All Blacks see off defiant Welsh
Saturday, 22 Nov 2008 19:22
Dan Carter kicked 19 points for the All Blacks
New Zealand's domination of the home nations continued at the Millennium Stadium tonight, as they recorded a 29-9 victory over Wales.
Ultimately the scoreline was harsh on Warren Gatland's side, who started the stronger and were unlucky to only lead by three points at the break.
But the Kiwis dominated in the second period, despite playing well below their capabilities, and as in Dublin a week earlier were able to wear down their opponents' initially strong defence.
Wales stood defiant after the challenge of the Haka, forcing the All Blacks to step down so referee Jonathan Kaplan could get the game underway.
And the intensity remained at the kick off, with the Welsh taking the game to the tourists up front and forcing a high tackle in the process. Stephen Jones coolly slotted over the penalty to give his side a 3-0 lead after two minutes.
It quickly became apparent that this meeting of the Tri-Nations and Six Nations champions would be a bruising encounter - Martyn Williams bearing the brunt of a heavy tackle with a black eye – and it was through another penalty that Jones doubled the lead in the 14th minute.
But New Zealand got one of their own moments later, allowing Dan Carter to convert from in front of the posts and cut back the margin
He then had an opportunity to level the scores but uncharacteristically hit the post – seemingly sparking the Welsh into life as they launched an attack.
Jones came agonisingly close to the line after Shane Williams had jinked his way past a couple of defenders, but just as it looked like the home side would strike with the first try the ball was killed. A penalty was awarded and the Scarlets fly-half duly restored the six-point gap.
From there Wales took control, as the Kiwis made a series of errors and Lee Byrne sliced through the defence to make a dash for the line, although his offload failed to find a Welsh hand and New Zealand cleared their lines once more.
The All Blacks did mount some challenges of their own but never really looked like scoring in the first half, another penalty in front of the posts allowing Carter to reduce the deficit to 9-6 on the stroke of half time.
But just as they had done against Ireland a week earlier the All Blacks started strongly in the second half and forced another infringement to level the scores within two minutes.
And when Ma'a Nonu's kick through beat Leigh Halfpenny the centre gathered, with Tom Shanklin cutting out the offload to run the ball out of play and set up a New Zealand scrum five metres from the Welsh line.
They attacked through the forwards but were held up over the line, with Wales then putting the Kiwi scrum under enough pressure to be afforded a penalty and the opportunity to clear.
Minutes later the dangerous New Zealand wings – Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu – began to show what they could do, setting up a ruck that allowed Nonu to exploit space out wide and cross for the first try of the match.
Carter duly added the conversion, giving the Kiwis a 16-9 lead. And with an hour to go they turned on the style and began finding gaps, Rokocoko and Richie McCaw in particular leading the charge that led to Carter's fourth successful penalty.
After starting so strongly Wales had begun to struggle, epitomised by replacement fly-half James Hook's failure with an attempt to close the gap, before Carter converted an effort from out wide with five minutes remaining to put the result beyond doubt.
Williams, who had looked threatening every time he got the ball, tried to launch an attack from near his own line as time expired, but the All Blacks turned the ball over and after being awarded a penalty sent Jerome Kaino through for a converted score.