Rugby Union: Jenkins is key to Wales' victory

Tonga. . . 9

Wales. . .18

WALES moved on to Western Samoa last night buoyed by a record-breaking fifth successive Test win away from home, yet knowing they will have to show an improvement to end their summer tour unbeaten in Apia on Saturday.

Having made nine changes from the side which beat Fiji 23-8 five days earlier, and blooded four new caps in the process, the Welsh selectors gambled on scraping through this match.

They did just that against a tough Tongan outfit who had warmed up with a four-match unbeaten tour of New Zealand and a creditable 32-18 defeat at the hands of the Samoans. Yet despite an often apprehensive and reserved team performance, the selectors got what they wanted: a win and a clean bill of health.

The centre Mike Hall picked up a heel injury during the game, but that is not likely to prevent him from playing at the weekend. More importantly, key players such as John and Phil Davies, Scott Quinnell and Ricky Evans, were able to rest before Saturday's showdown with the champions of the South Seas.

'It was important to win and when you are on the road that's what matters most,' Robert Norster, the Welsh manager, said.

'We didn't really get to grips with the game and we made more errors in the match than we did during the whole of last season.'

In the end, the crucial contribution came from the pin-point goalkicking of Neil Jenkins, who had come into the Welsh side only as a late replacement for Adrian Davies.

The Pontypridd points machine kicked an immaculate six out of six penalties to make it 13 successful kicks on the trot in his last two Tests. In doing so he moved to within 40 points of Paul Thorburn's Welsh best of 304.

Tonga: Penalties: S Tu'ipulotu 3. Wales: Penalties: N Jenkins 6.

TONGA: S Tu'ipulotu; S Taupeaafu, F Manukia, P Latu, T Va'enuku; E Vunipola, M Vunipola; T Lutua, F Vunipola (captain), U Fa, V Taumoepeau, F Mafi (F Masila 26-29), T Loto'ahea, T Vikilani, K Tu'ipulotu.

WALES: A Clement (Swansea); I Evans (Llanelli, capt), M Hall (Cardiff), N Boobyer (Llanelli), G Wilkins (Bridgend); N Jenkins (Pontypridd), P John (Pontypridd); I Buckett (Swansea), G Jenkins (Swansea), H Williams-Jones (Llanelli), A Copsey (Llanelli), G Llewellyn (Neath), H Taylor (Cardiff), S Williams (Neath), R Collins (Pontypridd). Replacement: N Davies (Llanelli) for Hall, 63.

Referee: E Sklar (Argentina).