Basham one bright spot on dark day

WALES 16 NEW ZEALAND 54

TAINE BASHAM answered the call from ShaneWilliams forWales’ next generation to step up – then demanded more from team-mates.

The Dragons flanker, 21, provided a ray of hope on his full debut despite the seven-try hammering inflicted by New Zealand.

Dragons legendWilliams had voiced concern thatWales’ golden generation are not being pushed hard enough by the next wave.

But Basham showed he is one for the present and future by taking the game to the world’s top team, mixing turnovers and steals with a game-high 14 tackles.

Wales bossWayne Pivac said: “Taine was our man of the match. He’s an extra player we have.”

Basham declined to dwell on his performance and instead spoke of the need to improve before Saturday’s visit of world champions South Africa.

He said: “We could go up another level in physicality and discipline.

“In the last 20, discipline let us down.There were penalties we didn’t need to

MAN OF THE MATCH: Basham made 14 tackles give.We need to go up another level next week.”

Wales were without their Englishbased stars, but the £4million they raised outside the Test window softened the blow of conceding a half century of points at home to New Zealand for the first time. They did, however, lose captain AlunWyn Jones to an injury reminiscent of the shoulder dislocation he suffered on Lions duty in June.

Wales have concerns over Dan Biggar, injured in Northampton’s defeat by Leicester, and Ross Moriarty, who was taken out of on Saturday by high shoulder hits from two All Blacks.

WALES – Try: J Williams. Con: Priestland. Pens: Anscombe 2, Priestland.

NEW ZEALAND – Tries: B Barrett 2, Perenara, Jordan, Papalii, Reece, LienertBrown. Cons: J Barrett 5. Pens: J Barrett 3.