Beauden Barrett has marked his 100th Test with two intercept tries to lead New Zealand to a convincing 54-16 win over Wales in Cardiff on Sunday (AEDT).
The All Blacks outscored their hosts by seven tries to one at a capacity 70,000-plus Principality Stadium in another ominous reminder of their power as they went back to the top of the world rankings.
TJ Perenara, Will Jordan, Dalton Papali, Sevu Reece and Anton Lienart-Brown also dotted down with Jordie Barrett adding three penalties and five conversions for a personal tally of 19 points.
Wales, who lost skipper Alun Wyn Jones to injury early on, replied with a try from Johnny Williams and penalties from Gareth Anscombe (2) and Rhys Priestland.
Captain Jones, in his 149th appearance for Wales, was forced off with a shoulder injury as he attempted to tackle Jordie Barrett. It was the same one dislocated playing for the British & Irish Lions against Japan in June.
New Zealand ran riot in the final 20 minutes with a display of running rugby that even the most ardent Welsh supporters could not help but admire, but it was Beauden Barrett’s early try that laid the platform for their victory.
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The former World Rugby Player of the year took only five minutes to intercept a pass from Wales flyhalf Gareth Ainscombe, who was returning to Test rugby following an absence of more than two years following a major knee injury, and run down the pitch to dot between the posts.
Perenara added another try about 30 minutes later but the All Blacks had a tenuous 18-6 lead at halftime and started the second half down to 14 men when Nepo Laulale was yellow-carded for a no-arm tackle on Ross Moriarty.
But when the rain began to pour, the Kiwis were at their devastating best with a clever kick and chase for Jordan’s 55th- minute try, followed by four more in a rampant last 15 minutes, including another interception for the centurion on the final whistle.
Wales, who were without their English-based players, had one highlight when Priestland’s clever kick allowed Williams to rush through and dot down ahead of the Kiwi defence for their only try on the hour mark.
“We wanted to ramp it up a bit there in the second half. We were happy with the outcome after a different week for us, coming across from playing in Washington,” All Blacks captain Sam Whitelock said.
Barrett added: “I’m somewhat relieved it is over. It has been a tense week because of all the support that has rolled in. What a place to do it – the Welsh fans are hard to beat.
“We always had to work against a very good Welsh side. I am proud of our boys. We showed various ways we can play and adapted well to the yellow card.
“I just wanted to focus on playing well but tonight I’ll enjoy the boys’ company and thank everyone who has helped me. It is a very competitive team to be a part of and we all push each other.”
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
Was this game really useful as a yard-stick. No pressure, Wales like a Super Rugby level side. All Blacks cave (choke) when white hot pressure applied. Why do they play so many weak teams?.
scrum
Roar Rookie
I was replying to Biltong about how the Law is applied in general. He was incorrect in how a YC was applied. PK only was correct in the Barrett case. A YC is only issued if the knock down prevents a Try or a significant break down town. ABs had cover defence so hence no YC. So I agree with you.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
'The Try would have been scored anyway,' err there was a player covering scrum, so that's not a definite. Therefore no question of a penalty try as I understand it.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
I think it will be NZ & SA up and down and up and down and up and down until EOYT is finito!
P2R2
Roar Rookie
They reviewed it and assessed it as a penalty only.....
WEST
Roar Guru
Hopefully AWJ isn’t to bad, they really can’t afford to lose him at the moment.
Prof_Kaos
Roar Rookie
Tom IMO you are sadly right. It's not "bums on seats" it's "eyeballs on tv screens." TV deals pay the most. Players opting out of test matches to keep club contracts is what led to the fairly recent(proposed 2009) "test window." I doubt the SH has seen a full strength touring side since even B4 professionalism (1995). And the "clubs over country" has destroyed Pacifica test rugby. We rarely see their best playing test matches. I doubt Manu Samoa will again beat Wales anytime soon, victims of their own success. But we in the SH have been naive, even a brief look at how the NH clubs and unions, including WR/IRB have behaved clearly demonstrates that no matter what is said they really don't care about rugby outside of Europe. How/why is every 6N squad full of SH players? In the mid 2000s FOUR French club's had academies at Fijian high schools, with France having a Fijian on each wing. I am no conspiracy theorist, Ben Ryan English 7s player & Fijian coach called it "the wild west." Compare successes of the Pacific Nations pre professionalism to now. Fiji is now the only Pacifica country to have any chance at a RWC because half the team are subsidised by being in their army. [NZ was often criticized for plundering the Pacific but most ABs attended school & learnt rugby here and somehow the Pacifica had many successes at that time].
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
we should start breeding programs :laughing: :laughing:
RugbyLover
Guest
"Also, I don’t know what the referee was thinking when he applied a “was it a penalty try” analysis to determine if a deliberate knock-on was a card or not." Well because that is the current law. If there is no possibility of a try it is only a penalty.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Hahahah bill..it sounds like you had enough of TJ..but it is like Westie says..it is just too much and too hard to fill the shoes of the legendary nugget...it will be interesting to see how redhead renlie goes...
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
I understand the methodology, but it throws out some real anomalies!
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
That's where the points differential comes into play. Their ranking is effectively their seeding. They use the RWC ranking to seed the pools for RWC tourney.
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
Go to the world rugby website and read how the points work and you will get a better understanding. NZ get more points as it is a home game for Wales. It would have been less points if it were a home game for NZ. It also takes into account the points differential prior to the match being played. SA will go back to No.1 next week when they win their first NH match. For those who play squash in NZ it is similar system for gradings.
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
You are so right. They also keep quiet for kicks at goal. Crusaders supporters especially could learn a bit from this. That crowd has been feral for a couple of generations :laughing: :laughing:
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
This is nit picky.....I am sick of TJ madly wrestling for the ball when a penalty is awarded, thinking something is on, and no other AB is remotely interested. The ball has already been slowed down, so any opportunity for a fast break is lost.
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
Havili is certainly not the solution
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
I don't know where they go with Havili. He was clearly not good enough in this and the previous couple of matches. And there is no room for him elsewhere.
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
This is where review can be pedantic. Hitting the ball up is not a knock on I guess. but hitting it ahead deliberately is a different thing.
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
Agree. Direction of the palm is a good indicator. Lets face it, it is a judgement by the player and it is milliseconds in terms of timing.
GC Red
Roar Rookie
I’ll take one or two!