Wales open big first-half lead

Wales led Namibia 22-0 at half time in a Pool D match at Stadium Taranaki on Monday.
Stephen Jones celebrated the start of his 102nd Welsh cap with the first points in the third minute, a penalty.

Playing in a strong breeze coming from the nearby Tasman Sea and on a heavy field, where handling was often a lottery, and both sides fumbled early opportunities.

But in the eighth minute Leigh Halfpenny made a break after some slick passing from a scrum and off-loaded to Scott Williams, who raced within centimetres of the left touchline to score in his first RWC match. The evergreen Williams missed the conversion.

Following more quick passing, which made a mockery of the conditions, Bradley Davies broke a tackle in the 14th minute and fed big wing Aled Brew, who burst a weak Namibian tackle and raced to the line. Jones converted to make it 15-0.

Four minutes later Ryan Jones took a quick tap-penalty, passed to Toby Faletau who had a simple trot to the line, and Stephen Jones converted for 22-0.

Despite the early lapses that led to tries, Namibia were tackling well close to the set plays, as well as showing some adventurous backline play. From such a move in the 23rd minute, Wales were penalised for hands in the ruck, but Theuns Kotze pushed the penalty narrowly to the right from virtually in front of the posts.

Minutes before the break Koetze hit the post with another kickable penalty.