A TRY from Saints packman Morgan Knowles was the scant consolation Wales took from another heavy defeat in their latest World Cup match.

They were trounced 72-6 by a strong Fiji squad, bossed by ex-Saints coach Mick Potter, in a one-sided group match in Townsville.

It was a tough 80-minutes for Knowles and Saints team-mate Regan Grace as Wales conceded 14 tries in the rout against one of the competition's dark horses.

Eloni Vunakece gave Fiji a fifth-minute lead and Apisai Koroisau kicked the first of his four goals but Wales suddenly found themselves level when Saints loose forward Knowles forced his way over from close range in determined fashion for a try that Courtney Davies converted.

Alas, that was as good as it got for the Welsh, with one way traffic ensuing with the Fijians looking strong candidates for a third consecutive semi-final.

Melbourne winger Suliasi Vunivalu scored a hat-trick of tries and, although former Australia international Jarryd Hayne managed just one, it was enough to take him in front of Bob Fulton and Billy Slater as the leading tryscorer in World Cup history with 14 touchdowns.

Taane Milne scored a try in each half and Fiji's other touchdowns came from Henry Raiwalui, Viliame Kikau, Salesi Faingaa, Marcelo Montoya, Viliame Kikau, Joe Lovadua and Ben Nakubuwai.

Wales, who have come into a tough physical group with a depleted squad, have had it tough and have conceded 122 points in their first two group games.

Next week Grace, Knowles and Ben Morris come up against and Ireland side featuring Kyle Amor and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook in Perth next Sunday when pride will be at stake.

Ireland's defeat by Papua New Guinea looks, barring a Kumuls shock defeat by USA in the last round, to have ended their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

Fiji: Naiqama, Vunivalu, Milne, Uate, Montoya, Hayne, Raiwalui,A. Sims, Koroisau, Vunakece, Kikau, Wiliame, Kamikamica.
Replacements: Lovodua, Saifiti, Roqica, Nakubuwai, Storer, Seci, Junior Fainga'a, Moceidreke.
Wales: Kear, Williams, Channing, Roets, Grace, Davies, Ansell, Kopczak, Parry, Joseph, Lloyd, Burke, Knowles.
Replacements: Fozard, Barron, Evans, Grant.