Clinical All Blacks finish the job in style
Wales so close at times, yet so far away
John Gwilliam, Courtney Meredith and Gareth Griffiths are still a select few – and are destined to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Any hope of the only survivors from the last Wales team to beat the All Blacks in a test back in 1953 being joined by a new generation was put on hold again as New Zealand continued to rule their rivalry with a perfunctory 46-6 victory at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Wales played in familiar surroundings – indoors a la Millennium Stadium – but there was no red welcome mat unfurled in Dunedin last night – Kieran Read’s pre-match goal for an ‘‘exclamation mark’’ performance was achieved as the All Blacks coasted to a sixtries-to-none triumph.
Although Wales initially proved competitive, as they did in Auckland and Wellington, the All Blacks lifted a gear when required to complete a 3-0 series sweep and extend their unbeaten sequence on home soil to 41 tests since the Springboks won in Hamilton in 2009.
In a repeat of the two previous tests, Wales made an encouraging start but once the All Blacks gained field position – through a strong run by Ben Smith – a dominant scrum set the platform for the wing to score the opening try in the right-hand corner after Aaron Smith fired a cut-out pass and his fellow Highlander forced despite a desperate tackle by marker Hallam Amos.
George Moala, in his second test and first in his specialist midfield position, should have extended the All Blacks lead after excellent interplay between Ben Smith and Israel Dagg but TMO George Ayoub ruled the centre lost the ball when tackled by Liam Williams on the half hour.
Fortunately, Moala made amends for ignoring Elliot Dixon and Read three minutes later when he dived over from a ruck after a sweeping move featuring the resurgent Dagg (who was consistently given scope to attack via poor tactical kicking), who handled three times in the build-up.
Beauden Barrett added the extras to push the All Blacks to an 18-6 advantage, a buffer they protected late in the half after Wales belatedly exerted pressure through an improved scrummaging effort, particularly from loosehead Tomas Francis who was buckled airborne at an engagement before Smith’s try.
Wales needed a strong start to the second half but a forward pass behind the goal-line conceded a five-metre scrum that produced a seven-pointer for Barrett who powered through Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar in the 45th minute to put the outcome beyond doubt.
French referee Jerome Garces sin-binned Sam Cane after he conceded his fourth penalty soon after the restart but Wales were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage.
Moala made way for makeshift centre Waisake Naholo – predictably a popular personnel change – as Steve Hansen utilised his bench in the third quarter.
Dixon, who had a solid introduction after being forced to play tighter than usual, departed in the 56th minute for fellow debutant Liam Squire; prop Ofa Tu’unfagasi also earned his first cap while Liam Sopoaga moved to first fiveeighth and Barrett switched to fullback – the catalyst for the attacking weapon to scythe through three defenders for his double.
Unfortunately for Hansen’s counterpart, Warren Gatland, his bench couldn’t provide the same impetus and for the first time in the series Wales were unable to score a consolation try.
When Dane Coles surged through a gap for the All Blacks fifth try in the 62nd minute a halfcentury beckoned but Wales bravely limited the damage until Dagg completed the rout after the hooter.
Read caused some anxiety when he needed treatment on a shoulder after a collision with 14 minutes to play though fortunately for Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder he was able to continue.
But rival captain Sam Warburton conceded defeat in the dying stages. His resilient performance typified the tourists – gallant, but with nothing left to give.
All Blacks 46 (Beauden Barrett 2, Ben Smith, George Moala, Dane Coles, Israel Dagg tries; Beauden Barrett 2 pen 5 con) Wales 6 (Dan Biggar 2 pen) HT: 18-6 at Forsyth Barr Stadium