Wales came out on top against Fiji in an end to end encounter at Santa Fe’s Club de Rugby Ateneo Inmaculada to finish Pool A on a high.

The lead changed hands four times as both countries bagged bonus points in an entertaining Under-20 World Championship clash.

But hosts Argentina’s 47-26 success over France saw them pip the reigning champions for top spot in the group.

Wales ended up third in the table as they used their driving line-out to get the better of a Fiji side that was vastly superior with ball in hand.

It means Wales will face New Zealand in the semi-final play-offs to decide who finishes fifth in the championship with Ireland taking on England in the other.

Top seeds South Africa will face France while Argentina, who Wales beat in their opening fixture, will take on Australia in the title play-offs.

A late penalty from South Africa during a well-deserved 25-17 triumph over New Zealand allowed champions France to sneak through as the best runner-up from the three pools.

Impressive flanker Tommy Reffell had given Wales the lead against Fiji when he was driven over an unconverted try following a lineout.

Fiji hit back in spectacular style with a try from their half after outside-half Simione Kuruvoli slid a deft grubber kick behind the Welsh defence.

Centre laisa Droasese scooped up the ball and made a diagonal run before putting lock Taniela Ramasibana over. Kuruvoli successfully converted to put them in front.

Wales snatched the lead back in the 14th minute when scrum-half Dafydd Buckland forced his way over from a close-range scrum for outside-half Cai Evans to land the conversion.

Tomi Lewis of Wales in at the corner for a try just before half time
Tomi Lewis of Wales in at the corner for a try just before half time

But it didn’t last long as Fiji went 14-12 up when captain and centre Taniela Soqonawasaloa made mincemeat of Wales lock Jac Price for Kuruvoli to convert.

Fiji No.8 Eparama Sailo was fortunate to only be sin-binned for a dangerous shoulder charge to the head of Ioan Davies, as the Wales full-back was getting to his feet.

Wales took advantage of their extra player with a penalty from Evans and a terrific try – his third of the tournament – from right-wing Tomi Lewis, converted by Evans, to lead 22-14 at the end of a dramatic first half.

Fiji reduced the arrears to a point by capitalising on more suspect defending from Wales after moving the ball wide.

Full-back Osea Natoga went through with ease before putting right-wing Kaminieli Rasaku over for Kuruvoli to convert.

Fiji had prop Elijah Kuilamu sin-binned for pulling down a maul and Wales pounced with captain Dewi Lake being driven over for the bonus-point try from a line-out for Evans to convert to lead by eight points.

However, Fiji responded yet again with Kuruvoli putting Rasaku over for his second try to claim a bonus point, the former converting.

But Wales got a third try from a driving line-out, replacement prop Ben Warren being on the end of it for Evans to add the extras to lead 36-25.

Davies went over late-on with Evans converting and adding a penalty.

Wales U-20: Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues); Tomi Lewis (Scarlets), Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Ospreys), Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), Deon Smith (Dragons); Cai Evans (Ospreys), Dafydd Buckland (Dragons); Tom Devine (Dragons), Dewi Lake (capt, Ospreys), Nick English (Bristol Bears), Morgan Jones (Scarlets), Jac Price (Scarlets), Iestyn Rees (Scarlets), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Jac Morgan (Aberavon/Scarlets).

Subs: Will Griffiths (Dragons), Garin Lloyd (Ospreys), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues). Ed Scragg (Dragons), Lennon Greggains (Dragons), Harri Morgan (Ospreys), Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets), Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Blues), Rio Dyer (Dragons).

Tries: Reffell, Buckland, Lewis, Lake, Warren, Davies; cons: Evans (4); pens: Evans (2).

Fiji U-20: Osea Natoga; Kaminieli Rasaku, Ilaisa Droasese, Taniela Soqonawasaloa (capt), Epeli Momo; Simione Kuruvoli, Mesake Kurisaru; Emosi Tuqiri, Lino Mairara, Isikeli Lumelume, Taniela Ramasibana, Chris Minimbi, Anasa Qaranivalu, Vilive Miramira, Eparama Sailo.

Subs: Manoa Mocelutu, Livai Natave, Elijah Kuilamu, Alivereti Loaloa, Tiri Shaw, Josh Vuta, Osea Waqa, Veresa Tuqovu, Isaac Ratumaitavuki.

Tries: Ramasibana, Soqonawasaloa, Rasaku (2); cons: Kuruvoli (4).

Yellow-card: Sailo (33), Kuilamu (54).

Referee: Pali Deluca (Argentina).

RESULT: Wales U-20 44-28 Fiji U-20

Evans added a penalty in the final minute as Wales finished Pool A on a high.

The lead changed hands four times as both countries bagged bonus points but the five-point haul wasn’t enough for Wales to finish higher than third in the group.

Hosts Argentina’s 47-26 success over France saw them pip the reigning champions for top spot.

Match report to follow.

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TRY Wales! 41-28

Wales have gone 13 points clear with a delicate cross-kick from Evans finding Deon Smith for the wing to feed Davies on his inside for an unconverted try.

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TRY Wales! 36-28

Wales’ best weapon is the driving line-out with three of their tries coming from that facet of play.

