How Wales rated

LEIGH HALFPENNY

Who says he can’t run? Beat a number of defenders and racked up plenty of metres but wouldn’t have been happy with his goal-kicking or the off-cue pass which contributed to Wales wasting a gilt-edged opportunity for a try.

HALLAM AMOS

The medical student is a bright lad and has learned from the lessons he received from the All Blacks in New Zealand last year. Worked hard off his wing and ran some lovely angles, his perfectly-timed burst on to Biggar’s pass piercing the Kiwi defence for Wales’s opening try.

SCOTT WILLIAMS

The outside-centre got Wales’s first-half try when he was on the end of what was probably their best backs move in years and relished his part as he was part of a threequarter line which proved it has skill and can play running rugby.

OWEN WILLIAMS

You have to wonder why Wales ignored him for something like four years. Just his second start but looks so comfortable on the ball and worked sweetly with Biggar as the pair frequently swapped roles the No. 10 and 12 roles in midfield.

STEFF EVANS

Sorry to say this because he’s such a good player at regional level but the wing looks a little lightweight at this level, especially when he was up against someone of the size and power of Waisake Naholo. Can’t fault his effort though.

DAN BIGGAR

Showed there can be so much to his game, working intelligently with Owen Williams, and got his hands on the ball three times in the build-up to Scott Williams’s try. Will rue the pass that was picked off by Reiko Ioane for the result-deciding try.

GARETH DAVIES

Needs to swat up on rugby’s rules! Took over from head injury victim Rhys Webb after just eight minutes but was hopelessly offside when he chased a kick and New Zealand scored their opening try following the subsequent penalty. But can be such a dangerous attacker, as he showed with his try.

ROB EVANS

If he was a New Zealander the loose-head prop would be in their team because he’s a good footballer and has the skill to back it up. Another plus point was the Welsh scrum doing better than many were expecting.

KEN OWENS

His accuracy finding his intended target at the line-out left something to be desired with Wales losing a couple of key aerial battles when they were in prime position to catch and drive. Scrum went well, though, and never stopped working in the loose.

TOMAS FRANCIS

Stands out with his mullett hairstyle and the beef he’s carrying around his midrift but seems to be relishing the new style of play introduced by coach Warren Gatland, looking pretty handy on the ball. Was also competent at the scrum.

CORY HILL

A man who doesn’t mind doing the donkey work. Replaced Jake Ball, who injured his left shoulder, at lock in the 19th minute, and was at the higher end of Wales’s tackle count without really standing out. Unseen work they call it.

ALUN WYN JONES (CAPT)

Not everything went right for him on a personal level but did everything he could to lead Wales to their first victory over New Zealand for 64 years. However, the superior class and clinical finishing of the All Blacks told in the end.

AARON SHINGLER

Have rarely seen his prowess as an athlete this autumn because the blindside flanker has had to spend so much time doing the nitty-gritty at the breakdown and in the tight exchanges. Found it is difficult to make metres against the All Blacks.

TAULUPE FALETAU

A real mixed bag so far this autumn with more uncharacteristic handling errors from the No. 8. Worked tirelessly but failed to hang on to Navidi’s offload with a try almost a formality in the first half.