Shaun Kenny-Dowall hopes to put the “cherry on top” of his 17-year playing career by leading Hull KR to Challenge Cup final glory.

The Robins are into the showpiece at Wembley against Leigh on Saturday after Brad Schneider’s golden-point drop-goal secured an 11-10 victory over defending champions Wigan last month.

For Kenny-Dowall, this weekend’s trip takes on extra significance as it may be his last opportunity to get his hands on major silverware, having announced he will hang up his boots at the end of the season.

The Rovers captain would rank getting to hoist aloft the cup alongside his 2013 NRL Grand Final winners’ medal as he bids end 43 years of hurt for the red and white half of Hull.

Kenny-Dowall told the PA news agency: “We haven’t been in this position too many times, it’s a massive incentive to write our own piece of history and it would be a huge honour for me to lift the cup.

“It would be the cherry on top of what’s been a great career. There’s no more prestigious competition in rugby league than the Challenge Cup.

“I’ve only got probably two months left of my rugby league career, I’m very grateful and fortunate that one of those games is at Wembley. It’s a huge occasion.

“I get excited and nervous for these big games, this is what you strive to be a part of as a young kid and this time’s no different. I’m relishing the opportunity to walk out on the biggest stage.”

Hull KR’s sole cup win was all the way back in 1980 while their only visit to the national football stadium this century ended with an ignominious 50-0 thrashing at the hands of Leeds eight years ago.

No players from that humbling defeat are still at the club, with Kenny-Dowall joining in 2020 from NRL side Newcastle Knights, having spent the bulk of his distinguished career at Sydney Roosters.

His time in Humberside has given the 35-year-old former New Zealand international a fresh appreciation for the game and he will remain with the club after retirement as he switches into a development coaching role.

He said: “Being here has been some of the most fulfilling of my career. Getting out of Australia and the NRL, you’re in a cycle of pressure and riding the NRL wave, but I’ve really enjoyed my time here.

“It gets me back to the enjoyment of why I started playing the game, it’s a different type of game that suits my style of play and I’ve really enjoyed it.

“It’s been a breath of fresh air for myself and my family. It’s definitely one time in my career that I’ll remember fondly and I’m absolutely delighted I can continue in the club’s progression.”

Leigh were widely tipped to struggle in their first season back in Super League but a raft of marquee arrivals and a rebrand – changing their name from the Centurions to the Leopards – has galvanised them.

They currently sit third, level on points with second-placed Wigan, and have done the double over Hull KR this season but Kenny-Dowall is unfazed at his side heading into the contest as underdogs.

He added: “Form goes out the window when you’re competing for silverware. If we rock up with the right mentality and do the things we know give us wins then we’ll give ourselves the best chance.

“We have to have that belief, if we didn’t we wouldn’t be in the position that we’re in. This is what we’ve earmarked and where we wanted to be at the start of the season.

“You have to embrace the moment and enjoy the occasion but we still have to focus on the job at hand. It’s no coincidence that we’re here in the final – hopefully we can make our own history.”

Robert Helenius has stepped in at the last minute to ensure Anthony Joshua will fight at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday.

Helenius answered an SOS call from Matchroom after Joshua’s original opponent Dillian Whyte failed a doping test.

While Whyte has vowed to clear his name and prove his innocence, all eyes are now on Helenius and here, the PA news agency takes a look at the backstory of the 39-year-old, who was once tipped to be the next big contender in the sport.

Who is Robert Helenius?

Born in Stockholm in 1984, the heavyweight holds dual-nationality with Sweden and Finland and forged an impressive amateur career, winning a silver medal at the 2006 European Championships. He turned professional two years later and quickly set about building on his growing reputation with Welsh boxer Scott Gammer stopped before former world heavyweight champions Lamon Brewster, Samuel Peter and Siarhei Liakhovich were defeated.

How does he fare versus Brits?

