WALES remain on course for a clean sweep of their autumn internationals after scoring 50 unanswered points in a one-sided second half against Tonga yesterday.

Within two minutes referee Nic Berry had blown for a penalty try and sent Leva Fifita to the sin bin.

The stunned visitors were further rocked in an opening 10-minute spell by a Dan Biggar try and a splendid diving effort by Liam Williams on his 50th appearance.

But the home side’s dream start after racing to a 24-3 lead within 20 minutes was pegged back by a tenacious Tongan fightback yielding two tries.

Within minutes of the second half, Tonga had levelled the scores after Saracens’ Sione Vailanu went over after an interception.

The Millennium stadium crowd were beginning to get restless, but a huge run by the bearded Jake Ball led to a Steff Evans try to calm the nerves.

Head coach Warren Gatland was sanguine after his side’s comprehensive victory.

”If you look at the game in segments, we started off exceptionally well.

“We had 20 minutes where we put ourselves in a bit of a hole and dug ourselves out of it in the second half with some outstanding rugby.”

Since last year’s autumn internationals Gatland has been rebuilding his squad and increasing the depth of talent and experience.

“We’ve got 40 players in the squad and eight or nine of them are going to miss out on the World Cup. Some players are aware of how important the next six months are.

“It’s probably one of the best group of guys we’ve had since I’ve been with the squad. No egos, everyone’s working hard, the mood in the camp has been brilliant and we’re in a good place.”

Captain Ellis Jenkins led Wales for the first time at home and is hoping to be picked for next Saturday’s game against South Africa.

“I don’t think there are any players here who would be happy being called second-teamers.

“Everybody wants to be in the first team and that is the challenge for us,” said Jenkins.

What was clear in a one-sided second half was that Tonga tired dramatically and, once both coaches emptied the benches, the home squad was demonstrably superior.

A rueful Tongan coach Toutai Kefu admitted that his team made a few errors in the second half.

But he explained that Tonga’s inexperienced squad were targeting their last match against Georgia on this tour.

“Georgia is our main focus because they are right behind us in the world rankings.

“We have around 18 players missing from this tour and from the group of 30 I reckon only five, perhaps 10, would make our world cup squad.”

Wales march on and Gatland is in the enviable position of having three in-form fly-halves to choose from.

“Dan Biggar’s goal-kicking was outstanding. The pleasing thing with all our 10s is that they’re all playing well.

“Rhys Patchell was excellent when he came on. In a number of positions, we have some strength in depth and real selection headaches.”

George North and Leigh Halfpenny are both doubts for next Saturday’s game against the Springboks.

But a confident Gatland is looking for victory.

”It would be nice to have a clean sweep in the autumn and start thinking about the Six Nations,” said Gatland.

“South Africa have gone back to their traditional rugby of big physical players who are direct. It is going to be a real challenge.

“We have had some good success over South Africa in recent years, so it will be important for us to build on that.”