All Blacks 42 Wales 9
That old saying goes ‘you can’t win matches if you don’t have the pill’. This was one of those games where a 62% v 38% possession split bolsters that argument.
The scoreline didn’t lie but for at least the first half and somewhat beyond, the Welsh were competitive and looked like they’d make a real go of it.
Their tactical kicking via Stephen Jones was astute and accurate, and with ball in hand their tight forwards proved to be a handful.
To some extent it seemed the All Blacks were a bit flat in that first half, maybe thrown off a little by the aggression and tactics of the Boyos.
Keven Mealamu scored the first All Black try from a quick tap by Cowan, just out from the line.
Next up, Cory Jane scored a fine individual try when the ball popped out (some would say illegally) from an attacking Welsh ruck and off he went up the blindside.
The defence was caught napping as the 18 year old Taff winger was in an attacking position in the line, on the open side. Jane sprinted 70m to touch down.
After conceding these two tries the Welsh probably wouldn’t have been that disappointed with the 15-9 halftime scoreline. However, a little after the break an entirely different story developed.
The All Blacks decided they’d had enough of playing a tactical battle and now was the time to break out of the bocage and win the war.
Field Marshal Dan Carter orchestrated the show with a vintage Monty, His Part in My Victory performance. The Guns of Navarone are a fizzer when the best five eighth in the world is firing. He was just outstanding.
Two marvellous tries, assorted conversions and penalties and that was 20 points laid on in 20 minutes. Sorry Boyos, Cwm Rhondda (translation: Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer).
His skill-set was sublime: vision, distribution, the pill on a suxpence, acceleration, support play….it just goes on.
He set up Smokin’ Joe deep in his own territory and loomed up at the end to finish it off. Next, 40m out he split the defence and ghosted to the line. He looked more like a svelte Bruce Robertson than a Stuart Barnes.
Sometimes, when you look at a game you just can’t see the wood for the trees. This is how I’d describe what Richie McCaw did out there on Saturday night.
Your subconscious switches to autopilot when Richie’s about because you just know there’s another top notch effort going on. Why waste time focussing on him, you know he’s going to deliver. It’s when he (rarely) doesn’t meet those expectations that you actually notice.
Its been a while but this time I really did focus on him and was a little surprised (again) at how much he actually does around the park. He produced a breakaway’s Leonard Bernstein performance.
He was always there….always. He was just prodigious, and a presence. Leading, scrambling, tackling, annoying, off-siding, supporting, snaffling, rucking etc etc. Such quality….
There was another try in the 2nd half by substitute Richard Kahui to finish the job. The Boyos were surrounded and finally capitulated.
Other ABs to impress included Kieran Read – ominously effective at No 8, starter Victor Vito who had a busy all round day and Keven Mealamu.
For Wales, the standouts were Corporal’s Jones, Jones, Jones and Jones. Adam, Stephen, Ryan and Alan-Wyn. The Hair Bear seriously outscrummaged Ben Franks and caused him to be prematurely pulled for The Myth.
Stephen Jones departed in the 2nd half with a hand injury and his generalship was sorely missed. He’d certainly cooked up a storm with his tactical kicking in Part 1.
The demise of Carisbrook will not cause too much angst among visiting international teams. A cold, miserable hole at the best of times – a little like Athletic Park in Wellington, but worse.
Wales return again this weekend for a second bite of the cherry in Hamilvegas, sans S. Jones. One not to be missed….
New Zealand 42 (Dan Carter 2, Keven Mealamu, Cory Jane, Richard Kahui tries; Carter 3 pens, 4 cons) Wales 9 (Stephen Jones pen, drop goal, Leigh Halfpenny pen)
