Wales continue their Under Armour Series by tackling Tonga at the Principality Stadium on Saturday. Here, we look at some key talking points heading into the game.
Big chance for Wales' fringe players to impress
Wales have just 11 Test matches left before their World Cup opener against Georgia in Japan next September, and while the vast majority of head coach Warren Gatland's squad looks to have taken shape, Saturday represents a golden opportunity for several players to push themselves forward. The likes of uncapped Leicester back Jonah Holmes, Dragons centre Tyler Morgan, Cardiff Blues scrum-half Tomos Williams, plus Dragons forwards Leon Brown and Aaron Wainwright, all fall into that category. While Tonga will not be pushovers, a much-changed Wales should still win comfortably, and Gatland will hope to see some unheralded names flourish.
Winning is a habit
Momentum counts for a lot in sport, and Wales have it by the bucket-load at present. They have not lost since suffering a 37-27 Six Nations defeat against Ireland nine months ago, reeling off victories over Italy, France, South Africa, Argentina (twice), Scotland and Australia. An eighth successive win achieved at Tonga's expense would equal Wales' best run since 2004-05, with South Africa looming next week. Wales have not won nine on the bounce for nearly 30 years, and they have never achieved an autumn clean sweep of victories.
Wales have sometimes struggled at home against Tier Two opposition
On paper, Tonga provide the least troublesome test of Wales' autumn series, but history suggests Gatland's team will need to be on their guard. Tonga are currently nine positions below third-placed Wales in rugby union's world rankings, suggesting a comfortable home win, yet Wales have not always found it straightforward against Tier Two teams at home. They lost to Samoa in 2012 and drew with Fiji two years earlier, while narrow victories have been recorded over the likes of Fiji (11-10, 2005), Japan (33-30, 2016) and Georgia (13-6, 2017).
Ellis Jenkins is a star in the making
Wales' back-row production line continues to run with impressive productivity. Even though former Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton has now retired, and the likes of Taulupe Faletau, Josh Navidi, Aaron Shingler and James Davies are all currently injured, Gatland can still call on players like Jenkins, Wainwright, Ross Moriarty, Justin Tipuric and Dan Lydiate. Flanker Jenkins, 25, has already captained Wales during his nine-cap Test career - he will do the job again on Saturday - and his consistently high-level performances are matched by an impressive tactical maturity. Looks the real deal.
Liam Williams joins Wales' 50-cap club
The Saracens back will become the latest Wales player to clock up a half-century of appearances for his country when he features against Tonga, and Williams' x-factor ability makes him a pivotal member of the current squad and, inevitably, next year's World Cup group. At wing or full-back, he offers an attacking threat that creates chances, even when faced by the most water-tight of defences. As he showed for the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand last year, there are few better at making something out of nothing.