IT was a magical afternoon for Dragons debutants Ben Carter and Taine Basham but Wales’ ten-try thumping of Canada was tinged with sadness after more injury anguish for Leigh Halfpenny.
The full-back’s 100th international appearance – 96 for Wales and four for the Lions – lasted less than a minute at Principality Stadium after he twisted his left knee sidestepping after 29 seconds.
In scenes reminiscent of the 2015 World Cup warm-up, Halfpenny received lengthy treatment on the field before being carted off. The 32-year-old faces a long road to recovery if he is to make it to 101.
That was a nightmare start for Wales on what turned out to be a routine afternoon in Cardiff, racking up the points in a 68-12 success.
The Six Nations champions were far too powerful for Canada, running in ten tries in a tune-up for two contests against Argentina in the capital that will be much more competitive.
It was a fixture of note for the Dragons with a record eight players featuring in an international – lock Carter started and flanker Basham came off the bench while full-back Jonah Holmes, hooker Elliot Dee, lock Will Rowlands, back rowers Ross Moriarty and Aaron Wainwright and tighthead Leon Brown added to their tally of caps.
Holmes (2), Dee and Rowlands scored their first Test tries while Basham followed them over just six minutes after coming on and added a second.
Carter, who only made his professional debut in November and turned 20 in January, was superb in the tight and loose to win the man of the match award, chosen by his Dragons teammate Jamie Roberts.
All of the Rodney Parade contingent will be looking forward to a sterner challenge against the Pumas as they stake a claim for starting spots in Pivac’s first-choice team next season.
It was a drubbing yet Canada struck first with a try in the fifth minute, a quickly taken penalty ending with the ball being spread wide to the right for Kaiona Lloyd to power over through the attempted tackle of debutant winger Tom Rogers.
The conversion was wide and Wales responded swiftly to go in front through their own quick tap, Tomos Williams darting over for a try that Callum Sheedy converted.
The second came after 14 minutes when Cardiff flanker James Botham got his first international try after full-back Holmes, makeshift wing Nick Tompkins and centre Jonathan Davies combined on a counter.
Holmes was over himself after 20 minutes, a simple finish down the right after good hands by Tompkins for the Dragons man, who had switched from the wing after Halfpenny’s misfortune, to score his first Test try.
The 29-year-old finished the season with a flourish – scoring 10 in 10 games – and intends to impress while Liam Williams, Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit are with the Lions.
The front rowers then got in on the act with loosehead Nicky Smith finishing off a multi-phase attack in the 22 before Dragons hooker Elliot Dee scored his first international try on his 38th outing, powering over from close range.
That showed that Canada couldn’t live with Wales’ physicality with more evidence in the 37th minute when lock Will Rowlands, in his third day as a Dragons player, cut a nice line to score his first Test try.
It was 40-5 to Wales at the break and the lead was stretched six minutes after the restart when Williams cantered for his second.
The game was done long before the half-time whistle and slightly lost its shape with the benches being emptied.
But one of the replacements made their mark in the 57th minute when Basham finished smartly down the right from skipper Davies’ long pass to the right flank.
The 21-year-old from Talywain made it a double when he finished off a driving lineout with fellow new cap Ben Thomas impressively converting from the touchline to make it 61-5.
Canada were twice denied by the TMO but got their second when full-back Cooper Coats cut a nice line to go over but Wales had the final say when Holmes darted over.
Wales scorers: tries – T Williams (2), J Botham, J Holmes (2), N Smith, E Dee, W Rowlands, T Basham (2); conversions – C Sheedy (7), B Thomas (2)
Canada scorers: tries – K Lloyd, C Coats; conversions – P Nelson
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