The All Blacks kicked off their Northern Hemisphere Tour with a Test against Wales. The All Blacks won a generally scrappy affair which only really only came alive in the last 20 minutes. The All Blacks won 19 / 12.
The All Blacks drew first blood after just more than 10 minutes, a Dan Carter Penalty, making it 3 / 0.
Wales drew level with a penalty of their own by Stephen Jones…
Again the All Blacks went ahead through the boot of Carter and again Stephen Jones equalised.
The First half ended tied, 6 / 6.
The First Half was characterised by aimless kicking, hard and uncompromising forward play and lots of guts, but it was boring rugby.
After Halftime, the All Blacks upped the ante, less aimless kicking and more direct running and it started showing on the score board, firstly through a Dan Carter penalty, then through a hard driving try by Andrew Hore, converted by Dan Carter.
Then another Dan Carter penalty followed and the score had ballooned to 19 / 6 for the All Blacks.
With Jimmy Cowan having replaced the pedantic Brendon Leonard, there was more fluidity in the backline.
Wales was not done yet and upped their own tempo as well, then came back with 2 Stephen Jones penalties and with a few minutes to play they were within 7 points.
They threw everything at the All Blacks in an attempt to level the scores but the All Black defense held, denying the Welsch the magic come-back.
Man of the match was awarded to Dan Carter.
Points:
Wales: 4 Penalties Stephen Jones
All Blacks: 4 Penalties & 1 Conversion Dan Carter, 1 Try Andrew Hore
Teams:
Wales: 15 James Hook, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Gareth Cooper, 8 Ryan Jones (captain), 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Andy Powell, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Paul James, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Bradley Davies, 19 Dafydd Jones, 20 Martin Roberts, 21 Jonathan Davies, 21 Tom James
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Ben Smith.
Date: Saturday, November 7
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 19.30 SA Time (17.30 GMT, 06.30 NZ Time – Sunday, November 8 )
Expected weather conditions: Light rain showers. Maximum 10°C. The weather could be negate if the stadium roof is closed.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Mark Lawrence (South Africa), Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Some Photo’s of the match… and our fellow blogger who was there… wonder if you could guess who this was?
6 / 6
AB giving away to many penalties. Keeping Wales hopes high!
Is the Welsh team good or is the NZ team rubbish?
Aimless licking by NZ….
Geez and they complain about the Boks kicking. The last few minutes have been boring with all the kicking.
Lemoenetyd… all square….
34- they wish they had Morne [The ex Vrystaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaater] Steyn as their 10
6 each half time. Much closer than I thought. Still think like GBS ABs will pull away in the 2nd half.
Going into the house to watch from there… will blog & update from the Notebook.
37 – Loosehead 😆
35 – Loosehead was just going to say that. Like watching ping pong here. So much kicking.
38 Agreed Puma, they should win by 20.
42 – Loosehead, Yip that is how the ABs do it. For me ABs by 12 maybe more.
Puma as a game, it is boring.
@41
And then they are kaking on our heads for kicking to much!!
Look at that, 2 Kiwi chicks who are not dogs.
Maybe they are Aussies?
OK, back with the Notebook…. no problem
Eish little structure in this
44 – Loosehead it is. Thought from both these teams that like to run it we would see more of that.
The ground very wet and the roof is closed. Maybe that could be why. Who knows but ABs will pull a way I think. Unless Wales score first here and put pressure on which I just don’t think will happen.
Hello SA B! Kak weather hey?
48 – SAB
😆
NZ 9 / 6
50 Howzit guys!! Ja LH, it was a kak day in the fairest cape
53@ SAB – Kak plek daai Kaap man….. hehehe
Naandsê, almal.
Kan nie game sien.
Wat gaan aan met die All Blacks, of is Wallis net buitengewoon goed?
AB scrum in a little trouble I think.
54 Howzit gbs die Kaap is lekwa man!
The longer the game takes, the better the Taffies look.
Geez the ABs are disappointing so far
Cowan on for Leonard.
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