Helenius’ wins over Brewster, Peter and Liakhovich set up an eagerly-anticipated bout with Derek Chisora for the vacant European Championship title at the end of 2011 in Finland. A dominant display from Chisora followed with more punches thrown, but in highly-contentious fashion, it was Helenius who won by a split decision verdict. It was later revealed Helenius suffered a minor fracture to his right arm in the first round but it failed to keep critics at bay with ex-boxing trainer Freddie Roach at the time laughing off claims he could take on Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko.

No stranger to a last-minute call?

While Helenius’ victory over Chisora extended his unbeaten record to 17 fights, he spent 11 months out of the ring while he recovered from an arm injury and soon after endured two years of inactivity due to a contract dispute with his former promoters. A first loss to Johann Duhaupas further stalled his development before he accepted a fight with Whyte at 12-days notice in 2017. Helenius was able to go the distance with the British boxer on the undercard of Joshua’s fight with Carlos Takam in Cardiff, but lost on points.

Can he pull off a huge shock?

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Stockholm-born Helenius was able to rebuild his career after defeat to Whyte with two victories over Yury Bykhautsou before Gerald Washington inflicted a third loss. He fought on the undercard of Deontay Wilder’s second bout with Tyson Fury at the T-Mobile Arena in 2021 and stepped in the ring himself with Wilder last October. It was Wilder’s comeback bout and did not last three minutes with the American handed a vicious first-round knock-out. Helenius bounced back with victory over Mika Mielonen in a Finland Castle last weekend but there appears a slim chance he can upset Joshua. Although, remember Andy Ruiz Jr?

Saint Lawrence will attempt to continue on his upward curve in Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup next month, with connections keen to praise Archie Watson’s influence since taking over training duties.

The five-year-old has been at the peak of his powers since switching to Watson earlier in the season and having won the Wokingham at Royal Ascot on stable debut, proved he could be a force in the leading sprint events with a near-miss in Deauville’s Prix Maurice de Gheest.

Although beaten half a length in third, things could have been different for Saint Lawrence granted a smoother passage in the contest, but the performance was enough to convince connections to continue campaigning the speedster in Group One company, with a trip to Merseyside on September 9 up next.

“He was probably a bit unlucky in the run,” said David Hilton, stud manager at owner John Deer’s Oakgrove Stud.

“The first and second probably got first run and he’s just had to wait and then he’s made up ground in the final furlong on ground which is probably not ideal for him, it was very tacky and holding ground.

“There will be stronger Group Ones but at the same time that might just suit him. They didn’t go that quick, probably sensibly on that ground, but his likely next target is going to be the Haydock Sprint Cup where they are bound to go very fast.”

Saint Lawrence is a son of owner Deer’s popular multiple Group One winner Al Kazeem, who last year was one of the leading British sires of three-year-olds in terms of winners to runners percentage.

However, even though Saint Lawrence’s achievements further highlight Al Kazeem’s impact in the breeding sheds, it is Watson’s handling of the resurgent sprinter that has been the catalyst for the gelding taking his form to a new level.

“It’s all credit to Archie and his team really,” continued Hilton. “They have found improvement in the horse and John and the Deer family are delighted, especially with the horse being by Al Kazeem. It’s very exciting.

“I think what Archie has done with him in a short space of time is astonishing really. He has run two lifetime bests in a row and he’s still improving. Both of those races since Archie has had him, he’s really tanked through the race and it’s possible we are maybe still learning about him and just scratching the surface.

“He does have some really good form as a young horse and then had a few problems mid-season as a three-year-old which probably led to the horse losing a bit of confidence.

“We decided as a team after his second run this year that a change of scenery was probably the right thing to do and Archie was probably the obvious choice given his track record of improving horses and also there is probably no better trainer of sprinters in the country at the minute. He has a fantastic record and a team going places.”

The Texas Rangers overcame a three-run deficit to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games with Monday's 5-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

Mitch Garver led the comeback by going 3 for 4 with a two-run double, and the Rangers scored twice in the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie and increase their lead over the second-place Houston Astros to three games in the American League West.

After drawing even in the seventh inning with the help of an Oakland error that led to the tying run, Texas put its first two runners on against reliever Dany Jimenez in the eighth before Travis Jankowski drove in pinch-runner Jonathan Ornelas with an RBI fielder's choice. 

