All Blacks cruise past Wales

Eurosport - Sat, 22 Nov 21:39:00 2008

New Zealand took control in the second half to defeat Six Nations champions Wales 29-9 at the Millennium Stadium and move to within one game of their third grand slam of victories over the four home nations.

Ma'a Nonu and Rodney So'oialo celebrate their win over Wales - 0

Centre Ma'a Nonu broke a 9-9 deadlock 10 minutes after the interval with his second try of the tour.

The result was already beyond doubt when flanker Jerome Kaino dived over in the final minute with a disappointed home crowd of 74,067 heading for the exits.

New Zealand have now beaten Scotland, Ireland and Wales on successive weekends without conceding a try. They meet England at Twickenham next Saturday in the final match of their November tour.

The game started dramatically when both sides attemped to stare each other down after the haka and referee Jonathan Kaplan had to intervene to get the match started.

Wales made the better start with flyhalf Stephen Jones kicking a third-minute penalty when New Zealand were penalised for a high tackle on fullback Lee Byrne. Jones added a second 11 minutes later when the All Blacks failed to release the tackled player.

Carter replied with a simple kick in front of the posts in the 16th minute when flanker Martyn Williams was caught offside.

Williams had already received treatment for a nasty looking bruise under his left eye. A second Carter attempt from the right touchline hit the right upright and Wales cleared.

Midway through the half, Jones made a break down the left and almost wriggled over the line before he was smothered by the All Blacks' defence. However Wales won a penalty and Jones made no mistake from the sideline.

Jones lofted a kick to the corner which Joe Rokocoko was able to cover and fullback Lee Byrne sliced through the middle but again the All Blacks scrambled the ball clear.

New Zealand had a chance deep in Wales's territory after Shane Williams knocked on but Wales disrupted their scrimmage and the opportunity was lost.

A minute before halftime the All Blacks surged up the middle and won a penalty on the 22. Carter easily slotted the kick to reduce the margin to three points at halftime.

A minute into the second half Carter equalised and the All Blacks went immediately on the attack after Wales number eight Adam Powell took the wrong option and opted to pass rather than run.

New Zealand turned the ball over and camped on the Welsh line for three successive scrums. From one the New Zealanders thought they had scored but a succession of television replays were inconclusive and Wales were able to clear.

The All Blacks finally crossed the tryline when Carter moved the ball right with gaps appearing in the Welsh defence. Hooker Keven Mealamu made further ground almost to the line, passing to Nonu on his shoulder who surged over for the try.

Carter's conversion and a second penalty shortly afterwards gave the all Blacks' a 10-point margin and the Welsh never looked likely to record their first victory over New Zealand since 1953.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was named man-of-the-match for another typical scavenging performance on the flank and some incisive running with the ball in hand.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 16 of 16

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  1. biggeezer101 if you want to hear New Zealand­ commentators you could always go home. Don't try to­ make out Kiwi commentators are not biased I have heard­ them probably more biased. Why do Kiwi's moan so­ much win and still moan what's wrong with being­ HAPPY with your win.

    From Salamander, on Sun 23 Nov 7:15PM

  2. Anyone who has watched this current All Black side­ through the tour and checked out the Stats must surely­ see how 'professional' they are. From the huge­ ratio of professional penalties conceeded in their own­ 22, killing the ball and open play to the blatent­ feeding on their own put in. We should all learn this­ new element , ignore the tunnel, walk to the rear of­ the scrum and place the ball at No 8's feet, if the­ ref doesn't spot it you get away with it ? High­ tackles form yet a further tool in the box.­ Professional is not the right word really. Clearly five­ of the all blacks should have spent at least one­ session in the bin. Such a shame because they can play­ beautiful rugby. No I aint Welsh, my side haven't­ played them yet

    From JOHN B, on Sun 23 Nov 5:58PM

  3. Two more words...... Brian Moore. What is that Pratt­ doing on tele commentating on Welsh games. I am­ surprised that Eddie Butler hasn't been on a murder­ charge working next to that bloke week in week out. I­ never heard such drivel season on season. The only­ satisfying moments are when he's quiet because a­ side are out playing England. And then, rather than­ giving opposing teams credit for it.... he slates­ England and says they are rubbish. I totally agree with­ the comments that it would be nice to have a­ commentator representing both nations on the park. ­ Some of the neutral world cup commentaries you hear are­ great, passionate about rugby, and very enthusiastic­ regardless of who's got the ball.

