Harris set for success, says Hansen

Steve Hansen believes the stage is set for Iestyn Harris to cement his name as one of rugby’s biggest cross-code successes after he played a standout role in Wales’ opening World Cup victory over Canada.

Harris produced a dynamic midfield display in Melbourne to not only orchestrate a 41-10 victory for Wales but help snare a bonus point that could prove crucial in the battle to qualify from Pool D.

All has not gone smoothly since Harris’ big-money transfer from Rugby league side Leeds Rhinos to Cardiff, with many expecting him to follow in the footsteps of England’s Jason Robinson.

But Harris was having to learn the complexities of life in a rugby union midfield, and when he failed to make the immediate impact so many expected, the criticism flowed.

Much of that focussed around the reported Harris’ transfer cost the Welsh Rugby Union.

But the 27-year-old remained determined to succeed in the code his grandfather played for Pontypool, amongst others.

Harris revealed last week he had turned down a lucrative offer for a return to the 13-man code – and now the Welsh camp feel he is primed to make an impact on the biggest rugby union stage of all.

“He has been totally focused from day one and there has been a feeling amongst the staff that the World Cup will be the stage he is really going to launch himself from,” said Hansen.

“He has turned a corner in the way he has trained and his understanding of the game is coming. He is going to be a really good player.”

Harris’ journey through rugby league has not be dissimilar to that of his old foe from league days, Australian Wendell Sailor.

He arrived in union from the Brisbane Broncos to a similar fanfare, was rushed into the Wallabies side at the first opportunity and initially could not cut it - the two games are just too different.

But the criticisms that flowed freely 18 months ago have virtually dried up, he is now a first-choice selection for Australia coach Eddie Jones and in scoring the first try of the World Cup last Friday, Sailor made it seven from 14 Tests.

Harris now sits alongside fellow code-switchers Sailor, Robinson, Mat Rogers and Brad Thorn as having already made a significant impact on the tournament.

That Harris has continued to improve and turned on the style against Canada is of no surprise to his Wales captain Colin Charvis.

“A lot of people have questioned his abilities over the last couple of years but fortunately Iestyn has stayed very focused, playing rugby union for Wales and for Cardiff, and we managed to see him at his best,” said Charvis.

“I just hope we are able to see him go from strength to strength through the rest of the tournament.”

Harris turned the momentum of the game in Wales’ favour after the Canadians had begun sprightly and taken the lead from a Bob Ross drop goal.

Charvis was then sin-binned, but Wales soaked up the Canadian pressure before Harris burst down the left and set in motion a move that would end in a try for Sonny Parker.

Hansen described it as the best he had seen in his time with Wales, and Harris played an integral role.

He made the initial break, but then his clever miss-pass to Ceri Sweeney exploited the overlap, and the young fly-half feathered the ball onto Parker wide on the left.

Harris then landed the a tricky conversion to make his first of seven kicks in an impeccable evening with boot.

His tactical kicking was equally impressive as he directed play first from inside-centre and then, in the final stages, fly-half.

But as the Canadians repeatedly kicked away a possession, it was with ball in hand that Harris was most dangerous.

Number eight Charvis, who admitted to being no expert on the art of three-quarter play, put much of that desire to succeed down to the competition for a starting role in the Wales centres.

Harris and Parker started the game with Lions tourist Mark Taylor lurking on the bench.

“There is a lot of competition at centre within our squad, which is going to bring out the better aspects of both our centres who are on the pitch,” said Hansen.

“The Canadians kicked a lot of possession to us so we did get a lot of ball and with the forwards going forward, Iestyn was having some better ball to play with than he has in the past. I am sure he thoroughly enjoyed it.

“He is kicking the ball sweetly and with the other centres in the squad it will push him harder.

“It will only be good for Wales to have that competition.”

After Parker’s opening score, Wales began to use that possession to decent effect, though there remained too many errors and a little rust, scoring four further tries.

Gareth Cooper dashed over for his try after clever interplay between Kevin Morgan and winger Gareth Thomas; Harris and Parker then combined to set up winger Mark Jones for the third try and Charvis burrowed over to claim the crucial bonus point.

Thomas then moved to within one try of Ieuan Evans’ Welsh scoring record with his 32nd touchdown in the last minute following delightful interplay between replacements Robert Sidoli and Dwayne Peel.