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New Zealand power ensures Richie McCaw party leaves Wales out in cold New Zealand power ensures Richie McCaw party leaves Wales out in cold
(35 minutes later)
Richie McCaw duly celebrated his 100th game captaining the All Blacks with a win and Wales have now gone 25 Tests without beating the New Zealand, but there were times on Saturday night when Welsh skill and passion looked as though it might well surprise and spoil the captain’s party.Richie McCaw duly celebrated his 100th game captaining the All Blacks with a win and Wales have now gone 25 Tests without beating the New Zealand, but there were times on Saturday night when Welsh skill and passion looked as though it might well surprise and spoil the captain’s party.
The bald facts are that under McCaw the All Blacks have won 88 of those games while Wales have now gone 22 games without beating one of the big guns from the southern hemisphere – but entering the final quarter it looked as though both of those records could be rewritten.The bald facts are that under McCaw the All Blacks have won 88 of those games while Wales have now gone 22 games without beating one of the big guns from the southern hemisphere – but entering the final quarter it looked as though both of those records could be rewritten.
Level three points apiece at half-time, the second half started with a torrent of points. First the world champions went clear and, as so often is the case, it was Julian Savea who put them there.Level three points apiece at half-time, the second half started with a torrent of points. First the world champions went clear and, as so often is the case, it was Julian Savea who put them there.
Beauden Barrett started things rolling with a side-stepping break and when the ball finally emerged from a pile of bodies under the Wales posts it was a clever backward pass from the centre Conrad Smith which put the wing away and with Dan Biggar and Alex Cuthbert shrugged aside it was 3-8, 3-10 when Barrett converted from wide out.Beauden Barrett started things rolling with a side-stepping break and when the ball finally emerged from a pile of bodies under the Wales posts it was a clever backward pass from the centre Conrad Smith which put the wing away and with Dan Biggar and Alex Cuthbert shrugged aside it was 3-8, 3-10 when Barrett converted from wide out.
Two minutes later things were all square again, Rhys Webb doing what he does best in putting defences on the back foot. First the scrum-half linked with Taulupe Faletau and when the No8 returned the favour the scrum-half was in the clear and flew over the line.Two minutes later things were all square again, Rhys Webb doing what he does best in putting defences on the back foot. First the scrum-half linked with Taulupe Faletau and when the No8 returned the favour the scrum-half was in the clear and flew over the line.
Leigh Halfpenny added the conversion and a game which had smouldered suddenly was full of life, too much so as hooker Dane Coles was lucky in 74,000 pairs of eyes not to spend 10 minutes in the sin-bin.Leigh Halfpenny added the conversion and a game which had smouldered suddenly was full of life, too much so as hooker Dane Coles was lucky in 74,000 pairs of eyes not to spend 10 minutes in the sin-bin.
Halfpenny then made it 13-10 with his second penalty and Cardiff began to sense an upset was on the card, especially when a veteran like Conrad Smith kicked out on the full and then fumbled.Halfpenny then made it 13-10 with his second penalty and Cardiff began to sense an upset was on the card, especially when a veteran like Conrad Smith kicked out on the full and then fumbled.
However, that was when the party boy had his say, McCaw thundering 30 metres down the right. Barrett cross-kicked and this time Conrad Smith was unflappable, an inside ball making things easy for Jerome Kaino.However, that was when the party boy had his say, McCaw thundering 30 metres down the right. Barrett cross-kicked and this time Conrad Smith was unflappable, an inside ball making things easy for Jerome Kaino.
A third penalty from Halfpenny inched Wales back into the lead, but with 12 minutes to go it was Barrett who showed the coolest of heads, chasing his own chip – Halfpenny beaten by the unkindest of bounces – to make it 16-20 before the killer blow, administered by Kieran Read who charged down an attempted box-kick clearance by replacement scrum-half Mike Phillips, the All Black No8 having all the time in the world to touch down.A third penalty from Halfpenny inched Wales back into the lead, but with 12 minutes to go it was Barrett who showed the coolest of heads, chasing his own chip – Halfpenny beaten by the unkindest of bounces – to make it 16-20 before the killer blow, administered by Kieran Read who charged down an attempted box-kick clearance by replacement scrum-half Mike Phillips, the All Black No8 having all the time in the world to touch down.
Barrett, robbing replacement wing Liam Williams, merely gave the game a truly lopsided score line. Barrett, robbing replacement wing Liam Williams, merely gave the game a truly lopsided scoreline. All that was left was to name Brodie Retallick as the IRB player of the season and the All Blacks had once again escaped from Europe unscathed.