    From taff.ange, on Sun 23 Nov 4:26PM

  4. bigeezer, we do accept the haka, and respect it as­ tradition, after all it only started off to put the­ opposing team off there game,the welsh team stood and­ watched the spectical, then stood there ground, and­ fair bloody play. Why not? Its like two boxers in the­ weigh in. One is allowed to shout his mouth off but the­ other isnt. Come on. New Zealand deserved the win,­ Wales were by far the better team in the first half,­ but threw it away. I'm a proud welshman but I'm­ not the type to bad mouth a team because they won. The­ better team won, but this whole disrespect of the­ haka!! What a load!! One rule for and another for­ someone else. Sounds like my wife......

    From whyisdylan, on Sun 23 Nov 7:08AM

  5. mike u say your glad the welsh lost , u say they show­ contemp for a nations Tradition because of the jeerin­ in the crowd... surely thats out of the players hands?­ were as the english players them selves totally­ disrepected the Haka by turnin there back on it only­ recently, and it wasnt long ago they stepped up to them­ and stood amongst them while they doing it. u see mike­ this is why wales as a country are well loved and­ respected but england on the other hand.... need i say­ any more. :-)

    From mikethecrow, on Sun 23 Nov 6:44AM

  6. I just cant understand why the Northern hemisphere cant­ just accept the haka for what it is and let it take­ place in the way it is supposed to. You dont get the­ rest of the world standing staring at the All Blacks­ after it to try and prove something, or like last week­ with the Irish start doing some ridiculous training­ routine!!!!!! I am sure next week England will do much­ the same and fail (or choose) to see the point. Another­ thing I would like to see/hear is perhaps a Kiwi­ commentator or at least have a Kiwi in the studio. Once­ again the commentators are so biased for their own it­ borders on the ridiculous. Roll on the next World Cup­ when Sky, I am sure, will give you the option to have­ somebody other than the Rugby equivalent of John­ Motson!!!!!

    From biggeezer101, on Sun 23 Nov 6:21AM

  7. again the all blacks use dirty tactics buy killing the­ the game on the try line,they always do this no matter­ who they play,shame the ref never see's it.

    From simon.silcox, on Sun 23 Nov 5:22AM

  8. And another thing MIKE...... how on Earth are England­ above Wales in the rankings????? I'm absolutely­ puzzled...... Is it because they now have a world cup­ winning coach??? It ain't based on the side thats­ for sure!

    From taff.ange, on Sun 23 Nov 4:14AM

  9. Mike, you really are a pratt! I take it you are trying­ to deflect from your sides mullering by SA this­ afternoon. Well played England. Did you not hear the­ noise when the Boks were kicking? Heaviest defeat in­ the history of Twickers.... Muppet! Good luck in the 6­ nations, you'll do well to finish 3rd! What a­ dafty!

    From taff.ange, on Sun 23 Nov 4:11AM

  10. If you want to beat these teams you have to score­ tries. We did not. Let us hope at least we can beat the­ Aussies next week maitee

    From taff, on Sun 23 Nov 4:06AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Im actually glad the welsh lost. before the game i was­ really rooting for them, but when the idiots in the­ crowd showed nothing but contempt for another nations­ tradition, by jeering en mass during the haka (and­ while Carter was taking his kicks)...... i was­ disgusted. i honestly thought that was sthe sort of­ mindless idiocy that was reserved for football­ stadiums.

    in the end, they got their just desserts.­ and were put back into their place. which isnt on the­ same playing field as the all blacks.

    From mike, on Sun 23 Nov 3:44AM

  12. time to wake up

    From Roger, on Sat 22 Nov 8:27PM

  13. It is quite natural and universally accepted that a­ captain will attempt to fire up his team and the­ nation, as in Ryan Jones's latest statement that­ Wales can beat the All Blacks. Of COURSE they CAN. But­ sadly, the reality is that they won't.
    The NZ side­ is now in top gear and will take Wales apart this­ afternoon.

    From Up the Boks, on Sat 22 Nov 2:27PM

  14. COME ON WALES

    From dai, on Sat 22 Nov 4:55AM

  15. COME ON WALES YOU CAN WIN SHOW THE WORLD WE CAN BEAT­ THE BEST GOOD LUCK.

    From dai, on Sat 22 Nov 3:38AM

  16. Odds of 8/1 for the all \blacks to win by 31-35­ points, that's a no brainer! fantastic odds, the­ Welsh are probably the best of a bad lot, their problem­ is they usually drink Brains, instead of using them! As­ an Aussie I'm hoping someone is smart enough to­ televise the wallabies game, against the French, it­ could be interesting,Regards, Ned Kelly

    From jcastledineruiz, on Sat 22 Nov 1:58AM
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