Liam Williams leads Wales to South Africa win and first clean sweep

• Wales 20-11 South Africa
• A ninth successive win is their best run for 19 years

They do not count for anything substantial, these autumn internationals, but to complete a clean sweep in such a series for the first time can do Wales no harm at all, what with the World Cup less than a year away. With this win, their fourth and most impressive of the month, they consolidate their position at number three in the world rankings – another irrelevance, but what confidence they seem to be developing, just as Warren Gatland’s long reign reaches its denouement.

And what depth. Ellis Jenkins became the latest young Welshman to shine – and he was whistled up on the morning of the match. They reckon this particular youngster is a surefire bet to captain Wales, the last such certainty being Sam Warburton. Jenkins has the recently retired maestro’s belligerent stealth at the breakdown – and he has a sumptuous attacking game. How cruel his game was to end on a stretcher.

Continue reading...

from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2r274jB
via
0 Comments