If you are reading this and because you missed Friday nights game because of work or other commitments, you are one of the luckier ones. In five hundred words I will save you eighty minutes of your life. I'm sure like me everyone else had been getting more excited as the day went on to come home and watch Wales run in a comfortable win over the Tongans. No disrespect to the Tongans, they are a solid outfit and they put in the hits to prove it, but after a strong performance against Argentina, Wales should have dismantled them. With eleven rested it was a chance for others to step up, and they did all put a shift in. It was one of those games where players put in a shift rather than a performance.
James Hook started at 10 for the first time since the 2011 World Cup, he performed well in the circumstances, helping to create opportunities throughout the first half. Once the second half started any creativeness was sucked out of the game and it became a long drawn out and scoreless second period. Hook however, will not have another chance to shine as he has to return to Perpignan. He will have to hope that he has done enough to impress Gatland for the Six Nations, because it will be either Biggar or Priestland in for the Australia game.
There was a new centre partnership in Owen Williams and Ashley Beck, not one created due to a grand plan but out of necessity. Injuries have forced Wales into a centre crisis but the young pair stepped up and each scored tries. Both vying for a place alongside the fit again Scott Williams for the Australia game.
Wales enjoyed 64% of the possession and 77% of the territory in the second half but didn't score, although the obvious point to make is that Wales were not clinical. However, this doesn't tell the story, the ball was hardly in play in that second half and was constantly inside a scrum which made it a ling evenings viewing.
On the flip side of this, Wales haven't got any new injuries going into the big clash against Australia. There does deserve to be an honourable mention for Justin Tipuric. After going into yet another crunching tackle with the opposition he rolled him into the recovery position when he noticed he was knocked out. It was one shining light of sportsmanship in an otherwise grim game to watch.
Wales should also count their blessings, they have won a game, as much as I and many others have complained it is another win against a fairly strong side. Only a few years ago that would have been far more important than it is now. Wins have become an expectation, that's one thing that the reaction to this game showed, and not just to win but to win in style.
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