The Oval Zone report from the Wales v Tonga match in Cardiff
Wales' lean and mean looking 'second string' had the perfect start to this game when their forwards made many yards progress with the ball tucked up their jumpers, allowing second row Jake Ball the opportunity to crash over and score the game's opening points. Dan Biggar slotted the extras with the conversion and Wales had a dream start and a lead of 7-0.
Surging back on the attack straight from the restart, Wales were running Tonga ragged and on the fifth minute, Dan Biggar crossed for the second try, which he duly converted and Wales were leading a shell shocked Tonga by 14-0.
Despite this early setback, Tonga at last managed to get themselves in the Welsh half and, on eight minutes, were awarded a penalty, well converted by Sonatane Takulua to reduce the deficit to 14-3.
It took a TMO decision, on ten minutes, to confirm that Liam Williams had just touched down by the corner flag before being bundled in to touch. Biggar magnificently converted from out side and Wales were 21-3 ahead.
With almost a quarter of the game gone, it was the turn of the Tongan forwards to show their strength and touch down close to theline, resulting in another TMO decision which, unfortunately for the visitors, ruled that they had knocked on before grounding.
At this stage of the game, the Welsh backs were looking for the breaks every time they got the ball and it took a couple of dubious 'hits' by the Tongans to slow the game down, one of them resulting in a penalty which Dan Biggar coolly converted to increase the Welsh lead to 24-3.
The game, which had been played at a blistering pace, inevitably slowed down as the half hour marked approached and it was Tonga who started to enjoy some possession in the Welsh half, happy to play a set piece game.
Entering the last ten minutes of the half, Tonga's big forwards were held up on numerous occasions as they drove for the line but eventually pressure told and again, with TMO confirmation, big second row Leva Fifita was deemed to have touched down for his side's first try, converted by Sontana Takulua and bring his side back in to the game with a 24-10 lead for the home side.
A rejuvenated Tonga laid siege to the Welsh line and with half time looming, it was another try for the forwards, with second row Sitiveni Mafi crashing through the Welsh defence to touch down, converted by Takulua and we had a game on our hands at 24-17 to Wales.
The Welsh team looked pretty relieved when the referee blew for half time and it was a buoyant Tonga side which jogged in to the changing rooms.
Tonga started the second half with a decisive break by number eight Sione Vailanu who scored under the posts with less than two minutes on the clock, converted by Takulua and suddenly we had a drawn game at 24-24 and a nervous Principality Stadium crowd.
This score woke Wales up and a great break by Jake Ball, although held up, was worked out wide for flying winger Steff Evans to score near the corner flag and restore the Welsh lead. Dan Biggar, having a fine game with the boot especially, converted and Wales had a lead of 31-24.
Another TMO decision, ten minutes in to the half, ruled out another Welsh score but, similar to the first half, it was Wales who were looking sharp and causing the Tongan defence all sorts of problems.
The speedy Welsh backs were looking to run the ball at every opportunity, causing panic in the visitors defence and an infringement after fifteen minutes of the half saw Dan Biggar gratefully accept three points from an easy penalty and create a ten point margin for Wales at 34-24.
Approaching the final quarter, a sniping run by Dan Biggar was thwarted close to the Tongan line but the ball was eventually fed out to scrum half Tomos Williams who calmly crossed for a fine try with Biggar again showing his skills with the boot, converting from out wide and increasing the home lead to 41-24.
If the Tongans thought Dan Biggar being replaced would give them some respite, how wrong they were, as Rhys Patchell picked up the baton and continued the orchestration of a rampant Wales side, placing a monster penalty kick in to the Tongan half, allowing the Welsh forwards to secure the lineout, followed by quick ball and Tyler Morgan crossed for another home score, increasing the lead to 46-24.
The crowd were on their feet again in the 65th minute as replacement Cory Hill pounced on a loose ball and galloped half the length of the pitch to touch down, converted by Rhys Patchell and the dragons were well and truly breathing fire with a 53-24 lead.
With the shackles off, Wales opened up and started to play sevens-style rugby with some terrific offloading and passing and it was after the ball passed through numerous pairs of hands that Aled Davies turned on the burners and sprinted away to touch down, Rhys Patchell converting and a commanding 60-24 lead on the scoreboard.
It was Patchell next who showed us some of his sublime skills, leaving half the Tongan team wrong-footed as he scored under the posts, converted his own try and extended the lead to 67-24.
With Tonga tiring by the minute, it was no surprise, with a couple of minutes to go, to see Liam Williams cross for another score, Patchell adding the two points for the conversion. A convincing 74-24 scoreline for the home side with seconds remaining.
The final whistle blown, the home crowd head home happy, forgetting the scare that Tonga gave Wales in the second quarter of the first half. Fair play to Wales for coming back so convincingly and it's fantastic to see the strength in depth that is available at this moment.
The whole country will now be looking forward to South Africa next Saturday and the opportunity to do a November 'Grand Slam'. We wish them well.
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