Leody Tavares followed with a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 5-3 before relievers Aroldis Chapman and Will Smith kept the Athletics off the board over the final two innings. Smith notched his 21st save with a scoreless ninth.

Zach Gelof had a two-run double for Oakland, which has the majors' worst record at 32-81 but was coming off a two-game sweep of the Bay Area-rival San Francisco Giants.

A's starter Ken Waldichuk was in line for the win after holding the Rangers to two runs over six innings and striking out seven. 

Twins win fifth straight to increase AL Central lead

The Rangers aren't the only AL division leader on an impressive run, as the Minnesota Twins won their fifth consecutive game with Monday's 9-3 rout of the Detroit Tigers.

Carlos Correa went 2 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs for Minnesota, while Pablo Lopez struck out eight over seven scoreless innings as the AL Central-leading Twins increased their lead over second-place Cleveland to 5 1/2 games. The Guardians were dealt a 3-1 loss by the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.

Ryan Jeffers added a three-run homer to help the Twins back Lopez with an 8-0 lead after 2 1/2 innings. Each of those runs came against Tigers starter Joey Wentz, who was tagged for 10 hits and lasted only three innings.

Detroit didn't score until Nick Maton delivered a three-run homer in the ninth. Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter each recorded two hits for the Tigers.

Betts' grand slam highlights Dodgers' drubbing of Padres

Mookie Betts capped an eight-run fourth inning with a grand slam as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 13-7 win over the San Diego Padres in the finale of a four-game series between the National League West foes.

The division-leading Dodgers trailed 5-0 before breaking out against Padres starter Seth Lugo in the fourth en route to their sixth win in seven games.

David Peralta began the comeback with an RBI double and Jason Heyward later knocked in two runs with a double to cut San Diego's lead to 5-3. After Miguel Rojas' bases-loaded single brought in another run, Betts sent Lugo's final pitch of the day into the left field seats for his 31st homer of the season and an 8-5 Los Angeles advantage.

Kike Hernandez tacked on a solo homer in the sixth inning for the Dodgers, while James Outman finished 4 for 4 with two runs scored. Heyward, Peralta and Max Muncy each contributed two RBIs to help Los Angeles maintain a four-game lead on second-place San Francisco in the NL West.

Lugo was charged with eight runs and eight hits before exiting with one out in the fourth.

Luis Campusano paced the Padres offensively by going 4 for 4 with two homers and four RBIs, while Fernando Tatis Jr. had a two-run double in defeat.

Chicago's Tim Anderson has been suspended six games and Cleveland's Jose Ramirez has received a three-game ban by Major League Baseball for starting a fight that sparked a benches-clearing brawl between the White Sox and Guardians on Saturday.

MLB announced the penalties on Monday, which also included fines to Anderson and Ramirez. Both players are appealing.

Also receiving suspensions are Guardians manager Terry Francona, closer Emmanuel Clase and third base coach Mike Sarbaugh. All received one-game bans, as did White Sox manager Pedro Grifol.

Francona and Clase will serve their ban Monday, when the Guardians open a four-game series against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, while Sarbaugh will sit on Tuesday.

Grifol will carry out his suspension Monday in the opener of a three-game set between the White Sox and New York Yankees in Chicago.

While the White Sox are out of the playoff picture, Ramirez's absence could hurt Cleveland's chances of reaching the postseason.

The Guardians enter Monday 4 1/2 games behind the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins, while the five-time All-Star third baseman leads the team in home runs (18), doubles (27), runs (67) and OPS (.861).

The incident that sparked all the discipline from MLB occurred in the sixth inning of the White Sox's 7-4 win at Cleveland on Saturday on a play that began innocently.

Ramirez slid headfirst into second base with an RBI double and Anderson stood over him, straddling Ramirez. Ramirez was reportedly upset at Anderson's late, hard tag and when he got up, he pointed his finger in the second baseman's face and yelled, prompting the two to square off like a boxing match.

Anderson dropped his glove and threw the first punch, setting off a melee that saw both dugouts empty onto the infield. While trying to be restrained by White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech, Ramirez swung blindly and connected with a right hand to the face of Anderson, who fell backward to the ground.

