North sparkles as Wales hit stride
LESS dazzle more fizzle this time for Wales against Scotland in Cardiff. George North and Jonathan Davies lit the sparkler on the November campaign, but this match faded into the night as it grew on.
That pair’s tries were the moments to bring ooohs and aaahs but there were not any of the fireworks of Wales’ 34-7 February blitz of Scotland in the Six Nations. It was hardly an insignificant victory, though.
The last time Wales won their autumn curtain-raiser Gethin Jenkins — who retires from the game aged 37 today — made his Test debut. That was against Romania way back in 2002, so a winless run of 11 November openers coming to an end is a welcome boost for Warren Gatland and Wales.
‘Momentum is good,’ said skipper Alun Wyn Jones. ‘That as a hit out was brilliant. It has been an arduous two weeks of training, but that one is out the way and we now have momentum for next week.’
There was one moment of concern, however. Ken Owens was struck a nasty blow in the final play of the first half, struggled to regain his feet and had blood pouring from his nose, but returned in the second half. Afterwards Gatland insisted Owens was not concussed. ‘Ken is fine,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t a concussion, it was a whack on the nose.’
It was expected that the match would follow in the theme of an emotional day in Cardiff, with the match being played in aid of the great Doddie Weir’s foundation, but really the first half was ho-hum.
The legendary former Scotland and Lions lock had all inside the Principality Stadium on their feet when he walked slowly from the tunnel 10 minutes before kick-off.
He was flanked by his wife Cathy and three sons, Hamish, Angus and Ben, superbly decked out in a trademark tartan suit, this one a new design with Scottish and Welsh colours combining.
His appearance reinforced the feeling that it would have been a downright disgrace if the Welsh and Scottish unions had not changed their minds and agreed to donate a slice of the £3million made from the match to the ‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’ which is desperately trying to find a cure for motor neurone disease.
Wales built a nine-point lead via three typically well-hit penalties from Leigh Halfpenny, the third coming after North thought he had scored. The winger gathered a chip from fly-half Gareth Anscombe on the right and touched down, but had a right foot in touch.
Fly-half Adam Hastings, making his first start for Scotland against a major Test nation, made an anxious start before hitting a penalty.
North then gave the game some spark. Taking a disguised ball down the left he pumped his legs past three defenders in a brilliant surge, leaving Huw Jones, Alex Dunbar and Blair Kinghorn quaking.
Halfpenny missed the conversion, and then at last Scotland responded as captain Stuart McInally crashed over from a maul and Hastings added the kick. For the ease in which they built a lead Wales were only up by four at the break.
Hot knives through soft butter came to mind for the next Welsh try. From first-phase ball Anscombe found Davies and the centre carved through. He fended off Huw Jones and powered away. Halfpenny converted, Wales were 11 up and well set.
They then had hearts in mouths when Scotland looked to have scored as George Horne dinked a kick into the dead-ball area for his brother Peter — but in trying to ground it he and Blair Kinghorn spilled the ball. Boss Gregor Townsend said: ‘That was a game when we had enough pressure, territory and opportunities to win.’
For Wales, a good start, but time to start lighting bonfires — starting with Australia next week. WALES: Halfpenny 7; North 8, J Davies 7, Parkes 6, Morgan 6 (S Evans 79); Anscombe 6 (J Evans 78), G Davies 6 (T Williams 70); Smith 5 (R Evans 63), Owens 6 (Dee 41-43, 63), Lewis 8 (Brown 79), Hill 6 (Beard 65), A-W Jones 8, Lydiate 7 (Owens 70, Wainwright 79), Tipuric 7, Moriarty 7. Tries: North, J Davies. Con: Halfpenny. Pens: Halfpenny 3. Booked: Dee. SCOTLAND: Kinghorn 6; Seymour 6 (Graham 74), H Jones 3 (P Horne 63), Dunbar 5, L Jones 5; Hastings 6, Price 6 (G Horne 53); Dell 5 (Allan 55), McInally 7 (Brown 55), Nel 5 (Berghan 55), Toolis 5, J Gray 6 (Gilchrist 70), Ritchie 5 (Fagerson 63), Watson 6, Wilson 6. Try: McInally. Con: Hastings. Pen: Hastings. Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France).