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New Plymouth - A Scott Williams hat-trick helped guide Wales to a bonus-point 81-7 victory over Namibia on Monday to set up a crunch game against Fiji for a quarter-final berth.
Wales's biggest ever World Cup win drew them level with Samoa on 10 points in pool D, and leaves them needing to beat Fiji in their final game next weekend, when unbeaten group leaders South Africa play the Samoans.
Despite scoring 12 tries to one, the Welsh at times laboured against Namibia, who became the first team to exit the World Cup having suffered three previous defeats to Fiji (49-25), Samoa (49-12) and South Africa (87-0) - the latter just four days ago.
Things didn't start well for Namibia when the scrum imploded at the first time of setting, the penalty kicked by Stephen Jones, who went on to also kick six conversions on his record 101st appearance for Wales.
A sweet inside pass from Jonathan Davies saw Leigh Halfpenny scurrying down the touchline, drawing Chrysander Botha and sending Williams in for his first try.
Aled Brew and Toby Faletau then scored in quick succession to make it 22-0 for Wales after just 17 minutes.
But the southern Africans did not wilt in the face of the Welsh attack, even managing to gain some parity, with an impressive line-out display, an improving midfield defence and a doughty performance at the breakdown led by captain Jacques Burger.
Unfortunately, Namibian fly-half Theuns Kotze was unable to capitalise, failing with two 45-metre penalties just before half-time.
Williams bagged a brace, and a crucial bonus point for Wales, shortly after some sustained pressure on the Namibian line.
Gethin Jenkins then scored a plum of a prop's try, the British Lion showing the public what Wales have been sorely lacking in terms of forward mobility.
Dropped off by Jonathan Davies, Jenkins sold a dummy, stepped and sprinted to the line, eventually bundled over in a mass of bodies for a fine try.
Jenkins' effort was immediately forgotten, however, as Namibian second-rower Heinz Koll sold Brew an outrageous dummy to give himself a lock's gallop to the corner from 35 metres for a memorable five-pointer that Kotze converted.
Wales hit back with a try from giant winger George North, who made a massive impact when he came on in place of Brew.
North was immediately in action from the re-start, finding a gap and busting out to the halfway line, the supporting Jonathan Davies crossing for a great score.
And North was on hand to muscle his way over for his second try just a minute later after a Lee Byrne break. Scott Williams bagged his hat-trick with a jinking run moments after.
As Namibia collapsed, Lloyd Williams, Byrne and Alun Wyn Jones also crossed for tries in what was a new record World Cup victory for Wales, surpassing the 72-18 win over Japan in 2007.
Scorers:
Wales:
Tries: Scott Williams (3), Aled Brew, Toby Faletau, Gethin Jenkins, George North (2), Jonathan Davies, Lloyd Williams, Lee Byrne, Alun Wynn Jones
Conversions: Stephen Jones (6), Rhys Priestland (3)
Penalties: Jones
Namibia:
Tries: Heinz Koll
Conversions: Theuns Kotze
Teams:
Namibia:
15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Danie Van Wyk, 13 Piet Van Zyl, 12 Darryl De La Harpe, 11 Danie Dames, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 7 Jacques Burger (captain), 6 Tinus Du Plessis, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Heinz Koll, 3 Jan Du Toit, 2 Hugo Horn, 1 Johnnie Redelinghuys
Substitutes: 16 Bertus O'Callaghan, 17 Raoul Larson, 18 Wacca Kazombiaze, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Ryan De La Harpe, 21 TC Losper, 22 David Philander
Wales:
15 Lee Byrne, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Craig Mitchell, 2 Lloyd Burns, 1 Gethin Jenkins
Substitutes: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Luke Charteris, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 Rhys Priestland, 22 George North
* Click HERE for the latest RWC odds on BET.CO.ZA
Wales's biggest ever World Cup win drew them level with Samoa on 10 points in pool D, and leaves them needing to beat Fiji in their final game next weekend, when unbeaten group leaders South Africa play the Samoans.
Despite scoring 12 tries to one, the Welsh at times laboured against Namibia, who became the first team to exit the World Cup having suffered three previous defeats to Fiji (49-25), Samoa (49-12) and South Africa (87-0) - the latter just four days ago.
Things didn't start well for Namibia when the scrum imploded at the first time of setting, the penalty kicked by Stephen Jones, who went on to also kick six conversions on his record 101st appearance for Wales.
A sweet inside pass from Jonathan Davies saw Leigh Halfpenny scurrying down the touchline, drawing Chrysander Botha and sending Williams in for his first try.
Aled Brew and Toby Faletau then scored in quick succession to make it 22-0 for Wales after just 17 minutes.
But the southern Africans did not wilt in the face of the Welsh attack, even managing to gain some parity, with an impressive line-out display, an improving midfield defence and a doughty performance at the breakdown led by captain Jacques Burger.
Unfortunately, Namibian fly-half Theuns Kotze was unable to capitalise, failing with two 45-metre penalties just before half-time.
Williams bagged a brace, and a crucial bonus point for Wales, shortly after some sustained pressure on the Namibian line.
Gethin Jenkins then scored a plum of a prop's try, the British Lion showing the public what Wales have been sorely lacking in terms of forward mobility.
Dropped off by Jonathan Davies, Jenkins sold a dummy, stepped and sprinted to the line, eventually bundled over in a mass of bodies for a fine try.
Jenkins' effort was immediately forgotten, however, as Namibian second-rower Heinz Koll sold Brew an outrageous dummy to give himself a lock's gallop to the corner from 35 metres for a memorable five-pointer that Kotze converted.
Wales hit back with a try from giant winger George North, who made a massive impact when he came on in place of Brew.
North was immediately in action from the re-start, finding a gap and busting out to the halfway line, the supporting Jonathan Davies crossing for a great score.
And North was on hand to muscle his way over for his second try just a minute later after a Lee Byrne break. Scott Williams bagged his hat-trick with a jinking run moments after.
As Namibia collapsed, Lloyd Williams, Byrne and Alun Wyn Jones also crossed for tries in what was a new record World Cup victory for Wales, surpassing the 72-18 win over Japan in 2007.
Scorers:
Wales:
Tries: Scott Williams (3), Aled Brew, Toby Faletau, Gethin Jenkins, George North (2), Jonathan Davies, Lloyd Williams, Lee Byrne, Alun Wynn Jones
Conversions: Stephen Jones (6), Rhys Priestland (3)
Penalties: Jones
Namibia:
Tries: Heinz Koll
Conversions: Theuns Kotze
Teams:
Namibia:
15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Danie Van Wyk, 13 Piet Van Zyl, 12 Darryl De La Harpe, 11 Danie Dames, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 7 Jacques Burger (captain), 6 Tinus Du Plessis, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Heinz Koll, 3 Jan Du Toit, 2 Hugo Horn, 1 Johnnie Redelinghuys
Substitutes: 16 Bertus O'Callaghan, 17 Raoul Larson, 18 Wacca Kazombiaze, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Ryan De La Harpe, 21 TC Losper, 22 David Philander
Wales:
15 Lee Byrne, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Craig Mitchell, 2 Lloyd Burns, 1 Gethin Jenkins
Substitutes: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Luke Charteris, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 Rhys Priestland, 22 George North
* Click HERE for the latest RWC odds on BET.CO.ZA