Anderson got back up incensed and tried unsuccessfully to get at Ramirez while being restrained by several teammates.

Tom Briscoe hopes he can pile more Challenge Cup final heartache on to Hull KR to round off a fantastic return to the big time for Leigh.

Hull KR’s only visit to the Wembley showpiece in this century ended in dismal fashion as they were routed 50-0 by Leeds in 2015, when Briscoe scored a record five tries to capture the Lance Todd Trophy.

While the Robins have another bite at the cherry on Saturday, they will once again have to contend with Briscoe, the ex-England wing who swapped the Rhinos for newly-promoted Leigh at the end of last season.

Briscoe has fond, if hazy, recollections of what happened in London eight years ago but is certain Hull KR will be a tougher test this time for Leigh, who are bidding for their first cup triumph since 1971.

“That 2015 final is probably the highlight of my career,” Briscoe told the PA news agency. “It’s always a special time to look back on and hopefully I can recreate some of that this weekend.

“When you’re in the moment it’s hard to take it all in, I’ve only got little snippets of what happened. It wasn’t until after that I realised that was the record.

“My lasting memory from that game will be when I went over for my last try and everyone just piled on under the sticks, that’s what will live on in my memory.

“But we’re expecting the best of Hull KR now. They have special players that can do incredible things from nothing. We know we’re in for a tough day and we’ve got to show them that full respect.”

Promotion from the Championship last season was Leigh’s fourth in the Super League era but they were immediately relegated back to the second tier on the three previous occasions in 2005, 2017 and 2021.

A change of name – from the Centurions to the Leopards – and the signings of several marquee players including Briscoe has brought a change in fortunes for Leigh, who are currently third in Super League.

It is their overall form in the league and cup – where Leigh defeated 2022 Grand Final winners St Helens in the semi-finals – that heartens Briscoe and not doing the double over Hull KR this year.

“You can never take that for granted,” he said. “I’ve been there in the past and beaten teams who have beaten us many times in the league.

“We’ll take the confidence from our form in the Super League and the way we were able to get past Saints in the semis. To get through that is obviously a massive confidence booster.

“But we’ve been doing that all season, the level we’ve been playing at and the intensity has been high. We’ll take a lot of confidence from that and the experiences from previous years in all the players.

“Getting newly-promoted, it’s a tough ask to come up and challenge but the squad that’s been put together is obviously a strong one and we’re living up to the potential we’ve got.”

Leigh have not reached the cup final since going all the way 52 years ago and Briscoe wants to give the club’s long-suffering fans something to cheer.

“It would mean a lot, it’s obviously a special occasion for the club,” he added. “To come into a newly-promoted team and achieve that in my first season would be pretty special.

“It’s been 50-odd years since Leigh last won it so to even get to the final is special for the town and hopefully we can go one more.”

Billy Vunipola could make his comeback against Wales on Saturday as England prepare the only specialist number eight selected in their World Cup squad for a heavy workload.

Vunipola, 30, has been sidelined since April because of two knee operations but head coach Steve Borthwick insists the bulldozing Saracen is in the shape of his life and could be in action at Twickenham in the second of four warm-up Tests.

Ball-carrying power, especially at close quarters, gives Vunipola a point of difference that is seen as essential for the tournament in France, even if the last of his 68 caps was won in November.

A cloud on the horizon at number eight is that there is no front-line alternative present in the 33-man squad picked by Borthwick, although Lewis Ludlam, Ben Earl and Tom Curry are options in the position.

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It was felt by Borthwick’s predecessor Eddie Jones that Vunipola benefits from playing as frequently as possible and there will be no deviation from that approach in order to get the best out of an influential forward.

“Billy is a guy who wants to play rugby and wants to play a lot of minutes,” said Borthwick, who revealed that Ollie Chessum’s return from a serious foot injury is also imminent.

“We want him to play as much as he possibly can and he’s desperate to play as much as he possibly can.

“Billy brings a certain skill set that’s different to the skill sets of other players and that’s why I picked him.

