by Chris Stonadge
Wales Head Coach Wayne Pivac has called on his side to improve in the physical department after a clinic in forward play by New Zealand at the Principality Stadium.
The All-Blacks ran out emphatic 55-23 winners in Cardiff, with Aaron Smith, Jordie Barrett and Cody Taylor all scoring twice.
Ardia Savea and Samisoni Taukei’aho also crossed the line for Ian Foster’s side, who extended their winning run over Wales to an astonishing 33 matches.
Wales responded with a flurry, and at one point only trailed by six points in the second-half. Debutant Rio Dyer and Justin Tipuric ensured hope with a try each, and Gareth Anscombe kicked 13 points.
Pivac, speaking to the press in his post-match conference, praised the visiting side for their pressure, especially in the second-half.
“Summarising the game, we wanted a fast start and we didn’t get that. We were very pleased to get back into the game. New Zealand sides are always good on either side of half-time so we focused on that, and the boys did very well.
“We started the second half as we’d hoped, and that was to score first and get within seven. After that, we were unable to kick on and you have to put a lot of that down to the pressure put on by New Zealand around our 22.”
“I think we need to (muscle up) but they got speed of ball in our 22 and we didn’t, like all good New Zealand sides at the breakdown. That’s the way it works on the day and we have to improve that.
A standout moment in the match for the home crowd was the darting run and score from Rio Dyer. The 22-year-old Dragons wing became the 1180th Welsh international, and his coach reserved special praise for him.
“I thought Rio (Dyer) did really well chasing kicks and scoring that fantastic try, it’s a shame he didn’t get a double in the latter part of the game.
“There were a lot of good individual performances but as a group, we needed to be more physical. Having New Zealand first is always going to be a challenge.”
The wait goes on. After 69 years, Wales’ black-shirt hoodoo continues to haunt them. All-Blacks skipper Sam Whitelock’s grandfather played in the last loss – but Pivac believes that today’s defeat was more rugby-based than psychology-based.
“We’re not conditioned to losing, these boys haven’t played New Zealand for 70 years. It’s about the here and now. We prepared well. The more time you have together, it helps. We were beaten by a better side.”
“Anyone who puts 50 on Argentina and 40 on Australia need to be respected. A lot of reports coming from New Zealand have been on the poorer performances, but we knew they would be a very tough opponent.”
Wales face Argentina next week in the second of four Autumn International fixtures, and will hope to return to winning ways ahead of facing tough tests in Georgia and particularly Australia.
