All five Welsh tries came from the backs as Mark Jones, James Hook, Kevin Morgan, Lee Byrne and Sweeney all crossed the line. This was Wales's first win since beating Scotland on February 12 and it was a second-string side who saw off the guests.
After the dragon showed it had fire in its belly by fighting back to draw 29-all with Australia last weekend, Wales coach Gareth Jenkins unleashed his B-team on the Islanders.
The Islanders are still without a win on the international stage having lost their inaugural tests in 2004 against southern hemisphere giants Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
As expected, the Islanders made their physical presence felt as both centre James Hook and No.10 Ceri Sweeney were left pole-axed by some robust tackling early on. The Islanders No.8 Hale T-Pole wiped out Hook with a late high tackle and Sweeney punished him with a penalty after five minutes to give Wales a
3-0 lead.
The home side kept up the pressure but Hook knocked on just short of the try-line and scrum-half Mike Phillips was held up having burrowed his way over. The pressure finally told when the ball was worked wide to Llanelli Scarlets winger Mark Jones, who brushed off two would-be tacklers, flirted with the touchline and touched down. Sweeney landed the conversion as Wales went 10-0 up with 16 minutes played.
As the Islanders' pack won some quick ruck ball, Hook intercepted the pass from their No.10 Tisi Pisi and sprinted away for his first home Welsh try. Sweeney's conversion took the score to 17-0 with Wales in full control.
A copy book try came on the half-hour as Sweeney drew in the defence and put Sonny Parker in the position to give full-back Kevin Morgan the opportunity to score his 11th test try. Sweeney's conversion made it 24-0.
The guests were rewarded for their pressure when prop Justin Va'a broke down the blindside from a line-out and managed to touch down, despite a double tackle, making the score 24-5. Yet the wayward pass from Seilala Mapasua was intercepted by Byrne who scored under the posts as Sweeney landed the conversion on the stroke of half-time.
Mapasua made amends straight after the break when he broke down the blind-side and found the defence absent for his side's second try, bringing the tally back to 31-10. However, a Parker pass put winger Jones away with only a tap tackle flooring him with the line at his mercy and he popped the ball to a grateful Sweeney to score.
Sweeney added the two points, which was followed by Pisi gaining a penalty for the Islanders. Ratuvou went over for a try making it 38-20 going into the final quarter. With both teams unable to extend their totals any further, Wales secured a win for the first time in nine months.
No. | Name | T | C | D | P | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | Kevin Morgan |
1T |
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14 | Lee Byrne |
1T |
|
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13 | Sonny Parker |
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12 | James Hook |
1T |
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11 | Mark Jones |
1T |
|
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10 | Ceri Sweeney |
1T |
5C |
1P |
|
|
9 | Mike Phillips |
|
||||
1 | Duncan Jones |
|
||||
2 | T.Rhys Thomas |
|
||||
3 | Chris Horsman |
|
||||
4 | Michael Owen |
|
||||
5 | Robert Sidoli |
|
||||
6 | Alun Wyn Jones |
|
||||
7 | Gavin Thomas |
|
||||
8 | Alix Popham |
|
||||
16 | Huw Bennett |
|
||||
17 | Adam Jones |
|
||||
18 | Gethin Jenkins |
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||||
19 | Jonathan Thomas |
|
||||
20 | Gareth Cooper |
|
||||
21 | Gavin Evans |
|
||||
22 | Shane Williams |
|
No. | Name | T | C | D | P | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | Norman Ligairi |
|
||||
14 | Lome Fa'atau |
|
||||
13 | Seru Rabeni |
|
||||
12 | Seilala Mapusua |
1T |
|
|||
11 | Sailosi Tagicakibau |
|
||||
10 | Tusi Pisi |
1C |
1P |
![]() |
||
9 | Moses Rauluni |
|
||||
1 | Justin Va'a |
1T |
|
|||
2 | Mahonri Schwalger |
|
||||
3 | Tevita Taumoepeau |
|
||||
4 | Simon Raiwalui |
|
||||
5 | Dan Leo |
|
||||
6 | Semo Sititi |
|
||||
7 | Nili Latu Langilangi |
|
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8 | Hale T-Pole |
|
||||
16 | 'Aleki Lutui |
|
||||
17 | Census Johnston |
|
||||
18 | Ma'ama Molitika |
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||||
19 | Epi Taione |
|
||||
20 | Junior Poluleuligaga |
|
||||
21 | Seremaia Baikeinuku |
|
||||
22 | Kameli Ratuvou |
1T |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Wal v Aus Teams Wales v Australia Opposition Australia (H) Opposition Aus (H) 21-29
HT 13-22
Opposition Australia Venue Principality Stadium Time KO 17:15 Referee Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Aus Form W W L L W ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Wal v Georgia Teams Wales v Georgia Opposition Georgia (H) Opposition Georgia (H) 13-6
HT 10-3
