Rugby update, All Blacks complete clean sweep
It was the All Blacks’ 24th consecutive win over Wales when they beat them in the match played here at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff last night. This victory also completed their 3rd clean sweep in their last 5 tours of the British Isles.
It is their 2nd Grand Slam of the year, as they have also won a Tri Nations tournament earlier this year.
Dan Carter, who was only 3 points away from the record 1178 points of Jonny Wilkinson before this match, made the match, broke the record of Wilkinson and now he is the leading point scorer in the World.
The match against Wales was All Blacks’ last match of the year. They played a total of 14 matches in the year and won 13 matches. Their only defeat came against Wallabies last month, when Wallabies beat them in a narrow game with the score of 26-24 at Hong
Kong stadium.
All Blacks, who are enjoying 1st position is International Rugby Board’s ratings, did not get this victory easily against the 9th ranked team Wales. Wales gave them real tough time and All Blacks had to play well to get victory from
them.
Although, Wales’ recent form is not going well as they lost to Wallabies and Springboks in their first 2 matches of the month. They also failed to win the match against the weaker side Samoa and the match ended in a draw. But their performance in this match
was their best performance of the month, especially Stephen Jones’ performance really kept them in the match at all times.
The match started in Wales’ favour when Stephen Jones scored 3 points for his team on a penalty and Wales took the lead of 3 points. But Hosea Gear did not keep his team under deficit for a long time and won their first try of the match and scored 5 points
for the All Blacks and the score became 3-5.
Few minutes later Dan Carter’s 3 points on penalty made their team’s lead 3-8 and he also become the highest point scorer in the World with this penalty.
Mils Muliaina from All Blacks succeeded to get one more try for his team after some time and his 5 points took their team’s lead to a convincing margin of 3-13.
But just before the end of the first half, Stephen Jones reduced his team’s lead and scored 6 points on 2 penalties and the score became 9-13 at the end of the first half.
The 2nd half also started in the same way, when Jones scored 3 points for his team on the penalty and reduced the All Blacks’ lead and the score became 12-13.
But Gear’s 2nd try of the match once again took the All Blacks to a convincing lead and the score became 12-18.
5 more points from Carter, 2 on con and 3 on penalty, made All Blacks lead more clear and score became 12-23.
After suffering a deficit of 11 points, Wales’ top performer of the match Johnson came into action again and his 6 more points on 2 penalties reduced the lead with the score of 18-23.
But 2 more tries from Isaia Toeava and John Afoa and 2 cons from Dan Carter in the next few minutes took their team’s lead to 37 points from 18 points.
Wales, who were fighting well against All Blacks, tried their level best to come nearer to All Blacks’ score. They succeeded when Lee Byrne took Wales’ first try of the match and scored 5 points for his team. 2 more points from Stephen Jones in the ending
moments took Wales’ score at 25 but he couldn’t help his team to win the match.
The match ended, with the All Blacks’ winning by a score of 25-37 and they completed their clean sweep on the tour.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry spoke to media after the victory and said that the whole management is really happy that they have achieved one more Grand Slam in the year.
He praised All Blacks’ captain Richie McCaw in strong words and said he really led his team in a good way.
“I thought Richie's captaincy was right on the button. That helped get these guys through because they've played 14 Test matches in a short period of time and they were starting to struggle a wee bit”.
On the other hand, Wales’ coach, who was very sad after the defeat, said, “We need to make the most of what we are creating and stop shooting ourselves in the foot”.
Although Wales has lost the match but no doubt they presented one of the best performances against All Blacks, which will definitely help them in the future, as All Blacks are the number 1 team.
Final Score Wales 25 New Zealand 37
Scorers
Wales
Try: Byrne
Con: S Jones
Pens: S Jones 4
Drop-goal: S Jones.
New Zealand
Tries: Gear 2, Muliaina, Toeava, Afoa
Cons: Carter 2
Pens: Carter 3
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRL)
Teams (15-1)
Wales :Lee Byrne; George North, Tom Shanklin, James Hook, Tom James; Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Ryan Jones, Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate; Alun-Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies; Adam Jones, Matthew Rees (capt), Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Paul James, Jonathan Thomas, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Richie Rees, Andrew Bishop
New Zealand : Mils Muliaina; Isaia Toeava, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Hosea Gear; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino; Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn; Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock
Replacements: Andrew h**e, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Daniel Braid, Andy Ellis, Stephen Donald, Ma'a Nonu
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