Shanklin leads Wales demolition job

Romania no match for rampant hosts

Wales bounced back from their 38-36 defeat to the Springboks last weekend with a 66-7 thrashing of Romania at the Millennium Stadium on Friday. Centre Tom Shanklin led the way for the hosts by picking up four tries.

It was the ideal result for Wales as they warmed up for their eagerly-awaited showdown with Graham Henry's All Blacks next Saturday by running the Romanians ragged with a total of 10 tries.

Fly-half Stephen Jones weighed in with 19 points from seven conversions and a try, while there were also touchdowns for wing Rhys Williams, centre Gavin Henson, prop Gethin Jenkins, flanker Dafydd Jones and substitute scrum-half Gareth Cooper.

Romania gained a consolation try just before half-time from Paris-based scrum-half Lucian Sirbu, but it meant nothing in the overall scheme.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock witnessed several encouraging signs, notably a powerful ball-carrying contribution from 6ft 9in lock Luke Charteris on his first international start, with Shanklin, Henson and scrum-half Dwayne Peel also starring.

Shanklin inevitably stole the limelight, matching individual scoring exploits of past Welsh internationals such as Maurice Richards, Ieuan Evans and Glen Webbe.

But Wales now need a major scalp, and New Zealand are in their sights.

After losing narrowly to South Africa last weekend, Wales will see tonight's 35,000 crowd doubled next Saturday for the All Blacks' visit.

Romania, with nine French-based players, did their utmost to test Wales, but they did not come remotely close to staving off a sixth successive defeat at the Millennium Stadium.

Wales took the field in their new change strip of white shirts and black shorts with green trimmings, and they were hell-bent on making an immediate statement.

Charteris made a strong early run into the Romanian midfield, and Wales continued to threaten, with skipper Gareth Thomas only being hauled down courtesy of a desperate ankle-tap tackle.

Romania could only keep Wales out for so long though, and the home side struck with a sixth-minute try when Shanklin threw a subtle dummy to cross for his seventh international try.

Jones slotted the angled conversion, and Wales were on their way, 7-0 ahead.

Wales were eager to get their hands on possession through backs and forwards, but Romania, in comparison, appeared devoid of attacking ideas. Early signs suggested damage-limitation for the visitors.

The home side struck again on 16 minutes when an exquisite inside pass from Henson sent Williams dashing 30 metres to the line.

Jones' conversion made it 14-0, and Wales moved further away as the opening quarter ended when Stephen Jones ghosted clear and touched down near the posts. Predictably, the conversion was successful.

With the game already done and dusted, Wales had an option of using cruise control or going for the jugular of their opponents and finishing them off comprehensively before half-time.

Romania could offer little in terms of an attacking threat, and it was only a matter of time before Wales went further ahead.

Jenkins, winning his 25th cap, crashed over for his first Test try 10 minutes before half-time, then Shanklin threw an outrageous dummy, strolling over from 20 metres out, and with Jones slotting both conversions, Wales led 35-0.

Wales scored at just over a point a minute, and there appeared nothing that Romania could do about it, although a wayward midfield pass from Jones allowed the visitors a rare attacking platform.

To their credit, they gratefully accepted it, with Sirbu touching down for a try that fly-half Ionut Tofan converted.

Wales required less than seven minutes to extend their lead. With space available out wide, Henson had the easy task of cruising through a gap for his third touchdown in two games.

Jones landed his sixth conversion, and Wales were out of sight, 42-7 clear and cruising towards an emphatic success.

Charteris continued to prove a handful for the visitors, combining his strength with some deft handling skills, but the third quarter proved a relatively uneventful affair until Shanklin struck again.

Sent free by another line-breaking Henson pass, Shanklin completed his hat-trick, with Jones maintaining his perfect kicking record by slotting a seventh conversion for a 49-7 lead.

And there was more to come during the closing flurries, sending Welsh supporters home happy and with a sense of anticipation for events next Saturday.

The scorers:

For Wales:
Tries: Williams, Stephen Jones, Jenkins, Shanklin 4, Henson, Daffyd Jones, Cooper
Cons: Stephen Jones 7, Sweeney

For Romania:
Try: Sirbu
Con: Tofan