Halfpenny horror in easy win
68 12 LEIGH HALFPENNY’S serious knee injury overshadowed Wales’ 10-try thumping win over Canada.
The full-back’s 100th Test lasted just two minutes before he was carried off injured in tears.
Halfpenny suffered suspected anterior cruciate ligament damage when he slipped after going into an early challenge.
Dragons coach Wayne Pivac said: “It was a shock to everyone. Leigh was devastated.
“He knew straight away he’d done something.
“We won’t know how bad it is until he gets that scanned and he’ll do that early next week.”
Canada earned a shock early lead as they looked to emulate their famous victory of 1993 in Cardiff.
But the second-string hosts cruised home with two tries apiece from Tomos Williams and new cap Taine Basham setting up a record Wales points win over Canada.
Pivac added: “It’s a new group of guys. It wasn’t the start that anyone wanted but the reaction to that was good.”
A far biggest test now awaits, though, with Wales hosting Argentina in Cardiff on the next two weekends.
Pivac added: “It wasn’t the start that anyone wanted but the reaction to that was good. To have 40 points in the bank by half-time, you have to be relatively pleased.
“We knew there would be mistakes and there were. We will look at that and pull out the learnings for individuals and for the group as a whole.
“We needed a game. To go in cold against a side that has drawn twice against Australia and beaten the All Blacks, you have to respect that team.
“They are a serious Tier One nation now and for this young team to go up against a side like that is exactly what we need.
“It will show them how much hard work they need to put in if they want to play at this level on a regular basis.”