Yet Wales have had enough trouble in this type of game, especially as they invariably field a virtual second string, to know that embarrassment is only ever 80 minutes away. Last Saturday’s win over Argentina was their first in any autumn fixture for four years.
Wales could only draw with Fiji, so the potential menace of the Tongans was obvious and reinforced by pushing the French all the way a week ago in Le Havre and beating them at the 2011 World Cup.
We should not forget that Tonga has given rugby Jonah Lomu, as well as England’s Vunipola brothers and Wales’ Toby Faletau. New Zealand tend to take their pick of their islanders. Siale Piutau, in the centre last night, is All Black Charles Piutau’s brother.
On the other hand, Tonga had previously gone down in Romania and the unexpectedly decisive downfall of the Pumas, a much more conclusive defeat than they had against England, suggested a Welsh team for once living up to their status as Six Nations champions.
It was still a relief when Leigh Halfpenny steadied their nerves with a penalty, though the feeling became a whole lot more emotional when Owen Williams scored the first Wales try within a minute of the penalty. Though James Hook is as creative as any member of the squad, his exile in France and the perception that his lack of behemoth physicality is a drawback limit his opportunities to this kind of second-rank match. Even so, he can certainly take a tackle.
Article source: http://www.espnscrum.com/heineken-cup-2013-14/rugby/story/206925.html
Wales 17 - Tonga 7: Wales find it tough in Cardiff
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