All Blacks eventually run away from Wales
- editor59343
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
The All Blacks kept a determined Wales at bay to eventually run away with a 52-26 win on Cardiff.
Despite a lack of ball the Wales were determined and showed the expected spirit, however they weren't clinical enough.
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Things were looking bleak for Wales, who had only won one test at their iconic home venue in the last two seasons, but they threw themselves at the All Blacks off the kick-off.
turning wing Caleb Clarke scored after five minutes but the try was negated by Tom Rogers crossing for Wales a few minutes later. Damian McKenzie settled things down with a penalty before Ruben Love scored a brilliant try to push the All Black lead out.
However, a common theme of the test was the receiving team botching the resulting kick-off, with Wales taking advantage and sending Rogers over in the same spot as his first. Tamaiti Williams then bulldozed his way over to push the lead out to 24-14 for the All Blacks at the break.
Rogers scored his third and best try after the break to give the 70,000-strong crowd some hope, but a double to replacement Sevu Reece and another to Rieko Ioane made the game safe.
Caleb Clarke and Louis Rees-Zammit traded tries in the dying stages to make the total by all the wingers to eight before the full time whistle.
Wales did make history as Rogers joined a very select group of test players that have scored a hat trick against the All Blacks alongside Greg Cornelson, Ray Mordt and Andre Joubert. They spent a lot of the game on defence, making 228 tackles to the All Blacks' 85 and only had a third of the total possession.
Damian McKenzie had a perfect kicking game landing all eight shots at goal.
All Blacks 52 (Caleb Clarke 2, Sevu Reece 2, Ruben Love, Tamaiti Williams, Rieko Ioane, tries; Damian McKenzie 7 con, pen) Wales 26 (Tom Rogers 3, Louis Rees-Zammit tries; Dan Edwards 3 con). HT: 24-14