Well It was the last game of rugby union to be played at the old Carisbrooke stadium and the old ground was filled with emotion and legends like Colin Meads were present to wave goodbye as the new world cup ground replaces it. The All Blacks looked like they were on a mission to bid the ground farewell with an inspiring Haka they were so tough even the guy singing the anthem Judd Arthur looked like he could have put on the shirt and played.
When this game kicked off the Welsh looked like a team capable of giving the Northern hemisphere some pride. They dominated the opening exchanges and pressured New Zealand all over the park. The game plan seemed clear, in their own half Wales intended to play no rugby, they wanted to pressure the young Kiwi full back Israel Dagg, so frequently bombed him from scrum half and ten. Stephan Jones controlled things well and they didn’t allow New Zealand in their half. At the scrum Adam Jones was really putting pressure on Ben Franks resulting in some shoving and pushing it seemed the All Blacks were being rattled.
Wales defence was swarming all over New Zealand and they were forced to throw huge number at the rucks to secure the ball this was slowing up their game considerably and they were making errors all over the park. The problem Wales had though was that at any time New Zealand looked like they could break and though their play was committed and tough. It also felt like they were riding the tiger and any minute were going to have to get off. In their first foray into the New Zealand 22 the resulting line out saw Mealamu burrow over under the posts. Wales recovered and quickly pushed New Zealand back with some massive tackling and defensive speed. Philips hit on Mealamu in particular standing out. Wales bombed again and the chase was putting New Zealand under more pressure. They took the ball from one side of the pitch to the other and kept stretching the All Blacks defence before a knock on by Stephan Jones. At the resulting scrum Philips was starting to really rattle is opposite number Cowan. Then as Wales made another good move into the All Blacks 22 near the touchline, a slightly dubious steal which could have been from the side saw Cory Jane run all the way to the Welsh line for a score.
Ryan Jones was playing some of his best rugby in years but New Zealand were starting to find their shape. As they went in at half time New Zealand were wondering what had hit them. It’s hard to talk about New Zealand being in trouble, when they played their most stifled half of rugby for some time and still went in 15 – 9 up at the break but the Welsh effort was impressive.
I don’t know what they drink at half time, and I don’t know what Graham Henry says to his players but the second half was an incredible display of rugby by the All Blacks. Woodcock came on to the field and secured the scrum for them and Joe Rokocoko so very nearly the forgotten man of New Zealand started to spark plays from all over the field. A break by Carter saw a swarm of Black up into the Welsh 22, Carter was back then to receive the ball and cut through about 5 red shirts to score a great try. The signs looked ominous and the Welsh looked shell shocked.
The Welsh, all game, had an obsession with going to the short side and it kept hemming them in. With the touchline always being such a danger, it is a move I can never quite fathom and very much favoured by the Northern Hemisphere. The Welsh were fighting for everything but New Zealand were in cruise control.
As the half drew on Wales were reduced to looking like King Canute trying to stop the tide coming in. Dan Carter again scored another great try.
The error count in the game was about even but the All Blacks scored from nearly all of the Welsh errors and conceded nothing from their own. Richard Kahui delivered the Coupe de grace with a try that was almost embarrassing running through the middle of most of the Welsh team and at this point the Welsh were dead on their feet. All in all a devastating second half for Wales and a formidable one for the rest of the world.
Final score 42-9
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