Wales win over Uruguay marred by injuries to Liam Williams and Cory Allen
Last Updated: 22/09/15 2:29pm
Wales began their World Cup campaign with a 54-9 win over Uruguay in Cardiff - but the bonus-point victory came at a cost ahead of their Pool A showdown with England at Twickenham next weekend.
Having lost key men Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb to serious injuries before the start of the tournament, as well as wing Eli Walker, Wales suffered more problems on that particular front.
Full-back Liam Williams (dead leg) and prop Paul James (tight calf) both limped off before the break, while centre Cory Allen - who scored three of Wales' eight tries - had to be helped off by medical staff with a torn hamstring and his tournament could already be over. Aaron Jarvis also damaged a rib.
Allen grabbed all three of his touchdowns before half-time to help secure a bonus point which was essential in a Pool A which also includes England, Australia and Fiji.
After a bright start from the largely part-time Uruguayans, prop Samson Lee, who also suffered a calf problem, scored the first try in the 15th minute, with scrum-half Gareth Davies grabbing a brace and winger Hallam Amos and flanker Justin Tipuric also crossing in the second half. Uruguay posted three Felipe Berchesi penalties.
Fly-half Rhys Priestland converted seven of the eight tries but Wales coach Warren Gatland will be concerned about the injuries ahead of next Saturday's clash with England.
Uruguay, as if inspired by Japan's heroics against South Africa in Brighton on Saturday, had no intent of respecting reputations during an opening 10 minutes that they dominated. Berchesi landed an opening penalty after Tipuric infringed, then he struck again shortly afterwards following a flowing Uruguay move that featured Berchesi, scrum-half Agustin Ormaechea and centre Joaquin Prada.
Wales had been slow to settle, but they stirred in the 14th minute from a driven line-out, with Lee marking his comeback to Test action after a six-month injury absence by claiming the touchdown.
Priestland's conversion edged Wales 7-6 ahead, and a second try arrived just four minutes later when Priestland kicked cleverly into space for Allen to capitalise and match Lee in claiming a first Test try.
Priestland again converted, but Uruguay had no intention of staying in touch with the script as Berchesi completed his penalty hat-trick to make it 14-9 early in the second quarter.
Allen added his second try when he was the beneficiary of impressive approach work from Priestland and Scott Williams, but Wales' search for a bonus point did not come without a price to pay.
James limped off after 32 minutes, then Williams reluctantly left the action after earlier requiring treatment, which meant respective opportunities for Jarvis and Matthew Morgan.
Uruguay's promise continued to evaporate as half-time approached, and Wales cut them open with a sharp move that involved Tipuric and Amos, before a supporting Allen sprinted over unopposed and ensured a bonus point with half the contest still remaining.
Lee went off at the break to be replaced by Exeter's Tomas Francis, but Wales were now on a try-scoring mission, and Amos was given a free run to the line after 50 minutes for try number five to take his team past 30 points, yet Allen then went down and limped gingerly away.
Davies claimed the sixth Wales touchdown, and it was purely a case of how many more points Wales would score entering the final 15 minutes, but they found themselves frustrated by a combination of sloppy play and spirited Uruguay resistance until Tipuric and then Davies again pounced during the dying minutes.
