Once again, it was a case of ‘we got what we expected’ when Wales hosted New Zealand on Saturday night. Whilst it wasn’t as weak a side as Wayne Pivac had made it out to be a few weeks ago, the hosts were still made to pay for their relative inexperience by a ruthless and clinical All Blacks outfit. The 54-16 result in favor of Ian Foster’s men extended the Welsh wait for a victory in this fixture to thirty-two contests, this performance perhaps shaping as one of the host nation’s worst. Such an accumulation now means New Zealand have racked up 168 points in just two matches, also needing just four more tries to break the world record for five pointers scored in a calendar year (a feat they should achieve against Italy in Rome next weekend).
For some, this result may flatter. Whilst such a score was always likely, to come against the proud rugby playing nation of Wales may present the picture that this All Blacks team is somewhere near unbeatable. Yes this was a test match pitting the Six Nations champions against the Rugby Championship victors, but the Welsh side assembled was under-strength and lacked the gametime and familiarity that their opponents had developed in recent weeks and months. The true tests still lie ahead for New Zealand, and it is only after those contests with Ireland and France that we can truly measure their progress two years out from the World Cup.
The return of Richie Mo’unga to the New Zealand fold, capped by his impressive showing against the USA last weekend, meant the battle for that pivotal starting fly half spot was back in the spotlight. On one hand was the consistent form of Beauden Barrett across the Rugby Championship and the opportunity for him to bring up a century of caps for his country, whilst on the other was the explosiveness and silky running game that Mo’unga brings to the table. In the end though, it appeared as if Ian Foster and his coaching staff came to a conclusion rather quickly. A committed servant to the black jersey since making his debut, it was only right for Beauden to run out in the number ten jersey on his 100th. World Rugby Player Of The Year twice running between 2016 and 2017, he may have struggled to cement his starting position with Mo'unga’s entry onto the scene, but has certainly provided an accurate edge to New Zealand’s game with his pinpoint kicking and pacey running game.
As expected, there were a whole host of changes to the team that ran out onto FedEx Field in Washington, Foster laying out something very close to his first choice side. Of note was TJ Perenara’s start at halfback, the Hurricanes stalwart edging out Brad Webber despite his patchy form. Ethan Blackadder was also given the starting role at blindside, holding off Akira Ioane for what is another of the team’s more hotly contested positions. Sam Cane’s name on the teamsheet was missing all together, the coaching staff expected to roll him out again next Saturday as he continues to be nurtured back into the test arena.
Welsh rugby’s greatest servant, Alun Wyn Jones, broke yet another record with his start in the second row on Saturday. A living legend of world rugby, the talismanic lock would break the record for most international appearances, eclipsing Richie McCaw’s previous record of 148. Such an historic milestone was gently played down by the man himself though, a true show of character as he declared most of his attention towards masterminding a method for his inexperienced Welsh team to finally knock off the All Blacks.
Talking of inexperience, Wayne Pivac was without more than a handful of his best men due to club commitments and injury issues. That left him unable to call upon the assets of Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar, Taulupe Faletau, Leigh Halfpenny, and Louis Reez-Zammit, among others. Whilst it wasn’t quite the twenty or so first choice players that Pivac had rendered out of this test match just a few weeks ago, there were still a handy amount missing that may well have changed the outcome. With that in mind, the side that ran out to be greeted by a packed Millenium Stadium was brimming with unseasoned talent at test level. Taine Basham was thrown right into the deep end, playing his first international with a starting role at openside, while Kirby Myhill would also make his debut off the bench as the reserve hooker.
Undoubtedly, it was a side that centered around the presence of Wyn Jones, but the likes of Allan Wainwright and Ross Moriarty were also there to make themselves heard on the biggest stage. Aside from the captain’s record breaking achievement, perhaps the biggest selection news was that of the return of Gareth Anscombe at fly half. Formerly one of the first men on a Welsh team sheet, Anscombe would make his first test appearance since 2019, a serious knee injury having kept him out of the fray for two years. Along with the chance to suit up in a test jumper again, also came the chance to reconvene with some former teammates of whom he’d played alongside during his days with the Blues, Chiefs, and New Zealand Under-20s. With that in mind, he certainly wasn’t going to have it easy.
Before getting to the seriousness of the test ahead, it’s worth noting the appearance of ‘Jarvo’, currently one of the world’s more notorious pitch invaders. The Youtube sensation attracted headlines with his infamous actions at the cricket test match involving England and India earlier in the year, pretending to be a player, not once, but twice. He was up to his old antics again, and whilst not quite as successful, still made it onto the pitch to line up alongside his ‘teammates’ for the New Zealand national anthem, sporting his name and the number ‘69’ across his back. ‘Jarvo’s presence emitted a roar from the crowd, one of the more jubilant reactions from the home fans across the night.
