Fiji's finances are in such a parlous state that the WRFU helped pay for their trip over. With a result like this, which provided a valuable fillip on Wales's long road to rugby recovery, they'll be having a whip round to see if there are a few more worthy contenders for cannon fodder that can be imported.
This victory needs to be put in perspective. Whatever their pre-tour billing, the South Sea Islanders were desperately poor. They may be masters of the sevens game but when it comes to 15-aside, on this showing, they have a lot to learn. Their indiscipline of the breakdown conceded a raft of penalties and when within range Stephen Jones profited.
Yet this was an important win none the less for a Welsh side looking to build on the confidence engendered on the summer tour to South Africa, when both Tests were lost but plaudits were won.
A disappointing game against Romania earlier this month when Wales won, but in tedious fashion, needed to be exorcised, and this was done in fine style. You can only beat the opponents before you, and seven tries and more than half a century of points was a good day at the office.
The new Welsh coach, Steve Hansen, had spoken of using the autumn internationals to move in the right direction and achieve some consistency, and that was done. But Canada, and then especially the New Zealand All Blacks, will prove tougher steps and more of a measure of how far Wales's rugby has travelled from the debilitated state it recently found itself in.
Hansen is a Kiwi, and a pragmatic approach to this game could be guaranteed, particularly early on. Wales were well-marshalled in defence and content to bide their time and take advantage of Fiji indiscipline.
The visitors attempted an adventurous style of play in keeping with their reputation but rarely gained ground, finding themselves forced laterally. When, with half an hour gone, they enjoyed a series of rucks close to the home line, their attempts to barge a way through foundered on resolute defence.
For most of the first period there was little to tempt recently won converts to soccer back to the oval ball, following the national side's success against Italy. Despite calls from the crowd to run the ball, Wales were happy to take the kicks, and Jones landed five first-half efforts.
The visitors' cause was undermined when Seremaia Bai was sent to the sin bin after referee Stuart Dickinson's patience finally ran out with Fijian transgressions. Then, with less than five minutes of the half remaining, the Welsh backs at last had the chance to cut loose, and they twice broke from just inside the Fijian half to score long-range tries.
Replacement centre Jamie Robinson was involved in both. For the first, he fed Martyn Williams, who was hauled down short of the line, but had full-back Rhys Williams in support. The second try, which effectively killed the game, saw the centre find Gareth Thomas before Mark Jones squeezed in at the corner.
For Fiji, the second half brought more of the same, with three more tries before the hour was up. The captain, Colin Charvis, went over after back-row colleague Dafydd Jones had made the break. The second saw centre Sonny Parker profit from a floated misspass, and wing Mark Jones collected the third as the infamous Fijian big hits became just something from past memory.
The visitors did have a couple of tries to celebrate. The first when Norman Ligairi profited from some slack Wales tackling, and the second when replacement Waisale Serevi gathered and ran the length of the field to score. However, with internationals against Ireland and Scotland still to come it looks set to be a long and difficult visit for the Fijians.
Wales had time for two more tries for Gareth Thomas and on the stroke of time a penalty try when a driving maul was collapsed.
Wales: R Williams; M Jones, Shanklin (Robinson 10), Parker, G Thomas; S Jones (Harrison 68), Peel; I Thomas, Davies, Evans (Madden 68), Sidoli, Llewellyn, D Jones, M Williams, Charvis (capt).
Fiji: Narruhn (Serevi ht); Ligairi, Rabeni (Ruivadra 46), Bai, Lasagavibau; Little, Rauluni (Rabaka 69); Nyholt, Smith (capt), Cavubati, Naevo, Raiwalui, Tawake (Koyamaibole 56), Doviverata, Mocelutu.
Referee: S Dickinson (Australia).