Opposition Georgia Venue Principality Stadium Time KO 14:30 Referee Mathieu Raynal Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Georgia Form L L W L L ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Wal v NZ Teams Wales v New Zealand Opposition New Zealand (H) Opposition NZ (H) 18-33
HT 11-12
Opposition New Zealand Venue Principality Stadium Time KO 17:15 Referee Wayne Barnes Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W NZ Form W W L D W ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Wal v South Africa Teams Wales v South Africa Opposition South Africa (H) Opposition South Africa (H) 24-22
HT 21-10
Opposition South Africa Venue Principality Stadium Time KO 14:30 Referee Jerome Garces Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W South Africa Form W L L L L ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Wal v Sco Teams Wales v Scotland Opposition Scotland (H) Opposition Sco (H) 34-7
HT 14-0
Opposition Scotland Venue Principality Stadium Time KO 14:15 Referee Pascal Gauzere Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Sco Form L W W L W ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Eng v Wal Teams England v Wales Opposition England (A) Opposition Eng (A) 12-6
HT 12-3
Opposition England Venue Twickenham Stadium Time KO 16:45 Referee Jerome Garces Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Eng Form W W L L L ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Ire v Wal Teams Ireland v Wales Opposition Ireland (A) Opposition Ire (A) 37-27
HT 15-13
Opposition Ireland Venue Aviva Stadium Time KO 14:15 Referee Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Ire Form W W W W W ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Wal v Ita Teams Wales v Italy Opposition Italy (H) Opposition Ita (H) 38-14
HT 17-7
Opposition Italy Venue Principality Stadium Time KO 15:00 Referee Jerome Garces Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Ita Form L L L L L ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Wal v Fra Teams Wales v France Opposition France (H) Opposition Fra (H) 14-13
HT 14-10
Opposition France Venue Principality Stadium Time KO 17:00 Referee Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Fra Form L L W W L ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams South Africa v Wal Teams South Africa v Wales Opposition South Africa (N) Opposition South Africa (N) 02/06/18, 17:00
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Opposition South Africa Venue RFK Stadium Time KO 17:00 Referee Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W South Africa Form W L L L L ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Argentina v Wal Teams Argentina v Wales Opposition Argentina (A) Opposition Argentina (A) 09/06/18, TBC
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Opposition Argentina Venue Estadio del Bicentenario Time KO TBC Referee Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Argentina Form L L L L L ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Argentina v Wal Teams Argentina v Wales Opposition Argentina (A) Opposition Argentina (A) 16/06/18, TBC
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Opposition Argentina Venue Estadio Brigadier Lopez Time KO TBC Referee Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Argentina Form L L L L L ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Fra v Wal Teams France v Wales Opposition France (A) Opposition Fra (A) 01/02/19, 21:00
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Opposition France Venue Stade de France Time KO 21:00 Referee Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Fra Form L L W W L ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Ita v Wal Teams Italy v Wales Opposition Italy (A) Opposition Ita (A) 09/02/19, 17:45
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Opposition Italy Venue Stadio Olimpico Time KO 17:45 Referee Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Ita Form L L L L L ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Wal v Eng Teams Wales v England Opposition England (H) Opposition Eng (H) 23/02/19, 16:45
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Opposition England Venue Principality Stadium Time KO 16:45 Referee Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Eng Form W W L L L ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Sco v Wal Teams Scotland v Wales Opposition Scotland (A) Opposition Sco (A) 09/03/19, 14:15
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Opposition Scotland Venue BT Murrayfield Time KO 14:15 Referee Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Sco Form L W W L W ![]() ![]() ![]() Teams Wal v Ire Teams Wales v Ireland Opposition Ireland (H) Opposition Ire (H) 16/03/19, 14:45
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Opposition Ireland Venue Principality Stadium Time KO 14:45 Referee Previous Meeting Wal Form W L L W W Ire Form W W W W W |
Welsh Rugby Union | ||
Principality Stadium, Westgate Street, Cardiff CF10 1NS | ||
Telephone: 08442 491 999 | Fax: 029 2082 2474 | Email: info@wru.co.uk |