Injury worries for Wales following Baa-baas defeat
May 29, 2002
Wales coach Steve Hansen has fitness concerns over centre Andy Marinos and prop Chris Anthony after they picked up injuries in the 40-25 defeat at the hands of the Barbarians. Marinos went off during the game at the Millennium Stadium, while his Newport colleague Anthony withdrew before kick-off because of a shoulder problem. "Andy has suffered a sprained ankle, so we will have to wait and see," said Hansen, whose players face Tests against the Springboks in Bloemfontein on June 8 and Cape Town seven days later. Anthony, meanwhile will have a fitness test later on Thursday, but his tour prospects were described as "iffy" by Wales manager Alan Phillips. South Africa have little to fear on Wednesday night's evidence, when Wales blew a 25-0 interval lead and conceded 40 unanswered second-half points. Pat Lam's Baa-baas staged a stunning fightback, with Gloucester's new South African signing Thinus Delport and replacement prop Adrian Garvey each scoring two tries. Leicester centre Ollie Smith and and skipper Lam, on his farewell appearance before retirement, also touched down, while fly-half Braam van Straaten kicked five conversions. The 21,500 crowd could scarcely believe the extent of Wales' capitulation following tries by centre Mark Taylor, wing Craig Morgan and flanker Gavin Thomas that had helped establish a commanding advantage. "We started to miss tackles, we became a little bit patternless and I guess that we lost our composure," said Hansen. "And against such a good side, you are going to end up getting punished. We spent the whole second-half defending, it became hard work, and in the end, we ran out of numbers. "But there is no point in feeling angry. We are all disappointed, but being angry is not going to solve the problem." Wales started with a bang, collecting first-half tries from Taylor, Morgan and Thomas, while fly-half Stephen Jones kicked 10 points, but the men in red then collapsed spectacularly. The Baa-baas, crushed 53-29 by England last Sunday, were unable to penetrate a well-organised Welsh unit early on, and prospects of another hiding seemed strong at the break. But they never looked back after scoring a try that showcased the talents of exciting young English backs Jamie Noon and Smith. Newcastle's Noon blasted through the Welsh defence, and his efforts were rewarded when Smith - back in Cardiff just five days after helping Leicester retain the Heineken Cup - beat Rhys Williams in a try-line dash. The Baa-baas had received their wake-up call, and as Wales' most-capped player Neil Jenkins prepared to join the action following a 12-month injury absence from international rugby, they struck a second blow. Wales had no answer to some crisp midfield passing, and Smith's exquisite delivery allowed Delport an easy run-in. The Baa-baas continued their superb recovery on 61 minutes, when Delport added his second try by showing a blistering turn of pace, van Straaten again converting, and Wales could not respond as they continued leaking scores. |
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