KEY POINTS:
Fiji 38
Wales 34
Fiji captain Mosese Rauluni says don't write his team off when they play their first quarter-final for 20 years next week.
The Pacific Islanders, renowned for their success in the sevens game, married their traditional skills of handling at pace and tough tackling to
a stamina and defensive resilience that many critics thought was beyond them as they emerged victorious in the game of the tournament to date.
"It's probably one of the greatest victories Fiji has ever had," Rauluni said. "But we've said to the boys the job's not over. We've got other things to strive for."
Fiji face South Africa in Marseille today week.
"We haven't got to the quarter-finals for 20 years. We closely missed out on the last World Cup against Scotland, and the World Cup before that against France. I was involved in both of those, and to get to the quarter-finals, I've finally done it."
Rauluni said rugby's importance to Fijian society as a whole could not be understated.
"One of the villagers actually climbed a mountain with a generator and TV and watched it [the match] at the top of the mountain because they couldn't pick up the frequency in the village. That's the sort of thing we're playing for. It makes your voice go away and brings a tear to your eye."
Fiji coach Ilie Tabua, in an echo of comments from his Tongan and Samoan counterparts, said it was vital his team was allowed to build on this performance by having greater exposure to top-class rugby between World Cups.
"It [the win] shows that the tier two nations can compete, given there is more competition with the level one [teams], not only here at the World Cup."
And he said the introduction of a Fijian or Pacific side into the Super 14 club competition could raise the standard of the national team yet further.
"Two-thirds of our players are actually playing here in Europe, and it doesn't help us with our season. We need to develop other players that are in the Islands and be accepted in one of those competitions."
Looking ahead to the South Africa match, he added: "The Springboks are always going to be tough.
"I think any tier one [side] is always going to be targeting us in the forwards. They did it to Samoa, they did it to Tonga, and it's obvious that they are going to control the game that way."
Fiji stunned Wales and delighted neutrals at the Stade de la Beaujoire with an extraordinary burst of 25 points in just nine sensational first-half minutes.
Tries from flanker Akapusi Qera and wing Vilimoni Delasau, both of whom had a major impact on the game, and second row Kele Leawere left Wales and their supporters bewildered.
The Six Nations side rallied early in the second half and took the lead with just seven minutes on the clock thanks to an intercept try from flanker Martyn Williams.
But Fiji would not be denied and prop Graham Dewes forced his way over from close range at a 77th-minute ruck to seal a famous win.
Wales coach Gareth Jenkins pleaded for patience as he made his pitch to stay in the job. Wales have won just six tests from 20 since Jenkins succeeded 2005 Grand Slam-winning boss Mike Ruddock last year.
Given that he'd asked repeatedly to be judged on the World Cup, this defeat - Wales' first against Fiji in nine meetings - has left Jenkins in a difficult position.
But his contract runs until April - after the next Six Nations - and he was adamant he would not voluntarily leave.
"My ambition is to continue coaching Wales, it's as simple as that. What we must not do is panic. I don't think there's any need for a huge knee-jerk reaction. We need to understand the lessons."
AFP