With milestones for players on either side, it was a case of Beauden Barrett taking hold of the test match first. The Welsh appeared to have settled into a good rhythm early, fitting it with their more highly fancied opponents, all until Beauden marked his team’s arrival with an intercept off a pass from Gareth Anscombe. With the speed and agility that has served him so well over the years, the fly half wasn’t to be stopped, converting under the posts to get New Zealand’s first. It was to be the first of many highlights for the centurion, whilst also the first of many mistakes for Anscombe in what proved a troublesome return. The Welshman would get his team on the board with a penalty goal to close the gap to four though, before the All Blacks came back at their hosts again.
Led by the hard and direct running of Ardie Savea, the visitors came desperately short of adding to their first try. First, they were pinged at the ruck for falling off their feet, before Nepo Laulala dropped the ball over the line when a second try seemed begging. The Welsh defense was holding firm, but only just. It wouldn’t stay that way though, and after a tricky twenty minute period, Savea set away Perenara close to the line to extend the score out to 18-3 in favor of the visitors. With just five to play in the opening period, it appeared as if New Zealand had already wrapped up another test victory over their hosts. Pivac’s men were given a lifeline just before halftime though, Laulala in the wrong once more with a high tackle that sent Ross Moriarty from the field. While it appeared rather harsh on the tighthead, it was in some ways merited, and followed the nature of a rather inconsistent officiating performance from Mathieu Raynal and his assistants.
The man advantage injected some life into Wales, and it would be debutante Basham to lead the way. The openside was eccentric all night, winning multiple turnovers and breaking the gainline with a host of barnstorming runs. He was the man to win a penalty for his side late on in the half, but instead of sending the ball away to the corner for a lineout (as they’d attempted and failed previously), Anscombe signalled to the posts. Whilst it hardly added much in the scheme of things, the three points ensured those in red went to the sheds with their tails up despite trailing 6-18.
A major fallpoint for Pivac’s men across the entirety of the test match proved to be their set piece. It was laid to waste in the opening period, both scrum and line-out flailing at almost every opportunity, and as such needing to be addressed if there was to be any way back for the Welsh. The errors continued to flow though, and coupled with the loss of Alun Wyn Jones to an early shoulder injury (his second of the international season), the All Blacks finished off the job comfortably in the second period.
Following an exchange of penalty goals to kickstart the half, Will Jordan would announce himself with a mesmerising solo play. Largely non-existent throughout the opening period, the Crusaders right-winger took charge to score New Zealand’s third try of the evening. Spotting a gaping hole inbehind the home side’s defense, Jordan dropped a kick over the top and regathered, much to the awe of those in red. That would provide a little teaser for what was to come, but first the Welsh would provide a moment of inspiration with just under twenty to go.
Anscombe had been smothered and shut down by his opponents, an obvious target of Foster’s tactics, ensuring his return to the test arena was not a happy one. Rhys Priestland would have an immediate impact in his place though, the replacement fly half adding some much needed energy for his side as the contest wore into its final quarter. Instead of looking for the forwards to pummel their way through, Priestland took charge and decided a change of tactics was needed if the home side were to breach the line. A delightful chip kick in-behind off the back of a line-out caught the New Zealand defense completely unawares, allowing Josh Williams to pounce on the ball for the home side’s only try of the test match. Whilst they still lagged twelve points behind at 16-28, the score appeared to add some hope to the Welsh cause.
That would only spark a response from the men in black though, New Zealand turning on the afterburners with fifteen to play. With the added intensity of their bench, the All Blacks went about laying siege to the opposition line. Dalton Papalii would cross first, capping off a determined display from the openside, before Sevu Reece and Anton Lienert-Brown added two more as the away side began to stretch their opponents out wide. The hosts were being run ragged, and fittingly so, Beauden Barrett would add to their late misery with the final say in the closing minute. A fixture of the All Blacks game in 2021, their line speed would come up trumps again as the centurion picked off a pass from Johnny McNicholl to sprint away in the corner. It rounded off a magnificent performance from ‘Beaudy’, the fly half deservedly taking home the man of the match honours on a special night, helping his nation to a 54-16 drubbing at the Millennium.
Whilst the scoreline finished in the predicted blow out expected, this was a test match that certainly didn’t lack for drama and excitement. Wales may have had very little to shout about by way of points across the contest, but did well in periods and probably pushed the All Blacks longer than previously anticipated, only giving way significantly in the final periods. The margin and style of victory keeps New Zealand’s unchallenged start to their Northern Tour intact, as is expected to be the case again next weekend in Rome. For their superb all-round showing, it will be Beauden Barrett to take home most of the credit though. Stepping up in a test of such occasion and meaning for him will have been both personally rewarding, but also lamenting of his credentials for a continued spot in the ten jumper.
It just so happened that a second-string Welsh side was on the receiving end, and they’ll face another challenging task when they welcome the Springboks to Cardiff next weekend. Whilst Biggar, Owens, and Rees-Zammit should all return, Wayne Pivac will still be devoid of some of his first-choice men, Alun Wyn Jones the latest to be added to an ever-steady injury list.Nevertheless, expect a much improved performance against the world champions for that occasion, Wales looking to re-cement their Six Nations credentials.
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