“I’m very clear about how we need to play in this tournament and that’s ultimately why I made the decision to go with Billy.

“He looks in great shape and is the fittest I’ve ever seen him. His experience will add to this squad.

“He’s a very mature player now. He’s taken a very mature approach to his recovery, and has been very determined to be fit for this World Cup.”

Borthwick will reveal at Thursday’s team announcement if the second instalment of the double header against Wales is the right moment for Vunipola and Chessum to be restored to the pack but Curry will definitely not be involved.

The Sale openside has been struggling with a twisted ankle incurred in training last week and will not be available until the appointment with Ireland on August 19 at the earliest.

Earl could secure a spot in the back row fielded at Twickenham, however, as he celebrates his success in securing World Cup selection despite ferocious competition at flanker.

It will be a moment to savour for the 2022 Gallagher Premiership player of the season, who was marginalised by Jones and only made two appearances under Borthwick in the Six Nations.

“Ben brings a point of difference in his attacking game, his athleticism and ability to work on edges in attack,” Borthwick said.

“He featured in the Six Nations and was in the training squad regularly. I asked him to go away and work on a couple of things.

“Richard Hill (team manager) and I checked in every week as part of a debrief process and Ben was so diligent in applying those things to his game.”

While England are blessed with options in the back row, at hooker they have been exposed by Luke Cowan-Dickie’s shoulder problem that means Jamie George is being supported by rookies Jack Walker and Theo Dan.

“I’ll be very clear, we’d want more depth and experience in that position, but that’s the situation we have found ourselves in,” Borthwick said.

Golden Trick showed plenty of guts to lead home a one-two for owners Bronte Collection in the valuable Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes at Naas on Monday.

There was €148,500 on offer for the winner of this fiercely-competitive two-year-old event, with Hugo Palmer’s raider holding off Kevin Ryan’s fellow British-trained runner Jungle Mate in a tight finish.

A winner at Chester last time, the winner was drawn on the far rail and stuck to the paint all the way up the six-furlong straight in the hands of Ben Coen.

Asked to kick on as the race entered the final furlong and a half, Golden Trick soon came to life under Coen and opened up a gap between him and the remainder of the field as the 20 runners were spread right across the width of the track.

Golden Trick’s advantage was diminishing by the stride inside the final stages as those on the far side were closing at a rate of knots. But the 13-2 scorer still had enough up his sleeve to come home a half-length winner and return to Palmer’s Cheshire base with the first prize.

Coen said: “I was hoping that they’d stay far side and not complicate things and go across.

“I had a lovely run the whole way. He came under me at halfway, I gave him a dig and kept him rolling. I probably got there too soon but he’s a hardy horse and he gets through that ground really well.

“In the last 75 yards he was having a look around and I’d say if something had come close to me, he would have went again.

“I had watched his couple of races. Hugo said he was straightforward and that he had come on from the last day and he’d handle the ground so to keep it simple. I’m delighted.”

In the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Race, it was Adrian McGuinness’ Rush Queen that got the better of Aidan O’Brien’s 4-5 favourite The Caribbean.

The filly was seen racing over seven furlongs in a Group Three prior to this, but thrived when dropped back to the minimum distance and proved the perfect tonic for her handler who endured a testing time during the recent Galway Festival.

“It’s a bit of compensation (after Galway), it’s forgotten about now after today,” said McGuinness.

“Cian (MacRedmond, jockey) gave her a great ride, I know it was a small field. I thought it was going to be tactical and I told him to sit behind Ryan and try to come with one blast with her.

“Aidan’s horse had blinkers on, so we were saying that he might not be the most straightforward. That’s exactly what he did and she quickened up really well and went away nicely.

“We might hunt a bit of black type with her again and maybe even try to find something in England. She’s for sale as well, but if she’s not sold we will hunt blacktype.

“She’s a very genuine filly and she’s won a nice pot of money today so it’s great.

“She’s not slow, I’ve worked her with the Listed filly at home (Tiger Belle) and there is not a whole pile between them. She travelled very well today.”

