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Publication Date<br />

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05-Feb-2018<br />

Inside Line: What makes Leigh Halfpenny - ‘the best defensive full-back in the world’ - so<br />

valuable to Wales?<br />

The Telegraph (Online)<br />

Click to open<br />

Between half-grins and mini-grenades, Warren Gatland spoke briefly about Leigh Halfpenny<br />

at the NatWest Six Nations launch. After praising some attacking improvements that the 29<br />

year-old has made since joining Wayne Pivac’s Scarlets, he said this: “Leigh’s positional<br />

play defensively is second to none for any full-back I have been involved with. He is a great<br />

goal-kicker and very good under the high ball. He has a lot of credit in the bank from what<br />

he has done for us and in his rugby career.” On Saturday, . But besides a pair of neat<br />

finishes, he knitted together Wales’ fine performance in other, more subtle ways. Here is a<br />

look at his role in a commanding win over Scotland.<br />

Back-field anticipation and acceleration<br />

Even during the manic beginning to the tournament-opener, there was a spell of aerial kicktennis.<br />

We pick up this sequence...

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