Wales escapes dismal defeat

Skipper Charvis - " Wales far from best."

Wales captain Colin Charvis admitted his side were far from at their best as they ground out a 27-20 World Cup win over Tonga on Sunday.

Wales coach Steve Hansen also admitted the Welsh would need a significant improvement to beat Italy in what is shaping as the Pool D qualification decider.

Tonga made life difficult for the Welsh throughout the Pool D match in Canberra, but tries from Gareth Cooper and Martyn Williams and 14 points from Stephen Jones eventually saw them home.

Colin Charvis said: "We never anticipated an easy ride from Tonga. We know how physical they can be.

"We made some mistakes, as they did, and we did not capitalise on the territory we had and they took us to wire.

Backwards step

"They played out of their skins. They knew this was the game for them if they wanted to stay in tournament.

"We needed a win. Conditions made for a slippery ball and that was difficult for us but we ground out a win.

"For the Tongans I am sure they are happy with their performance."

Steve Hansen insisted all was not lost despite his side having taken a step backwards in their attempts to reach the last eight of the World Cup.

The Welsh struggled to impose their authority and superior international experience on a game played in the teeming rain - conditions far more suitable to men from the valleys than men from the south Pacific.

They were outscored by three tries to two and were saved by three key factors - the introduction of flanker Martyn Williams, who landed a drop goal then scored a try; some desperate defence in the closing stages; and the fact that Tongan fly-half Pierre Hola had a worse evening with the boot than Stephen Jones.

Both missed four efforts, but the raft of penalties conceded by Tonga in kickable positions meant Jones still managed to land four penalties plus a conversion.

Coach Hansen - "It wasn't a top drawer performance."

Otherwise Hansen could have been staring down the barrel of an embarrassing reverse - but Wales escaped with the win and he was determined to take the positives.

"We won, we were pleased with that," he said.

"It wasn't a top drawer performance. In the past when we haven't had a top drawer performance it hasn't been good enough to win."

Tongan coach Jim Love felt his side had let Wales off the hook.

"I think there were too many mistakes. I believed we had the game but didn't take the opportunities," he said.

"There were a lot of little mistakes. It would have been good if we could have played this way against Italy."

At the very least, Wales now know that one more victory will secure them a place in the last eight of the Rugby World Cup.

But the hardy Welsh supporters, who braved the teeming Canberra rain in their numbers on Sundaywill wait nervously to see if their side have it in them to beat Italy where Tonga failed.