Liam Williams has suggested even two tries on his 50th appearance for Wales does not guarantee him selection against South Africa. The Saracens wing celebrated his half century by scoring twice in the 74-24 demolition of Tonga at the Principality Stadium, contributions which inspired 50 unanswered points in 37 minutes in the second half. The Tongans had hit back to level the scores at 24-24 at one stage, but the second half surge set Warren Gatland’s side on course for a first clean-sweep in the autumn.

Warren Gatland believes it was mission accomplished in terms of testing Wales’ strength in depth against the Tongans. The Wales coach was happy with the impact of his bench in their emphatic 74-24 victory at the Principality Stadium after the Pacific Islanders had briefly threatened an upset. Tonga were level at 24-24 early in the second half having scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter of the game, but the introduction of scrum-half Aled Davies, lock Cory Hill and replacement fly-half Rhys Patchell saw Wales romp to an eighth Test win in a row.

Liam Williams admits he’s living out his dream as he prepares to win his 50th cap for Wales when Warren Gatland’s side face Tonga in the Under Armour Series at Principality Stadium. Saracens and British & Irish Lions back Williams will bring up a half century of Test appearances against the Pacific Islanders as Wales look to make it three wins from three this November. After victories over Scotland and Australia, Tonga are up next for Gatland’s side on what will be an afternoon to remember for Williams who starts on the right wing. 

Jake Ball – owner of Welsh rugby’s most distinctive beard and stompiest boots – is back just when his country needs him. The Scarlets second row returns on Saturday to help repel Tonga at the Principality Stadium, a venue where plenty of South Seas Islanders have left their imprint. That won’t bother Ball, even though he is returning for the first time in a Wales shirt since dislocating his shoulder against New Zealand last autumn.

Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has certainly heaped the pressure on Wallaby coach Michael Cheika by suggesting his side’s ‘pass mark’ for this month will be a clean-sweep of their three games in Europe. Having been beaten for the ninth time in their past 12 games by the mighty All Blacks in Yokohama two weekends ago the Aussies landed in London on Saturday night shortly after Wales had polished off Scotland at the Principality Stadium.

It’s been a long time coming, but the prospect of Gareth Anscombe finally becoming the first choice Wales No.10 has never looked closer. Four years since he left New Zealand, the full benefits of that Welsh-born mother should finally pay off, says Harri Morgan. It’s possible to experience a certain joy when watching a maligned investment transition into a dead set winner. There is a sense of deep satisfaction derived not only from the validation of an ability to recognise strong fundamentals, but also from an outcome that vindicates all that patience and trust.

Captain Alun Wyn Jones returns to lead Wales in their final 2018 NatWest 6 Nations match against France on Saturday (KO17.00). Jones comes back into the pack along with Scarlets duo Rob Evans and Ken Owens and flanker Josh Navidi.

Warren Gatland will read the riot act to Liam Williams this week – but won’t drop the Saracens and British & Irish Lions full-back for the final game of the Six Nations against France this weekend. With Wales shooting for second place in the championship, Gatland knows there can be no margin for error against a power-packed French side that put England in their place in Paris on Saturday. Williams made a couple of first-half errors in the 38-14 win over Italy on Sunday and then picked up a yellow card for a head-high tackle on an Italian player when he was over his own line.

Warren Gatland reaches a milestone in Dublin on Saturday, where he was run out of town as a national coach in 2001. Robin Davey says there could be no more satisfying place to celebrate a century of Tests with Wales and believes there are good reasons to anticipate success. Ton-up Warren Gatland takes charge of his 100th game for Wales on Saturday, and there’s probably nothing he would like more than to celebrate by putting one across his former employers, the IRFU. There’s been no love lost between Gatland and Ireland since he left there 17 years ago – a bungled episode by a trigger-happy Irish Rugby Football Union, who should have stuck with a coach who clearly had far more to offer.

Warren Gatland plans to act as ruthlessly in blitzing Ireland pair Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray as he has in axing Rhys Patchell and Josh Adams. Patchell and Adams have both paid the price for Wales’ defeat to England at Twickenham by losing their places in the squad that meets Ireland on Saturday. Neither player was able to maintain the standards and influence they showed in the victory over Scotland. Instead, Dan Biggar, Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams all return and Gareth Anscombe goes back to the bench for a game Wales have to win to maintain any hope of winning the Six Nations title.

Winners against Scotland, losers to England, Wales now need to make changes for their next Six Nations game against Ireland, argues Robin Davey. Dublin, he says, will be won or lost in a battle of the skies. Now the hard work starts for Warren Gatland and his coaching team. The easy bit was selecting an unchanged team for the England clash after the terrific performance against Scotland, though Leigh Halfpenny’s late withdrawal at Twickenham did require a reshuffle. But despite a brave effort against the Six Nations champions, this time there really must be changes with Ireland next up.

Scott Williams is set for a Twickenham return on Saturday with a six-year unbeaten England record in his sights. The Wales and Scarlets centre assured himself a place in Welsh rugby folklore by scoring a 50-metre breakaway try that downed England on home turf during the 2012 Six Nations tournament. His 75th-minute touchdown secured Wales the Triple Crown and also underpinned a second Grand Slam of Warren Gatland’s coaching reign that arrived just three weeks later.