The size of the challenge facing Steve Tandy’s new-look Wales team in the Quilter Nations Series this month was underlined by the world champion Springboks running in nine tries against Japan and New Zealand beating Ireland in Chicago on the opening weekend.
Wales face South Africa in their fourth and final fixture on Saturday 29 November and meet the All Blacks the week before. They kick-off with a game against another Rugby Championship side, Argentina, at Principality Stadium on Sunday 9 November and then meet Japan six days later.
The re-match at Soldier Field nine years on from Ireland’s famous first win over New Zealand in 111 years turned into a tight tussle that was marred for the Irish by the early sending off of second row Tadhg Beirne. He picked up a 20 minute red card for a head high shoulder shot to the head of Beauden Barrett.
While Beauden carried on for the rest of the game, his brothers Scott and Jordie didn’t make it. Scott limped out of the game after two minutes with a nasty cut in his leg, while Jordie damaged his knee in the 15th minute.
Both are considered unlikely to play against Scotland and Jordie’s fate will be determined by scans this week to assess the extent of any damage.
Having taken a 10-0 lead, Ireland couldn’t stop Ardie Savea from scoring a try that made it 10-7 at the break. A Jack Crowley penalty made it 13-7 to the Irish, but three second half tries gained ample revenge for Scott Robertson’s All Blacks as they ran out 26-13 winners in the end.
“It took a bit of everything, didn’t it? We got a bit of momentum in that second half, executed And just kept the pressure on them,” All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson.
“We just couldn’t execute enough in that first half. We got into the 22 four times, gave up a few lineouts, and lost a couple of Barretts.
“We got back to that second half and actually held the ball for long periods of time and put pressure back on them. It was a game of two halves.
“It was great to get some flow and I’m just really pleased that everyone stepped up. We’re just so pleased that with 20 minutes to go there was an impact off our bench.”
Robertson was pleased to see his scrum being “a real weapon” and he also noted the Irish lineout was down to 69% success.
Japan head coach Eddie Jones was singing the praises of Springbok outside half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu after the 23-year-old racked up 16 points in his side’s 61-7 victory over Japan at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. That took his tally for the year to 68 points in eight internationals.
“I’m impressed by his leg speed – he has got serious, quick feet, and he is a big guy at No 10. He has got a fantastic fend too, so you give him half an opportunity and he is gone,” said Jones after his side’s had conceded nine tries.
“He gives South Africa a different threat. They’ve always had the aerial threat, but now they have a running threat if they get fast ball, and we stood off him just once, and he made us pay.
“If he can continue to develop his game, learn when to play fast and when to play slow, he is going to be one hell of a player.”
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus was in no mood to disagree with Jones and is delighted with the progress being made by a player who spent time at Llandovery College in 2018 playing in the WRU’s Schools & Colleges League.
“Everyone is viewing it as a rapid rise for Sacha, but he’s been working with all the different coaches through all the different stages, and he trained with us for the entire end-of-year tour,” said Erasmus.
“We know he is a great talent. It was a wet game against a Japanese team that we’ve struggled to put away before, but he was physical for a No 10, he kicked well, tackled well, and he’s got the magic feel for the game.
“With him, Manie Libbock and Handre Pollard, we are in a fortunate position with our outside halves. Obviously, you can see Sacha is getting more comfortable in the position, but we face France next week and we also have Ireland lined up later on tour, so we always need to make a step up.”
Feinberg-Mngomezulu was joined by Kurt-Lee Arendse in scoring two tries, while skipper Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Andre Estehuizen and Jesse Kriel also crossed the Japanese line. There was also a penalty try from a driving maul – Yoshitaka Yazaki scored the only try for Japan in the 52nd minute.
Argentina and Wales both sat out the first round of QNS matches, although an Argentina XV did play a game against Munster at Thomond Park. That ended in a 31-28 win for Munster.