New Zealand plays Wales

An expected meeting, the Welshmen welcomed the New Zealanders who had stayed on to a narrow victory over the Japanese the previous weekend. Moreover, the Kiwi nation has had some troubles against Northern Hemisphere countries recently. He was beaten by the Blues last November and especially three times by the Irish this season. So this meeting against Wales was a good way to restart against the Europeans and start the tour in the best way possible.

A perfect start to the game for Ian Foster’s men who found themselves behind goal after ten minutes through hooker Codie Taylor after a volley. Richie Muunga scored two more points on the ensuing conversion. The performance was repeated eight minutes later with Aaron Smith playing a penalty in hand and running away to serve the hooker who gave himself a brace. The New Zealanders dominated the first half very much, but they played in a different style than usual, a more direct and more physical game.

Wales reacts in the same way to a try from Dyer after 25 minutes of play with a straight try, which Welshman No. 11 closes. In Operation Anscombe, he delivers two more points, then three more after a penalty in 22 against the Poles. But once again the New Zealand machine got back on the road and at the end of the 10th half Mo’unga showed a long foot pass to Jordie Barrett who shot into a corner. Shift does not pass, we stay at 10-22. Anscombe fills the gap at the siren with a penalty kick. The All Blacks are ahead at the break.

The second half by one

Despite a good start to the second half from the Welsh endorsed by a penalty from Anscombe and a try from Tiburic, the All Blacks hovered over the second term. The first flash comes from ubiquitous Aaron Smith in this meeting, who runs off on a hacking edge, takes down Luis Reese Zammit and goes on to score five more points. A new record, six minutes after the same half, a scrum that gave itself a double in turn.

Ardie Savea who was tireless throughout the game on defence, and man of the match also gave himself up for a try just after the hour mark. After a scraped ball by No. 8 of the Blacks, the game reaches within five meters of Wells and after the ball is carried in by Ardie Savea he is on the finish to bring the score to 23-41 before turning over. A conversion missed by Richie Muonga who caught his second failure of the game.

The pace does not decrease in spite of this great progress, and the Welsh are far from quitting, but they do not succeed and are defeated in duels. Geordie Barrett who was substituted at center this afternoon would also give himself a double, after scum and a conversion from his brother Bowden Barrett, the New Zealand international center knocked out two defenders with an overflow frame and brought the score to 23-46.

The fate of the match is folded, but the All Blacks are still determined to continue their demonstrations, and substitute Taukei’aho also goes there to test the siren. A big score of 23-55 after the turnaround to perfectly launch this New Zealand team’s fall tour.

Written by Ghislaine Le Roy