Kieran Reilly delivered an emphatic bike drop after the run that earned him BMX Freestyle Park gold at the UCI Cycling World Championships on Glasgow Green.

There were still six riders to go – and a 50-minute rain delay to endure – when Reilly finished his attempt but the 22-year-old European champion already knew he had delivered on his game plan.

And when reigning Olympic champion Logan Martin, the last man to go after the competition finally resumed, came up half a point short of Reilly’s winning score of 95.80, the celebrations could start all over again as the Newcastle-born rider became world champion.

“It’s next level,” Reilly said. “It’s been a stressful half-hour sitting behind there. It got to the point where it’s guaranteed I’ve got a medal before it rained but the difference between getting a medal and a jersey is huge…

“I still look up to the guys who have won the rainbow jersey. This is the biggest competition in the world outside the Olympics and this is the perfect stepping stone for me.

“I’ve won the Euros a couple of months ago and to have those two jerseys at the same time shows the hard work is paying off.”

Having laid down a solid first run, Reilly upped the ante in the second and landed everything he attempted.

As he criss-crossed the skatepark with a string of tricks including a 720-degree tailwhip, a 720 bar spin and a front flip tuck with no hands, the anticipation was building for Reilly’s party piece, the double flair.

And as he landed it with the final act of his 60-second run, Reilly pumped his fist before throwing his bike to the floor in sheer exhilaration.

“That was pure and utter relief for me,” said Reilly. “It’s not as often as you’d like that you come off a course knowing you’ve done everything.

“I had a game plan and it was one of the few times I’ve managed to stick to that entirely and get the perfect run I wanted.

“To be one of the few guys still doing the double flair in competition, it’s such a high-risk trick and it’s taking that risk at the end of the run.

“I stepped it up significantly. I could have thrown it all away with that one trick but I’m glad I had that belief in myself and that it paid off.”

Reilly had come to Glasgow with more modest goals – securing a top six finish and with it ensuring Great Britain would qualify at least one male rider for Paris next summer.

Having achieved that, Britain will now look to secure a second place at next year’s qualifying events.

Olympic bronze medallist Declan Brooks crashed in his second run and finished down in 20th, but Jude Jones took an impressive sixth.

The 22-year-old crashed out in his first run before recovering with an impressive second that included a number of tricks not attempted by the other riders.

“I’m happy,” he said. “I had some more but what can you do? You can’t always get what you want, but my goal was to get top 10 and I’ve stuck that so I can take something away from this.”

Sports stars and clubs across the world continue to provide an insight into their lives on social media.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the best examples from August 7.

England scraped through to the World Cup quarter-finals after beating Nigeria on penalties.

Raphael Varane made his feelings on this season’s rule changes clear.

And found support from Rio Ferdinand.

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton also shared his opinion.

Inter Miami celebrated reaching the Leagues Cup quarter-final.

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Happy birthdays.

Coco Gauff reflected on the fourth singles title of her career.

Dereck Chisora found an opponent for Anthony Joshua on Saturday.

Not a bad view.

Romain Grosjean shaved years off.

Attack coach Alex King has warned Wales that England will be “hurting” ahead of their Twickenham rematch.

England were underwhelming in Saturday’s 20-9 defeat to Wales in Cardiff and received strong media criticism for that poor display ahead of head coach Steve Borthwick naming his 33-man World Cup squad on Monday.

The World Cup countdown continues in Twickenham this weekend as the two sides meet again, with Wales clearly expecting a backlash from Borthwick’s men.

“We know they’ll be hurting after the weekend,” said former England outside-half King.

“I’ve read a bit of the English press and they’ve not been too kind to them.

“We know they’ve got players to come back. Everyone is at slightly different points of their development.

“This is all preparation for something that is going to kick off in a month’s time in France. They’ve got some players to come back in and we’ll concentrate on ourselves and try and improve on some areas.”

Welsh rugby had spent 2023 largely in the doldrums before Saturday’s victory over their biggest rivals.

Shook by scandal off the field and struggling for victories on it, there has been little optimism inside or outside Wales that Warren Gatland’s side can make a major impact at the World Cup next month.

