WALES were given a World Cup scare by dangerous Fiji but held their nerve for a bonus point win that puts them on the brink of securing Pool D top spot.

Warren Gatland’s men had to dig deep for success in Oita with Josh Adams scoring a hat-trick and Liam Williams’ clincher earning the four-try bonus point.

However, Fiji produced their strongest performance of the tournament and make Wales work until the final whistle.

The victory means that Wales move back above Australia in the group and they should ease past minnows Uruguay on Sunday to move into the half of the draw that doesn’t feature England and New Zealand, with France their likely quarter-final opponents.

They can now ice the bruises and monitor injuries after centre Jonathan Davies, fly-half Dan Biggar and wing Adams were all forced off.

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Wales made an abysmal start to play into the Fijians’ hands.

Lock Leone Nakarawa’s sublime offload gave them an early warning and then Wales conceded from an attacking scrum, given away after James Davies was needlessly offside from a clearance kick.

The ball was shifted to the right flank where Josua Tuisova bumped off Josh Adams and finished superbly with one hand despite the efforts of Josh Navidi.

Navidi then crossed only for the try to be chalked off for a knock-on by centre Hadleigh Parkes when making a tackle and then Fiji’s Frank Lomani’s effort was disallowed for a forward pass.

Wales were thankful for the missed conversions and settled, helped by a yellow card for lock Tevita Cavubati after a dangerous ruck clear-out.

It was 10-7 after 19 minutes when Biggar found Adams with a cross-kick when playing with advantage.

They went on the charge for the lead through the scrum and direct running and, after flanker Semi Kunatani became the second Fijian to see yellow, it came when Adams was put in down the left.

Biggar’s excellent conversion earned a 14-10 half-time lead and Wales just needed to keep things simple to take the spoils against a Fiji side that was tiring.

Yet it was the underdogs that started the second half on the front foot, with Wales lacking discipline.

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French ref Jerome Garces lost patience and showed yellow to James Davies and Fiji promptly struck, kicking to the corner to earn a penalty try with a driving lineout.

Wales trailed 17-14 and then lost Biggar after the fly-half was clattered by full-back Liam Williams after a lack of communication under a high ball.

An offside swiftly gave replacement Rhys Patchell a shot at goal and the Scarlets playmaker took it with a sweet strike to level the scores approaching the hour.

Wales were in front in the 62nd minute courtesy of Adams’ hat-trick score, although it was Jonathan Davies that produced the magic.

The Lions centre put in a big fend and then burst into the 22 where he conjured a sublime ‘Fijian’ offload to put in his winger.

Patchell’s conversion hit the post and it stayed at 22-17, with Davies sadly then hobbling off.

It was nervy with Semi Radradra causing Wales all manner of problems with ball in hand; they needed a settler.

It came in the 70th minute when Gareth Davies found space in midfield and calmly put full-back Williams under the posts, Patchell’s conversion making it 29-17 and securing a hard-fought victory.