This time it was replacement prop Ben Warren’s turn to score, Evans converting.

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Lewis denied a 2nd try

Lewis went over in the corner for Wales but it was disallowed because he had gone out of play before grounding the ball.

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TRY Fiji! 29-28

Fiji have responded with Kuruvoli putting Rasaku over for his second try. Kuruvoli converted and there was again just a point in it.

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TRY Wales! 29-21

Fiji had substitute prop Elijah Kuilamu sin-binned for pulling down a maul and Wales took advantage with Dewi Lake being driven over following a line-out.

Evans converted to put Wales eight points in front.

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Wales have try disallowed

All-action flanker Reffell thought he had got his second try but it was ruled out because the TMO couldn’t see a clear grounding of the ball.

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TRY Fiji! 22-21

Fiji reduced the arrears to a point by cashing in on some more suspect defending from Wales after moving the ball wide following a line-out.

Full-back Osea Natoga went through with ease before putting right-wing Kaminieli Rasaku over for Kuruvoli to convert.

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Not looking good for world champions!

France are being hammered 34-7 by Argentina, who have already secured a bonus point and seem set to finish as Pool A winners.

Ironically, Wales beat the Pumitas in their opening match of the tournament.

The second half is under way in Santa Fe with Wales in the Fiji half.

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HALF-TIME: Wales U-20 22-14 Fiji

Wales had more territory and possession during the first half but Fiji were so dangerous when they had the ball.

Lewis’ try has put Wales two scores ahead for the first time but it would be churlish to write off Fiji for it’s one of those matches where anything could happen!

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TRY Wales! 22-14

Wales took advantage of their extra player with a penalty from Evans and a terrific try from powerful right-wing Tomi Lewis, converted by Evans, to move ahead for a third time.

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Controversy as Fiji red card downgraded to yellow

Fiji No.8 Eparama Sailo was on the point of being sent off by referee Pali Deluca for a dangerous shoulder charge to the head of Ioan Davies as the full-back was getting to his feet.

But Senor Deluca was talked out of brandishing the red card by television match official and fellow Argentine Santiago Borsani , changing his decision to a yellow-card and a 10-minute sin-binning.

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Big let-off for Wales

Wales coughed up possession near the Fiji try-line and nearly paid a heavy price as the men in white broke out in trademark style but hooker Lino Mairara knocked on when a try seemed a formality.

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TRY Fiji! 12-14

Fiji reclaimed the lead when captain and centre Taniela Soqonawasaloa stepped back inside to waltz past Wales lock Jac Price and prop Nick English.

Kuruvoli converted and minutes later it took a last-ditch tackle from Wales full-back Ioan Davies to prevent Fiji extending their lead.

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TRY Wales! 12-7

Wales snatched the lead back when scrum-half Dafydd Buckland forced his way over from a close-range scrum for Evans to land the conversion.

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TRY Fiji! 5-7

Fiji hit back in spectacular style with a try from their half to go in front.

Outside-half Simione Kuruvoli put a grubber kick behind the Welsh defence for centre laisa Droasese to scoop up and run a diagonal angle before putting forward Taniela Ramasibana over.

Kuruvoli added the extra points with a successful conversion.

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TRY Wales! 5-0

Wales turned down a kickable penalty, awarded for a high tackle, in the third minute to kick for the corner.

They won the line-out and drove for the try-line but skipper and hooker Dewi Lake was held up inches short of it.

However, they had a second opportunity with Fiji having committed another offence. Wales made another forward drive with flanker Tommy Reffell this time being on the end of it for the score.

Outside-half Cai Evans saw his conversion attempt rebound off an upright.

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Fiji make mass changes

Fiji’s starting line-up is unrecognisable from the one that went down 41-14 to Argentina.

Coach Kele Leawere has made 13 changes, two positional, with centre Taniela Soqonawasaloa being handed the captaincy for the first time.

He is joined in the midfield by Ilaisa Droasese, who moves from the right wing with left-wing Epeli Momo the only other back to retain his place.

Momo, Droasese and lock Chris Minimbi are the only players to start every match for Fiji in this year’s tournament.

Fiji have won just once - 34-20 in the fifth-place semi-final in 2011 - in five previous World Championship meetings with Wales.

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Wales hope to learn from French lesson

It’s the first time Wales have played in Santa Fe this tournament with their two previous outings taking place in Rosario.

They beat Argentina 30-25 before going down to 32-13 to Pool A leaders France.

“We have taken lessons from our defeat to France, but just as important has been the refreshing mindset the players have displayed since Saturday,” said coach Gareth Williams.

Fiji may have lost to France and Argentina and France but Williams sounded a note of caution.

“They have played some excellent stuff this tournament, and have been a challenge early on for both France and Argentina,” he said.

“We cannot lose sight that winning games has been a focus of ours coming to this World Cup and we have three more tough challenges to do that.”

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Wales centre out of tournament

Aneurin Owen has been forced to withdraw from the tournament after suffering concussion just a few minutes into Wales’ opening match with hosts Argentina.

The Dragons centre, who has sat A level exams while in Argentina, has been replaced by a back-row forward in Cardiff Blues No.8 Ioan Rhys Davies.

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