Wales scored eight tries as they battled to a hard-fought 54-9 victory against a determined Uruguay in an error-strewn performance.
Centre Cory Allen bagged a hat-trick while scrum-half Gareth Davies scored twice as Warren Gatland’s side made hard work of their lesser opponents in Cardiff.
And Gatland will have plenty to think about as his side laboured to a win while their injury crisis continued with both Allen and Liam Williams limping off.
It was Uruguay who started the better, earning a penalty within the first minute which Felipe Berchesi stoked through the uprights to give the South Americans.
Their good start continued as the forwards earned another penalty at the breakdown, although Berchesi’s 56-metre effort did not have the legs on this occasion. However, continued pressure earned the visitors another penalty and the Uruguay fly-half made no mistake this time.
Eventually, Wales made a breakthrough. Consecutive driving mauls overpowered the Uruguayan pack and the returning Samson Lee touched down to give the hosts the lead.
Just a couple of minutes later, Wales had crossed the whitewash once again. A first-phase move straight off the training ground saw Rhys Priestland’s pinpoint chip gathered by the chasing Cory Allen to power through defenders to score.
While many would have expected Uruguay to have folded, the South Americans came back with Berchesi nailing another penalty after Jake Ball was penalised for a tackle.
Frustration was creeping into the Welsh game as unforced errors negated the threat posed by their backline. But that all dissipated when Scott Williams burst through the Uruguayan defensive line to put Allen in for his second try.
One concerning image for Wales fans was the departure of Liam Williams with a dead leg just half an hour into his return.
With the first-half coming to a close, Wales began to put the pressure on in the Uruguay 22 although their opponents held firm. But on the stroke of half-time, Allen went over to complete his hat-trick after Justin Tipuric displayed his handling skills before Hallam Amos put the Cardiff Blues centre in with a neat inside pass.
Wales started the second-half brighter as they looked to go through the phases and wear down their opponents. And the first points of the half looked to have come from the driving maul but with the review of the TMO, it emerged Justin Tipuric had, in fact, dropped the ball over the line.
But just minutes later, Wales did have their try as Hallam Amos finished off a break from Gareth Davies to register his first points for his country.
Wales’ injury woes continued as Cory Allen limped off with scrum-half Lloyd Williams forced to cover in midfield.
And it was Williams’ rival for the number nine shirt who got the next try. Gareth Davies darting over after another powerful driving maul from the Welsh pack.
Immediately from the kick-off, Scott Williams broke, but Alex Cuthbert could not hold on to the Scarlets centre’s pass as another promising move came to an all-too-familiar disappointing end.
Lloyd Williams then looked to have crossed for a try but little did he realise referee Romain Poite had in fact blown up for a forward pass earlier in the move.
As the match entered the final minutes, Tipuric made no mistake as he crossed for a try off the back of a maul.
And as the clock ticked over the 80-minute mark, Davies burst over from close-range as Wales moved past a half-century of points.