But, having withstood concerted England pressure in the first half, tries from Gareth Davies and George North suggested that Gatland’s pre-match words that his side will do “something special” at the World Cup may have some substance.

King said: “Even through the Six Nations (when Wales won only once) towards the end we were starting to get an identity of what we were trying to do.

“It was a tough time for Welsh rugby and there was a lot going on off the field, but the boys stuck together.

“This group has been working for 11 weeks and it was great to see some of the stuff we’ve been working on come through.

“It was certainly a good start both sides of the ball. We were resilient and stayed in the fight first half when we were under the cosh.

“Then when we got the chance second half we were pretty accurate and probably left two or three out there as well.”

Louis Rees-Zammit was denied a spectacular third try when he was adjudged to have knocked on, harshly in the view of some observers.

The Gloucester wing certainly possesses the X-factor to trouble defences and excite crowds and King believes the Welsh back division is full of flair.

He said: “When Rio (Dyer), Louis and ‘Pens’ (Leigh Halfpenny) get the ball there’s an excitement and that’s how we want to play, with a tactical brain as well.

“There’s a balance there underpinned by good defence and a good set-piece, and if we want to be successful over the next two months all parts of our game must be functioning.

“There were moments in that second half that were testament to Welsh rugby which, to me, is about ball movement, speedy backs and getting the crowd excited.

“I’ve seen the quality and level of work we’ve done over the last 11 weeks. I was pleased with the attitude and mindset to really go and play.”

Wales held an open training session in front of nearly 10,000 fans at the Principality Stadium on Monday.

Hooker Ryan Elias and second row Dafydd Jenkins were missing after picking up injuries against England, although neither are understood to be serious enough to put their World Cup ambitions at risk.

Injured backs Gareth Anscombe and Johnny Williams were also missing from the session, while number eight Taulupe Faletau played a limited role.

Vauban staked his Melbourne Cup claim with an impressive victory in the Ballyroan Stakes at Naas.

Willie Mullins’ five-year-old is a three-time Grade One winner over obstacles, but has begun to make a real name for himself on the Flat, winning the Copper Horse Handicap by seven and a half lengths at Royal Ascot.

He needed to finish in the first three of this mile-and-a-half Group Three to secure his berth in the Flemington showpiece on November 7 and did so in fine style.

Vauban was ridden forward, tracking the pace set by Gooloogong and Pivotal Trigger in the hands of Colin Keane and loomed up menacingly as they straightened for home.

Keane soon asked his mount to launch his challenge and he immediately set about putting the race to bed, storming clear up the home straight with Joseph O’Brien’s Valiant King the only horse to get near the winner as the 4-6 favourite recorded a bloodless length-and-a-half triumph.

“We’re delighted with him and Colin was happy. He said they went a good gallop, a nice even pace, and it suited him,” said Mullins’ assistant trainer David Casey.

“It ticked a box, which we were here for today, to get placed to qualify for the Melbourne Cup.

“I think there is plenty of improvement in him. He had a little break after Ascot and was ready to start back today.

“Everything was right today, there was a bit of ease in the ground and there weren’t many runners, so it suited to come today. We’re obviously delighted with what he did.”

Vauban holds entries for York’s Lonsdale Cup as well as the Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial Stakes and the Irish St Leger itself, both at the Curragh, and Casey says it will be down to Mullins whether the gelding takes up those engagements or heads straight to Australia for his Melbourne Cup bid.

He added: “He’s in all those races but I don’t know whether he’ll have another run or not, or go straight there. Willie will decide that.

“All those races are options, the Leger Trial and the Leger. I don’t know what he’s going to do but he’s entered in them all if he needs them.”

On the prospect of returning to hurdles next season, Casey said: “I’d say yeah, why not. I’d imagine so, but it depends on what happens.

“If he goes to Melbourne he doesn’t get back to the middle of November, so he wouldn’t be running at Christmas anyway.”

Coral make Vauban their 5-1 favourite from 6s for the Melbourne Cup, while the Closutton inmate is available at slightly bigger odds with Paddy Power who go 6-1.