by Dafydd Jones
NEW ZEALAND’s clinical performance proved too strong for Wales, as the All Blacks secured a 55–23 victory at the Principality Stadium.
Codie Taylor, Aaron Smith and Jordie Barrett all starred with braces, while Ardie Savea and Samisoni Taukei’aho also breached the Wales defence.
The visitors stretched their winning streak over Wales to 33 games, with Wayne Pivac’s side’s wait since their previous win over the All Blacks in December 1953 being further prolonged.
Rio Dyer’s dream debut try was a positive in a battling performance for Wales, with Justin Tipuric also crossing for the hosts.
Pivac suffered a blow prior to kick-off, with Leigh Halfpenny suffering an aggravation of his hamstring injury, meaning Rhys Priestland came into the starting XV, with Gareth Anscombe moving to full-back and Sam Costelow introduced as a replacement.
The All Blacks made a clinical start, racing to a 17-0 lead inside 20 minutes, with Mo’unga adding the first points from the boot, before a swift break from flanker Dalton Papali’i led to Taylor bursting over from close-range for the first try in the 11thminute.
Wales struggled to deal with the tourists’ powerful ball-carriers early-on, with Savea in particular making significant ground, which led to the second try with 19 minutes on the clock. A quickly-taken penalty from Mo’unga saw Taylor wrestle his way over in for his 18th international try.
Pivac’s side responded well in forcing themselves back into the contest, as a fine move from a Ken Owens lineout saw Dyer cross in the 25th minute for a memorable debut try, which Anscombe converted and added a penalty to take Wales back within a score.
Typical of a New Zealand side, the All Blacks swiftly hit back, as a penalty advantage in the Welsh 22 gave Mo’unga the freedom to send a cross-field kick towards Jordie Barrett, who took the ball brilliantly in the air to score.
With Anscombe adding a penalty to reduce the deficit to nine points at the break, Wales muscled their way back into the contest after the All Blacks’ blistering start.
Despite Wales getting back to within a score early in the second-half through an Anscombe penalty, All Blacks scrum-half Smith raced through in the 47th minute to score and mark the occasion of overtaking Dan Carter as New Zealand’s most capped back with a try.
Wales responded once again, pegging the All Blacks back just three minutes later, as Priestland’s up-and-under fell to captain Justin Tipuric, who picked up to score under the posts. In a frantic period of try-scoring, Wales were back to within a score for just four minutes, as the All Blacks responded through an outrageous dummy from Savea, which saw him break through and feed Smith to score his second.
Savea, who was immense throughout, turned from provider to scorer, getting himself a try in the 65th minute, bulldozing over, as the All Blacks pulled away from Wales’ grasp. Pivac’s side’s defence tired after an almighty effort, with the tourists adding another late-on through Jordie Barrett, who had a clear run through to score, following a sustained period of pressure.
In the final play, substitute hooker Taukei’aho scored from close-range, as the Wales defence was breached for an eighth time. Despite a battling performance from Pivac’s side, the All Blacks turned on the style late-on to continue their winning run over Wales.
FINAL SCORE: WALES 23-55 NEW ZEALAND
Wales: Anscombe, Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins (Watkin 60’), Dyer, Priestland (Costelow 67’), Williams (Hardy 66’), Thomas (Smith 45’), Owens (Elias 68’), Francis (Lewis 41’), Rowlands, Beard (Jones 41’), Tipuric, Reffell (Tshiunza 55’), Faletau.
New Zealand: de Groot (Tu’ungafasi 55’), Taylor (Taukei’aho 58’), Lomax (Newell 58’), Whitelock (c), S Barrett (Vaa’i 70’), Frizell (A Ioane 62’), Papali’i, Savea, Smith (Weber 66’), Mo’unga (Havili 70’), Clarke, J Barrett, R Ioane, Reece (Lienert-Brown 58’), B Barrett.