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A matter of minutes into the second half at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday, Wales fly-half Dan Biggar went down with a groin problem which forced him from the field.

At the time, Warren Gatland’s men were 21-24 behind to Australia and in the middle of another tight battle with the Wallabies as the outcome of the match remained firmly in the balance.

Cue the entrance of Rhys Priestland – the Scarlets man stepping in for the injured Biggar with half an hour still to play.

Now to say Priestland was roundly booed on entering the fray would be an exaggeration. But the disgruntlement of a number of the 55,004 crowd was plainly audible as the 27-year-old jogged on.

It was totally unacceptable, and must stop.

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Priestland, the man who guided Wales to the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup and a Grand Slam a year later, has become an easy target for people who need a blame figure.

You only have to take a quick glance at social media when Wales or the Scarlets are mentioned to see some of the flak which heads his way.

Pictures: Wales take on Australia at the Millennium Stadium

More post-match reaction...

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James Hook called up... and Gareth Anscombe could be fast-tracked for 'Boks

The age-old counter to all this is that paying fans are entitled to their views, and nobody would disagree with that.

But to jeer a player as he enters battle in the first match of a campaign is nigh on impossible to justify.

Wales and Priestland needed support at that moment as they searched for that elusive southern hemisphere scalp.

But what sort of message does it send to a player and his team mates when he enters the field to pockets of jeering? It can only have a negative effect on his confidence.

More: Everything you need from Wales against Australia in one place

Priestland can frustrate at times. His kicking can be inconsistent, and in the last few years he’s had a number of serious knee and Achilles problems which has seen him in and out of the Wales side.

But he remains one of the best options available to Gatland.

He and Biggar have been the preferred choices for a while now, as was shown by Gatland’s decision to pick just two 10s in his initial squad this November.

And with Biggar’s groin problem likely to see him out of action for a while, Priestland is in line to start the next three games against Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa.

James Hook has been called up but won’t be available to face the Springboks as the match falls outside the IRB Test window. Rhys Patchell is out for two months with a hamstring problem and while some are calling for a fast-tracking of Kiwi import Gareth Anscombe, it is unlikely to happen this autumn.

I’d argue the next three weeks could be crucial for Priestland’s career.

He showed some nice touches against Australia, his half break setting up the field position which eventually led to Wales’ penalty try. He also turned the Wallaby defence with a couple of excellent kicks.

With Leigh Halfpenny nursing concussion, Priestland is likely to be Wales’ main goal-kicker both against Fiji and in the fortnight after.

That will be his acid test, but with the Welsh management set to back him it’s about time all of Wales did the same.

There is no place, at any time, for booing a Welsh player as he enters the field.

poll loading Who should Warren Gatland pick at fly-half against Fiji? 0+ VOTES SO FAR Rhys Priestland James Hook

And another thing...

While we’re on the subject of booing, it was disappointing to hear fans in the Millennium Stadium jeer Australian fly-half Bernard Foley on Saturday as he lined up kicks at goal.

Foley, who was named man of the match for his inch-perfect display, booted Australia to victory in the second half with his late drop goal and final penalty.

As Welsh fans’ hopes for a win vanished, the tradition of the crowd staying silent for the kickers went out the window despite a plea from the stadium announcer.

It contrasted markedly with the ear-dropping silence in Dublin as Jonny Sexton and Handre Pollard eyed up the posts in Ireland’s impressive win over South Africa.

I know Welsh fans were desperate to see a win, but openly attempting to distract a goal-kicker does us no credit as a rugby nation.

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