Match Report: Wales vs New Zealand (Rugby Union) 22.11.25 – 26-52

New Zealand are a wounded animal after last week’s defeat to England. To salvage a little something from their annual Northern hemisphere tour they will be expected to perform today against Wales, a side who hasn’t recorded a victory against the All Blacks since 1953. Wales proudly had their first win under the Steve Tandy era last week against Japan so won’t be feeling too bad. This is a weak All Blacks side and they have lost three of their last eight games so could be there for the taking.  Harri Deaves makes a debut on the flank for Wales and the Blacks make twelve changes from last week’s starting XV. Wales have world champions South Africa coming up next week so these two difficult challenges will give the home fans a fair picture of the current state of rugby in Land of Song and how the new leadership is fairing.

First thing to note as the game kicks off is that there is a Scottish woman referee in charge: Hollie Davidson. It’s a new one on me, a female ref. I can’t imagine ever playing the game as I did when I was young, with a woman in charge. How times have changed!

It takes just four minutes for the All Blacks to get on the scoreboard. As they advance into the Welsh 22, Reuben Love passes it out to Caleb Clarke who can go over for the try. This is converted by McKenzie. 7-0 to New Zealand.

Wales aren’t down and out just yet… Louis Rees-Zammit, who is obviously fresh from his stint in American football with the Kansas City Chiefs, catches the ball outside the 22 and Wales attack down the left, feeding it to Dan Edwards who sends Tom Rogers over for a try. A conversion from Edwards makes it all square at 7-7.

A penalty on twelve minutes allows McKenzie to easily out the All Blacks back at an advantage. 10-7. The Welsh discipline seems to be failing them a bit as they are conceding a lot of penalties that, to be fair to Hollie, the woman ref, is calling them up on and issuing warnings.

New Zealand are starting to look vociferous in their attacks and a good move with swift hands through the back line gets to Reuben Love, who is highly thought of back home, and he engineers a gap and breaks through with a lovely fast pace direct to score a nice try. McKenzie easily adds the two extra points from the conversion. 17-7. Lebensraum ,as Hitler would say.

But again, Wales are not phased and bounce back. Wales show that their own back line are capable of swift hands and deft passing. It heads out to Rogers on the wing who nips over in the corner for his second try of the match. Edwards keeps spirits high with a tricky conversion and it’s back to a three point deficit for Wales at 17-14.

It’s time for the New Zealand forwards to have a glimmer of limelight now. Battling ahead, and spinning out of tackles, an aggressive drive by prop, Tamaiti Williams, allows him to carry over for a try in the corner which McKenzie again delivers the kick on, afterwards, for maximum try points. NZ take a ten point lead into the changing rooms at half-time 24-14. Is there a way back for a resurgent Wales?

Two minutes into the second half and again Wales demonstrate their resilience. Rogers is the hero. A charged down kick gets the backs moving and Max Llewellyn send it into the hero winger to score a rare hat-trick against New Zealand. Whatever the result I’m sure that this man will be celebrating tonight! Conversion brings the Welsh back within touching distance. 24-21 NZ lead.

It’s the Welsh turn to show a shaky defence next in this game of swings and roundabouts. Will Jordan breaks through to touch down under the posts. Apparently, as the TMO brings the game back, it wasn’t grounded properly, so Wales have a reprieve.

The game continues in its usual pattern and New Zealand manage to extend their lead yet again.A kick down the right eludes the Welsh defenders and powerful Rieko Ioane takes it and scores in the corner. The conversion brings back a ten point lead. 31-21 to the All Blacks.

Welsh legs are tiring under the great pressure. Star man Tom Rogers heads off the pitch at 55 minutes. He is a happy man. The first Welsh player in history to ever score a hat-trick against New Zealand. Who will take up the mantle now? Are Wales going to be national heroes or nearly men?

Gareth Thomas comes on and almost immediately does a no-arms tackle and has to head back off-field to the sin bin.

Off a lineout, replacement NZ winger, Sevu Reece, heads over to score and bring about a more unassailable lead for the All Blacks in this tough game at the Millenium Stadium. 39-21 after a conversion.

The All Blacks are turning it on now. Phase after phase they attack and attack. Wales are defending bravely but the pressure is too. much and The Blacks are turning the screw. Taine Plumtree gets a yellow card after TMO intervention, for a dangerous tackle. Sevu Reece scores another try and after the conversion the score sits at a massive 45-21. This doesn’t really reflect the battling spirit the Welsh have shown and surprises me a little as I feared that this match would go close, to the wire.

Louis Rees-Zammit brings back a bit of class for Wales with a nice try and it’s now 45-26. However, the game doesn’t finish there and New Zealand double the total score tally as winger Caleb Clarke makes it a half century for the All Blacks.

The final whistle blows and the final score is 52-26. New Zealand have scraped through with a powerful performance. To be honest though, my feelings about the game are that Wales are showing a considerable improvement on how they have been playing in recent years. Welsh rugby had gone very flat indeed and there seemed little hope at all. The people were even turning away from the national sport and preferring Welsh football. There is hope and belief in the Wales that performed so admirably today. They were defeated by one of the best sides in world rugby but they showed spirit and that spirit has been missing for ages. South African Springboks next week, another very tough challenge but Wales can hold their heads high. A good game to watch.