimoni Delasau, Kameli Raturou, Seru Rabeni, Sireli Bobo, Seremaia Bai, Mosese Rauluni, Sisa Koyamaibole, Akapusi Qera, Semisi Naevo, Ifereimi Rawaqa, Kele Leawere, Henry Qiodravu, Sunia Koto, Graham Dewes Replacements: Bill Gaddo, Jone Railomo, Aca Ratuva, Wame Lewaravu, Jone Daunivucu, Gabby Lovobalavu

Fiji coach Ilie Tabua has selected Seremaia Bai at fly-half for their Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash against South Africa in Marseille on Sunday.

Bai, usually a centre, went head-to-head with yougster Waisea Luveniyali for the role, but Tabua eventually opted for experience over exuberance when making his selection.

“He’s our obvious choice. We only have two alternatives - (Bai) and (Waisea) Luveniyali,” said Tabua. “Given that Bai has played in that position and with his experience, that is the choice we have gone for.”

There are five changes to the side that faced Wales in Nantes - two of them positional.

Kameli Ratuvou shifts into the centres to partner Seru Rabeni, in order to facilitate Bai’s switch.

Brive’s Norman Ligairi, Fiji’s incumbent No.15 prior to this tournament, moves off the bench to fill his favoured position, while wing Isoa Neivua has lost his place to Biarritz speedster Sireli Bobo, who joined the squad as an injury replacement just prior to the Wales match.

Scrum-half Mosese Rauluni once again captains the team.

The one change to the forward pack is at tighthead where Henry Qiodravu comes in for Jone Railomo, who moves down to the bench.

The bench features three other changes; with hooker Bill Gadolo replacing Vereniki Sauturaga, and Gabiriele Lovobalavu and Luveniyali ‘promoted’ to take Ligairi and Bobo’s places.

Fiji: 15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Vilimoni Delasau, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Seru Rabeni, 11 Sireli Bobo, 10 Seremaia Bai, 9 Mosese Rauluni (captain), 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Semisi Naevo, 5 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 4 Kele Leawere, 3 Henry Qiodravu, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Graham Dewes.
Replacements: 16 Bill Gadolo, 17 Jone Railomo, 18 Aca Ratuva, 19 Wame Lewaravu, 20 Jone Daunivucu, 21 Waisea Luveniyali, 22 Gabiriele Lovobalavu.

Tight-head prop CJ Van der Linde has been named in the starting XV for Sunday’s quarter-final against Fiji despite picking up a knee injury.

Van der Linde suffered a bruised knee in training on Tuesday and a final decision on his inclusion in the front row will be made on Sunday morning.

Fiji name Seremaia Bai, normally a centre, at outside-half in place of the injured playmaker Nicky Little.

Henry Qiodravu comes in for Jone Railomo, who drops to the bench.

Bai, moves to outside-half in place of Little whose tournament was cut short with a knee ligament injury.

Hooker Bill Gaddo is included as a replacement in place of Vereniki Sauturaga, while utility back Gabby Lovobalavu is also named in the 22.

There are four changes in total from the Springboks side that beat the USA in their final pool game.

Gurthro Steenkamp is likely to step up from the bench should his van der Linde fail the test, while lock Bakkies Botha and number eight Danie Rossouw have been recalled.

And the starting XV will be the Springboks’ most experienced ever side boasting a collective caps tally of 639.

JP Pietersen comes back on the wing in place of Akona Ndungane, while a reshuffle in the back row sees Rossouw start at number eight, Schalk Burger move to the blindside, while line-out jumper supreme Victor Matfield is joined by Bakkies Botha in the second-row.

John Smit captains the side from hooker and will line up alongside Van der Linde, if is cleared to play, and veteran Os du Randt, who will win his 14th World Cup cap.

Confident Springbok centre Jaque Fourie revealed he will not pay Fiji any respect on Sunday and believes South Africa will have little to fear in Marseille.

“I think a bit of arrogance is required,” he said.

