Wal v Can: Welsh player ratings
Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:25
Wales managed a comprehensive 34-13 over Canada in the international at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Friday, but it was not the kind of performance that would inspire confidence ahead of the visits by New Zealand and Australia later this month.
Paul Dobson rates the Welsh players.
15 Morgan Stoddard:
Great on the run but woeful under the high ball. His try took a lot of work.
5/10
14 Leigh Halfpenny:
His first try was simply wonderful, a combination of cunning and strength; his second was all anticipation and speed.
8/10
13 Tom Shanklin:
Did more good things than bad - great on defence, a wonderful pass for Stoddard's try - just a little stodgy at times.
6/10
12 Andrew Bishop:
A clever runner and distributor and
then he would spoil it with a poor pass.
6/10
11 Mark Jones:
He had one great moment when he turned defence into speeding attack. He was always exciting.
7/10
10 Dan Biggar:
Came on early in the first half for his debut when James Hook went off and showed great talent as he varied play cleverly. But his pass gave Canada their try on an intercept.
7/10
9 Martin Roberts:
On debut but his pass was deceptive and nerves showed.
3/10
8 Ryan Jones:
Was taken off early in the second half and had some goodish moments with ball in hand but had a problem catching kicks and was poor in presenting the ball when tackled.
4/10
7 Robin Sowden-Taylor:
A fairly anonymous game
5/10
6 Dafydd Jones:
He had a few blips but also some wonderful moments with his speed and anticipation. Conceding penalties is not bright.
6/10
5 Luke Charteris:
Tall timber who got stuck in in the loose and had a couple of good charges.
6/10
4 Ian Gough:
Made Canada's life a nightmare in the line-outs, won one of them for the first try, came close to scoring himself and drove with power.
8/10
3 Rhys Thomas:
An easy scrummaging night for Wales against the crumbling Canadians but the destruction started in the front row.
6/10
2 Richard Hibbard:
Strong in the scrum and busy roundabout, handling more often than most backs.
7/10
1 John Yapp:
He was magnificent. His scrumming was powerful, his supporting play in line-outs excellent and he carried the ball time and again with effect.
9/10
Replacements: Matthew Rees who did not play, Eifion Lewis Roberts who had a bit of a game late in the match, Alun-Wyn Jones, who did not play, Andy Powell who replaced Ryan Jones and was strong and prominent, Dwayne Peel who made a difference when he came on, and Jamie Roberts who made the break that led to Wales' best try as they raced the length of the field in the last minute of the match.
