All Blacks run over Wales with second half blitz

BY TOBY ROBSON AT CARISBROOK

Ball in hand trumped kick and chase as the All Blacks ran up five tries against Wales to farewell an old friend in fashion with a 42-9 win at Carisbrook tonight.

The visitor's squandered a wealth of first half possession and territory to trail 15-9 at the break and then felt the full brunt of the All Blacks ability to off load and counter attack.

First five Dan Carter was the standout with two brilliant individual tries in the second half for an individual haul of 27 points.

Ever-green hooker Keven Mealamu was the pick of the pack, while other All Blacks to shine were flawless wing/fullback Cory Jane, ever present openside Richie McCaw and replacement wing Richard Kahui.

Wales missed their cue from Ireland a week earlier and rather than hold the ball put their hopes in a barrage of high kicks.

They discovered the power of the All Blacks counter attack as the home backs diffused bombs with ease all night.

Tries to Mealamu and wing Jane cancelled out two penalties and a drop goal to Wales' first five Stephen Jones in the first half, but there was a feeling the home side were a sleeping giant.

And so it proved as Carter ran riot on the back of his increasingly dominant pack, including prop Tony Woodcock, who replaced Ben Franks shortly after the break.

Carter's double were gems.

Wing Joe Rokocoko countered, halfback Jimmy Cowan off loaded and Kahui surged down the right before Carter and Jane produced a memorable moment.

Carter passed inside to Jane, then back up to step past three Welsh defenders to dive over and extend the lead to 25-9.

His second was a weaving 50 metre run that proved too much for a flailing Welsh defence.

A speedy looking Kahui added the finishing touches when he simply carved through the middle on the counter attack with 8 minutes to play.

Dagg was replaced at halftime with Kahui returning from his long injury break and Jane dropping back to fullback.

It was not a reflection of a poor match from Dagg, who took the numerous high balls that came his way with ease, but he was guilty of pushing the pass on a couple of occasions and some inaccurate kicking.

Blindside flanker Victor Vito, the only change to the starting side that beat Ireland, had a solid match carrying the ball strongly and growing in confidence.

If Wales' intention was to play running rugby it wasn't evident in the opening 25 minutes as Jones led an aerial assault on the All Blacks' back three.

It was understandable to a point, but when just one of the first 10 reaped any real reward, wing Leigh Halfpenny beating Rokocoko in the air, it should have been shelved.

Wales' were at their best with ball in hand and led 6-0 after 15 minutes, but lacked the penetration to capitalise.

Mealamu got the All Blacks' first try after Cowan's kick gave his side a rare attacking opportunity.

Lock Brad Thorn won the All Blacks' only lineout throw of the half and after several surges Cowan quick tapped a penalty to go close before Mealamu burrowed over to steal a 7-5 lead.

Wales continued to probe, but lacked the penetration to capitalise on their possession and when lock Alun-Wyn Jones was crunched in the 32nd minute the All Blacks pounced.

Centre Conrad Smith seized the bobbling ball and shuffled it through his legs to an unmarked Jane, who sprinted 70 metres, stepping inside Tom Prydie and Stephen Jones before dotting down for his third test try.

Jones landed a second penalty before the break, but the writing was on the wall.

New Zealand 42 (Dan Carter 2, Keven Mealamu, Cory Jane, Richard Kahui tries; Carter 3 pen, 4 con) Wales 9 (Stephen Jones, pen, dropped goal, Leigh Halfpenny pen). Halftime: 15-9.

- © Fairfax NZ News