Dragons wing Jonah Holmes scored a brace of tries against Canada at the Principality Stadium - continuing his impressive strike rate for both region and country.
The 28-year-old has touched down 13 times in 18 games for the Dragons and Wales since the start of the season.
Holmes was forced to full back early in Saturday’s contest due to the injury suffered by Leigh Halfpenny on his 100th Test - so it wasn’t all plain sailing for the powerful back.
The game against Canada was Holmes’s sixth for Wales, and like the hackneyed ‘waiting for a bus’ phrase, the one in which he ended up scoring his first and second tries.
That impressive strike rate for region and country is no fluke. Holmes was instrumental in the build-up to other tries as well as the two he scored but despite the record points win against the Canadians, he is highly self-critical.
“You’re always after the impeccable game,” he admits. “I would have wanted to be much sharper, but perhaps in hindsight that’s expecting too much in the first game of the campaign.
“The system we play with Wales means the wingers will end up getting the ball more. But personally, I’ve spent the last five to six months with the Dragons trying to get involved more frequently, not just hanging out on the wing.”
In the build-up to Wales’ summer opener in Cardiff, Holmes had sung the praises of his young Dragons teammate, second row Ben Carter, tipping him for great things.
Holmes said: “Carts is the loveliest guy in the world, but he’s hungry to get better and better, he isn’t overly confident or cocky, but he puts more effort in than anyone else and is class.”
The 20-year-old from Caldicot was duly named Man of the Match on his debut after a tireless performance against the physical Canadians.
In time-honoured fashion, the team was able to observe the five first caps after the final whistle – a group which also included Taine Basham from Dragons.
“It was a load more new caps than you’d normally have in a game,” said Holmes. “We managed to get out on the field after and celebrate together and listen to all the new boys’ songs, which went well for all of them.”
You’re always after the impeccable game... The system we play with Wales means the wingers will end up getting the ball more...
