Wales push All Blacks all the way
What a wonderful match! If this is what June's three weeks of Tests is going to be like, the rugby world is in for a great treat.
Certainly for an hour it was a contest with Wales leading 21-18, but then the All Blacks, not for the first time, ran away from tiring opposition, scoring three seven-point tries.
In fact the brave Welsh led 18-15 at half-time but their endeavours were rewarded by only three points in the second half, and late in the match their tackling waned and even their line-outs failed.
But the game was more than the contest as both sides ran and tackled and ran some more. It was exciting, adventurous and skilful - all that rugby should be.
After the anthems Aaron Smith was the lead voice in the kamate haka as the All Blacks formed an arrowhead with captain Kieran Read in front.
Then at the start of the game it seemed that the All Blacks would run but Wales seemed set on bash and kick. That was only a first impression, for in no time the visitors were also running.
New Zealand dominated possession early on and two penalties at tackles gave them two chances to score. Aaron Cruden hit the upright with a long attempt and then, when Ross Moriarty rather crudely dived over a tackle and onto the ball Cruden goaled. 3-0 after 5 minutes.
Wales scored the first try of the match. Excellent Rhys Webb kicked a high kicked. Ben Smith knocked it forward to Samson Lee of Wales. He passed and Wales went w wide right and then wide left where Taulupe Faletau was unmarked, and the strong No.8 loped the last 15 metres for a try in the corner and Wales led 5-3 after 10 minutes.
A break by Waisake Naholo set the All Blacks attacking. Cruden lofted a high diagonal to the left where Julian Savea leapt high to catch the ball and drop to the ground for a try. 8-5 to New Zealand after 15 minutes.
The Welshman who most tested the New Zealand defence was big right wing George North who had a splendid match. He had a run down the right wing but the All Blacks scored next when Ben Smith caught a high kick by Dan Biggar and started running from just outside his 22. The electric fullback sprinted some 35 metres straight down the field before passing to Cruden who gave to Naholo who scored. Cruden converted. 15-5 after 18 minutes.
Most often the left wing is the one to prosper in a match because most backs are right-handed and so passing to the left is more fluent, but in this match it was the two right wings, Naholo and North, who flourished.
Biggar kicked a penalty goal and then Wales attacked from a quick throw-in from touch which ended when Aaron Smith intercepted a pass from Jonathan Davies. But just after that Dane Coles was penalised and Biggar goaled. 15-11 after 25 minutes.
Cruden kicked downfield in defence and slight Liam Williams caught the ball. He ran straight down the field from deep inside his half, beating Brodie Retallick and two others. Just outside the New Zealand 22, he gave to Webb who was knocked down by Naholo but still scored bear the posts. Biggar converted, and Wales led 18-15 after 31 minutes. This was happening in front of 46 000 people at Eden Park in Auckland.
Wales nearly scored again when Biggar chipped towards the posts and Jonathan Davies went for the ball. That gave Wales a five-metre scrum. Moriarty bashed for the line but Read stopped him and eventually Hallam Amos was in touch to end the half with Wales leading.
There were even thoughts of a Welsh victory over New Zealand, 63 years after the last one.
Early in the half New Zealand brought on Beauden Barrett who went to fullback while Ben Smith went to right wing, Naholo to the left and Julian Savea to the bench and more changes followed as both New Zealand props were swapped.
The All Blacks attacked, Cruden was close and Webb saved a try by bringing Malakai Fekitoa to ground. Cruden goaled a penalty and it was 18-all after 47 minutes.
Wales attacked, Biggar missed a penalty and New Zealand dropped out. From the drop-out North raced ahead and only a decisive tackle by Barrett prevented a try. Still Aaron Smith was penalised for a late tackle on Webb and Biggar goaled. 21-18 after 52 minutes with Wales back in the lead, but it was the last time Wales scored while New Zealand took advantage of weakening tackling.
Ardie Savea came on for Sam Cane and was soon in action as New Zealand bashed at the Welsh line. Alun Wyn Jones was penalised, Aaron Smith tapped and gave to Naholo. The big wing charged past Wyn Jones and over Biggar to score near the posts. New Zealand led 25-21 after 61 minutes.
Wales now made many changes. One who came on was the New Zealander Gareth Anscombe.
New Zealand won a line-out just outside the Welsh 22 and bashed around till the ball went to replacement Patrick Tuipulotu who charged ahead and got a pass to Read who went through Anscombe to dive over under the posts. 32-21 with 13 minutes to play.
From a line-out near half-way Cruden ghosted [past Rob Evans and strode easily downfield. He passed inside to TJ Perenara who scampered off to score.
The referee consulted the TMO about the final pass. The TMO thought it was not forward in the act of passing but the referee disagreed and ordered a scrum. Certainly the action of Cruden's hands was backwards and, as most people know, the motion of the ball will be influenced by the momentum of the player passing it. But the referee had his way and he is sole judge.
After a free kick to Wales at a scrum Faletau tapped and gave to Gareth Davies who kicked ahead. Faletau, clearly a metre or two ahead of Davies, chased, got the ball and "scored". Again the referee consulted the TMO and, instead of a try to Wales, penalised Faletau.
Wales had a five-metre scrum, the All Blacks were freekicked and Wales tapped. They bashed but turned the ball over and New Zealand counterattacked. From a scrum, the New Zealand went right and then cam back left where prop passed to prop who passed to hooker and Test debutant Nathan Harris scored in the left corner. Cruden converted and the final whistle went.
Man of the Match: Wales had four candidates - Taulupe Faletau, Liam Williams, George North and Rhys Webb. New Zealand had three candidates - Kieran Read, Aaron Cruden and our choice Waisake Naholo who scored and created tries.
Moment of the Match: The moment that will be most talked about and debated - the "forward pass" decision from Aaron Cruden to TJ Perenara. But of playing moments it would be Cruden's perfect kick and Julian Savea's perfect leap for the All Black's first try.
Villain of the Match: Nobody at all.
Scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: J Savea, Naholo 2, Read, Harris
Cons: Cruden 4
Pens: Cruden 2
For Wales:
Tries: Faletau, Webb
Con: Biggar
Pens: Biggar 3
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Seta Tamanivalu.
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Scott Williams.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)