The All Blacks captain’s century comes 10 years after McCaw’s made his debut as All Blacks captain – also in Cardiff – which was the last time Wales got close, New Zealand just about getting home 26-25 after being down by 19-13. Next time they return it will be with the World Cup in mind and if they continue to show such poise and power under pressure, there is no reason why they will not retain their title, although the All Blacks coach, Steve Hansen, said that the tournament was farthest from his mind.
The New Zealander in the other corner, Warren Gatland, the Wales head coach, said: “I was proud of the performance and the effort. We gave it everything and you can’t ask any more from the players, but a couple of lucky bounces were our downfall. We were right in that game.
“They looked rattled, but that is why they are the best team in the world,” said Gatland, who now has to lift his squad to face the second-best side in the world, South Africa, next weekend without Paul James and James Hook, who return to their English clubs and possibly George North, whose head was badly cut.
The All Blacks captain’s century comes 10 years after McCaw’s made his debut as All Blacks captain – also in Cardiff – which was the last time Wales got close, New Zealand just about getting home 26-25 after being down 19-13.
Since then there have been six visits with the New Zealand averaging more than 30 points a game and rarely looking vulnerable. In fact, barring the single-figure defeat of 2009 it has often been the haka that was most seriously contested.Since then there have been six visits with the New Zealand averaging more than 30 points a game and rarely looking vulnerable. In fact, barring the single-figure defeat of 2009 it has often been the haka that was most seriously contested.
On McCaw’s second visit in 2006, New Zealand performed their challenge to the opposition in the changing room, because Wales wanted to reply by singing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.On McCaw’s second visit in 2006, New Zealand performed their challenge to the opposition in the changing room, because Wales wanted to reply by singing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
Two years later they stared down the haka, refusing to move before their opponents did. However, on both occasions such demonstrations merely preceded something of a drubbing so on Saturday evening Welsh manners could not have been bettered.Two years later they stared down the haka, refusing to move before their opponents did. However, on both occasions such demonstrations merely preceded something of a drubbing so on Saturday evening Welsh manners could not have been bettered.
The packed house stood as McCaw lead out his side, heard the New Zealand anthem in silence and if there was some noise over the haka, its conclusion was warmly cheered.The packed house stood as McCaw lead out his side, heard the New Zealand anthem in silence and if there was some noise over the haka, its conclusion was warmly cheered.
Twice in the early stages Jamie Roberts made a half-break, the second earning a penalty bang in front of the All Black posts which Leigh Halfpenny converted and there was rare indecision in midfield before we got the first hint of what even the biggest New Zealanders can do, Read putting Coles away and Brodie Retallick slipping Sonny Bill Williams into space. Twice in the early stages Jamie Roberts made a half-break, the second earning a penalty bang in front of the All Black posts which Leigh Halfpenny converted and there was rare indecision in midfield before we got the first hint of what even the biggest New Zealanders can do, Read putting Coles away and Retallick slipping Sonny Bill Williams into space.
The backs were less sharp. Barrett and Williams, whose next career move is likely to be a return to boxing, got into an awful mess under the Wales posts which lead to a hack downfield and a chase from George North which promised much until the an awkward bounce denied the wing. The backs were less sharp. Beauden Barrett and Williams, whose next career move is likely to be a return to boxing, got into an awful mess under the Wales posts which lead to a hack downfield and a chase from George North which promised much until the an awkward bounce denied the wing.
With Barrett pushing a very kickable penalty for Welsh offside, Wales had just about shaded the opening quarter and even though Barrett levelled things with a more difficult kick from close on half way the first real chance fell to the Welsh, Roberts just fumbling the final off-load with fly-half Biggar seemingly clear.With Barrett pushing a very kickable penalty for Welsh offside, Wales had just about shaded the opening quarter and even though Barrett levelled things with a more difficult kick from close on half way the first real chance fell to the Welsh, Roberts just fumbling the final off-load with fly-half Biggar seemingly clear.
A forward pass from Halfpenny to Cuthbert after an eye-catching gallop by the captain Sam Warburton ended another expression of Welsh ambition and the first half ended level, although Wales spent the last five minutes on the back foot as New Zealand finally applied some meaningful pressure. A forward pass from Halfpenny to Cuthbert after an eye-catching gallop by the hosts’ captain Sam Warburton ended another expression of Welsh ambition and the first half ended level, although Wales spent the last five minutes on the back foot as New Zealand finally applied some meaningful pressure.