“The areas we needed to improve on from last week were getting possession,” he said. “Against the All Blacks, we didn’t get enough ball, but this time we had loads of ball.
“I thought our set-piece was magnificent. It would have been 100 per cent bar the last throw. I think we executed the line-out superbly. We simplified it and had good returns there and got some good drives going at times.
“I thought Rhys Thomas was quite exceptional at hooker and I felt Luke Charteris bossed our line-out particularly well. That’s a massive improvement for us. Our scrum was excellent as well. We targeted that area and wanted to see a big improvement there. If you look at where our scrum has come to in the last two years, we are making massive progress there.”
“It is still a big step forward even though we didn’t play with the precision I am looking for and the precision we saw last season.”
But with South Africa and Australia lurking around the corner, a big concern for Ruddock will be his injury list, which lengthened still further. Lock Brent Cockbain was stretchered away with a knee injury and flanker Dafydd Jones limped off, while wing Kevin Morgan and prop Chris Horsman both departed with ankle problems.
“It looks like another massive blow to us on the injury front,” said Ruddock. “I’m waiting to hear the full report on Brent, but obviously seeing him go off on a stretcher doesn’t look good.
“With the other guys hobbling off as well, it’s another few worries that we could have done without.”
