Was there really any pretense at making it a contest in Wales' preparation for the game? The new-look team played almost as if the opposition weren't there. As if the only appropriate response to losing possession was to let the other lot score so we can have the ball back. Defence? No, that's next week's training session. Didn't you get the memo?
South Africa had five pieces of quality possession, and scored five tries. The rest of the match seemed to consist entirely of brave, often inventive, but horribly toothless Welsh attack. It seems only yesterday that we were complaining that our backs could beat anyone given a fair share of ball. Hang on... it was yesterday! Well, we can add that to the list of cozy little delusions to disabuse ourselves of. Wales had hold of the pill nearly all game, and could only manage 12 points.
That doesn't tell anywhere near the full story, of course. There was much to admire, particularly in the attacking play of debutant Morgan Stoddart, and the application and distribution shown by Gavin Henson which indicated he may be on his way back for real. It's relevant and fair to welcome the positives visible in Wales' performance, provided we keep our eyes on the 34-12 scoreline, which in a home game is no approximation of Good Enough. Wozza (and Shaun?) will have winced at the frailty of some of the first-up defence; your mission, chaps, should you choose to accept it...
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