“I mean, we have never lost to Fiji. We really are not bothered about them. There is a lot of talk about how we must not get sucked into their way of playing (as Wales did), but surely it is them who should be worried about us?

“We are going to force our structure on them, not the other way round. This is Fiji. What the hell?”

Fiji captain and scrum-half Mosese Rauluni said that his side did not mind being written off as complete underdogs.

“South Africa are a world class team with a strong pack and good backline. They have every right to be confident,” he said.

“But we will give it a good go, and go out there for the win.”

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South Africa: Percy Montgomery, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Dannie Roussouw, Juan Smit, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, John Smit, Os du Randt
Replacements: Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp, Jannie du Plessis, Johann Muller, Wikus van Heerden, Ruan Pienaar, Wynand Olivier, Andre Pretorius.

Fiji: Norman Ligairi; Vilimoni Delasau, Kameli Raturou, Seru Rabeni, Sireli Bobo, Seremaia Bai, Mosese Rauluni, Sisa Koyamaibole, Akapusi Qera, Semisi Naevo, Ifereimi Rawaqa, Kele Leawere, Henry Qiodravu, Sunia Koto, Graham Dewes Replacements: Bill Gaddo, Jone Railomo, Aca Ratuva, Wame Lewaravu, Jone Daunivucu, Gabby Lovobalavu

A late try from Graham Dewes saw Fiji dump Wales out of the World Cup and get a quarter-final against South Africa.

Wales’ open style played into Fiji’s hands, big hits and strong running leading to tries from Akapusi Qera, Vilimoni Delasau and Kele Leawere.

Alix Popham, Shane Williams, Gareth Thomas and Mark Jones brought Wales back, and Martyn Williams’ 73rd-minute interception try looked the clincher.

But the islanders rallied, Dewes bullying over from short range.

It was Fiji’s first win in nine games against Wales and sees them advance to their first quarter-final since 1987.

With a record of six wins from 20 games in charge of Wales, coach Gareth Jenkins’ position will now come under serious question.

His side had aimed to banish their slow-starting blues at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, and in the first minute a superb Stephen Jones break deep in his own half should have led to a try.

Jones found the supporting Tom Shanklin, but he delayed his pass to a free Mark Jones, allowing the defence to rally.

Stephen Jones put Wales ahead with a penalty and Chris Horsman and Gethin Jenkins had Fiji under pressure at the scrum, but Jones missed with a straightforward kick and Wales continued to spurn overlaps.

Seru Rabeni had already made his mark on Shanklin and Thomas with trademark hits, and another on James Hook in midfield forced a turnover.

The islanders attacked quickly with a flowing move, the ball coming to Gloucester flanker Qera who stormed over from close range.

With confidence flying, Nicky Little and Rabeni attacked from their own 22.

 The ball fell to Delasau, who chipped over the top of the defence, a wicked bounce flying over Mark Jones’ head and collected his own kick for the second try.

Little added two penalties, before a dynamic Qera break from his own 22 ended with Kele Leawere barging over for the third try from close range.

A panicked Wales spurned penalties in front of goal, and were finally rewarded in the 34th minute as a five-metre scrum was walked over for Popham’s try.

Fiji relished Wales’ desperate, expansive style, but their discipline fractured with a late hit from Leawere on Popham.

Qera was then yellow-carded for aiming a knee into Stephen Jones’ chest on the stroke of half-time, but Hook missed the resultant penalty from in front of the posts.

Wales pounced on 14-man Fiji after the break, and after a Martyn Williams turnover in his own 22 Shane Williams danced inside from the wing with a superbly balanced run, beating three defenders and crossing under the posts.

A fine three-quarter move from an attacking scrum saw Hook free Mark Jones with an inside pass.

The wing found Gareth Thomas, who celebrated becoming the first Welshman to 100 caps by taking his record try tally to 40.
 
Dwayne Peel found acres of space from a line-out to spark the next try, accurate passing along the line sending Mark Jones in at the corner and regaining the lead for Wales, Stephen Jones’ conversion making it 29-25.

