Wales second-half blitz too much for Tonga

Wales ran in seven of their ten tries in the second-half to record a comprehensive 74-24 victory over Tonga in Cardiff on Saturday.

Tonga got themselves off to the worst possible start when they conceded a penalty try and a yellow card to Leva Fifita for bringing down a Wales' driving maul that had marched upfield in the second minute.

Soon after, the hosts had their second try.  Tongan hooker Paula Ngauamo failed to find his jumper at the lineout and Wales quickly pounced on the ball.  It was recycled to Dan Biggar, who finished from first phase.  Biggar converted his own try to go past the 300 point mark for Wales.

Tongan scrum-half Sonatane Takulua added a penalty but the Wales backline were looking in fine form and added their third try after 12 minutes when slick hands from Tyler Morgan allowed Liam Williams to be freed in the corner.  Biggar added the extras to make it 21-3 to the home side in no time at all.

However, much against the run of play it would appear Tonga had scored from their first foray upfield, but the try was dubiously ruled out for a knock-on and Tonga would feel hard done by for that.

Biggar extended the lead to 24-3 with a penalty after Tongan openside flanker Fotu Lokotui was lucky to escape a yellow card after a very high hit.

Tonga were beginning to grow more and more into the game and got themselves camped on the Welsh tryline on a couple of occasions but were unable to find the cutting edge to finish until they eventually found a way through on the half-hour mark.  It was Fifita who dotted down at the base of the post after a series of powerful carries from the Tongan forwards.

Tonga's strategy of playing a direct forwards-based game of taking the ball up at close quarters was causing all sorts of problems for the Welsh defence as Steve Mafi this time burrowed over after another series of powerful carries from the Tongan pack.  Newcastle Falcons number nine Takulua made no mistake with the conversion to cut the deficit to seven at 24-17 as the sides headed into the interval.

From a routine Wales lineout two minutes in to the second-half, Tomos Williams threw a suicidal pass straight to Sione Vailanu, who ran coast to coast for the intercept try.  Takulua levelled matters up at 24-24 with the conversion.

But Wales hit back immediately, with lock Jake Ball making the initial break before the ball was worked out to Biggar, who executed the cross-field kick for Steff Evans to pounce and dot down.  Biggar converted for a 31-24 lead after 46 minutes.

Biggar added another penalty before scrum-half Williams scored with an outstretched hand.  Jonah Holmes then got in on the act, dotting down a few moments later as Wales raced into a 46-24 lead with 15 minutes to go.

It was beginning to really get away from Tonga when replacement Cory Hill got himself on the try column after excellent support play from fellow replacement Tomas Francis.  Rhys Patchell made it 53-24 with the extras as the game headed into the final 15 minutes.

Five minutes later, Wales had another try after fantastic interplay between backs and forwards saw another replacement Aled Davies go over for the eighth.  It must be said that Wales' replacements made a significant impact after the interval.

Patchell then scored a magnificent individual effort, swerving his way past numerous defenders to make it 67-24 before wing Williams put the icing on the cake, grabbing his brace as Wales closed out a 74-24 victory.

The scorers:

For Wales:
Tries:  Penalty Try, Biggar, L Williams 2, Evans, T Williams, Morgan, Hill, Davies, Patchell
Cons:  Biggar 4, Patchell 4
Pens:  Biggar 2

For Tonga:
Tries:  Fifita, Mafi, Vailanu
Cons:  Takulua 3
Pen:  Takulua
Yellow Card:  Fifita

Wales:  15 Jonah Holmes, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Seb Davies, 7 Ellis Jenkins (c), 6 Aaron Wainwright, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Leon Brown, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Wyn Jones
Replacements:  16 Ryan Elias, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Josh Adams

Tonga:  15 Vunga Lilo, 14 Viliami Lolohea, 13 Alaska Taufa, 12 Siale Piutau (c), 11 Daniel Kilioni, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Fotu Lokotui, 6 Dan Faleafa, 5 Sitiveni Mafi, 4 Leva Fifita, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Paula Ngauamo, 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi
Replacements:  16 Sefo Sakalia, 17 Latu Talakai, 18 Paea Fa’anunu, 19 Onehunga Havili, 20 Mike Faleafa, 21 Leon Fukofuka, 22 Kali Hala, 23 Atieli Pakalani

Referee:  Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant referees:  Angus Gardner (Australia), Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
TMO:  Olly Hodges (Ireland)