What they witnessed would have shaken them rigid because it had never been seen before: a Welshman, born and bred in Cardiff, tearing up the All Blacks for England. In doing so, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 'Manny' to his mates, provided damning evidence that Wales have lost rather more than too many matches.
The number had risen to nine within a few hours of the Red Rose convert giving New Zealand both barrels, long enough for those hitherto unaware of his explosive ability to ask how it came to this; that a boy introduced to the game at Corpus Christi School in Cardiff in tandem with one of the capital's junior clubs, Rumney RFC, felt more at home with England.
That he happens to be a specialist outside centre, a position where Wales have suffered from a chronic shortage of contenders in the years since Jonathan 'Fox' Davies at his peak, makes 'Manny's' exit all the more galling.
That would still be so had Wales maintained a lengthy winning streak in Melbourne yesterday instead of extending their losing one beyond another overgrown milestone. Nine in a row, one more than under Warren Gatland in 2012-13, adds up to the longest for 21 years, since Steve Hansen reached double figures from which he recovered to win successive World Cups.
Fiji are next up for Wales in November followed by two more home matches against the Wallabies and Springboks, then a continental start to the Six Nations, France in Paris, Italy in Rome. Despite Fiji displacing them in the world's top ten, Wales will be expected to beat them at home but then they said that of Italy at the end of the Six Nations and look what happened.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