The outsiders found their second wind with some thrilling attacking rugby, two Little penalties putting them back in front going into the final quarter.

Wales wheeled on the replacements, but needed a desperate, brave tackle from Thomas on his own line to deny Seremaia Bai a try.

As Fiji went for the kill, Little floated out a needless pass - and Martyn Williams plucked the ball out of the air for a 65m run-in.

But the islanders regrouped once more and, when Delasau was held out inches short, Dewes picked up to cross for a try awarded by the video referee, sealing the biggest upset of the 2007 World Cup.

It was Wales’ third south sea island embarrassment in World Cups following defeats to the Samoans in 1991 and 1999.

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Wales: G. Thomas, M. Jones, Shanklin, Hook, S. Williams, S. Jones, Peel, Jenkins, Rees, Horsman, A. Jones, Evans, Charvis, M. Williams, Popham.
Replacements: Phillips for Peel (57), R. Thomas for Rees (47), D. Jones for Horsman (66), Gough for Evans (66), Owen for Popham (66). Not Used: Robinson, D. James.

Fiji: Ratuvou, Delasau, Rabeni, Bai, Neivua, Little, Rauluni, Dewes, Koto, Railomo, Leawere, Rawaqa, Naevo, Qera, Koyamaibole.
Replacements: Ligairi for Rabeni (67), Bobo for Neivua (52), Daunivucu for Little (80), Sauturaga for Koto (78), Qiodravu for Railomo (54), Ratuva for Qera (74). Not Used: Lewaravu.

Australia romped to a comfortable 55-12 victory over a second-string Fiji in the Pool B clash in Montpellier.

The Wallabies ran in seven tries to secure top spot in the group, setting up a likely quarter-final against either England or Tonga in Marseille.

Drew Mitchell scored a hat-trick, while Matt Giteau (2), Adam Ashley-Cooper and Stephen Hoiles also crossed.

Fiji scored tries from Isoa Neivua and Aca Ratuva but the Wallabies were in training mode ahead of bigger tests.

“It was a little bit scrappy in the first half, but we showed we are able to defend well at times,” said man-of-the-match Giteau, who also kicked 17 points and won his 50th cap.

“Fiji defended well and put us under pressure. Hopefully we will have a good performance against Canada and get ready for the quarter-finals.”

The Fijians, who were resting a host of top players, can still qualify for the knock-out stages if they beat Wales in the crunch match Nantes on 29 September.

“We thought we had a few chances at end of first half to chase the score and I was pleased with the younger players coming through, knowing that we’ve got a tougher game against Wales next week,” said Fiji coach Ilie Tabua.

Australia took their time to unlock the Fiji defence and had to wait until 16 minutes for the first try after Wycliff Palu and Lote Tuqiri combined to put in Giteau.
 
The Wallabies went close soon after when George Gregan, equalling Will Carling’s record of 59 caps as captain, was foiled yards from the line after Rocky Elsom’s break, but Fiji, to their credit, held off the next Australia score until the half hour mark.

Full-back Chris Latham slipped a cute grubber kick through for winger Mitchell to gather and five minutes later Giteau added a second when he sneaked through following sustained Australian pressure.

The Wallabies were cruising but right on the whistle, a textbook Fijian passing move down the three-quarters picked out left wing Neiuva, who outmuscled five Australian defenders to crash over.

After the break, the hard-headed Australians spurned the chance to probe the corner with a penalty and took three more points through Giteau before Berrick Barnes added a drop-goal for good measure.

Fiji, though, were not prepared to go through the motions as understudies and a dazzling break from replacement Mosese Raulini fed open-side Ratuva for his side’s second try.

The clinical Wallabies edged ahead again when Giteau slotted another penalty before conjuring a pass for Ashley-Cooper to slice over from close range.

But the game lost its shape for a while following a host of substitutes until Fiji went close with a promising break, only for Australia to surge upfield and score at the other end through Mitchell.

A male streaker 10 minutes from the end drew the biggest cheer of the day but Australia were not ready to start partying and ran in further scores from Hoiles and Mitchell.