George North has been ruled out of Wales’ tour to New Zealand after suffering a hamstring injury in the 39-21 loss to the All Blacks on Saturday.
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Warren Gatland will have plenty to feel happy and proud about, but the scoreline in the end will no doubt depress him – especially with the final try from Nathan Harris going in after the hooter had gone.
A conversion from Cruden gave New Zealand a 10-point lead but, while many may have expected the floodgates to open, Wales fought back well and were rewarded for some expansive attacking play with a pair of Dan Biggar penalties.
However, the giant winger was not to be denied seconds later when a smart quick tap penalty by Aaron Smith put the powerhouse over for a score that Cruden converted for 25-21 with 62 minutes gone. His first effort, from 48 metres, hit the upright, and then he found the mark from much closer range after Ross Moriarty had flopped over the top of a ruck.
“There are people out there who have answered a lot of big questions”.
Five crisp passes the other way saw Hallam Amos release Taulupe Faletau to dive over in the left corner for the first try of the game to give Wales a 10th-minute lead.
Cruden then ensured his forwards were rewarded for recycling an 11 phase of possession in front of the Welsh posts as he instinctively kicked to the left for Julian Savea to gather to bag his 39 test try.
Whenever Waisake Naholo got the ball he looked as though he was going to score – and he did just that midway through the half, after Smith had supplied a moment of aerial magic.
Wales showed their intent with an early try to back-rower Toby Faletau after All Blacks fullback Ben Smith lost a contest for the ball in the air.
“When you try too hard sometimes, you make mistakes and I think he’s been desperate to show us all just how good he is as a player”.
Biggar landed two successive penalties in the space of four minutes and that visibly lifted the Welsh forwards.
Matt Dawson on @5liveSport on chances of Wales beating New Zealand: “Wales will have to be beyond 100%, and NZ will have to be woeful”.
At times they were brilliant, only for a comedy of errors to occur in the same movement as they made numerous handling errors that reduced all the pressure they had built.
“We’re exhausted of losing (to the southern-hemisphere sides)”. We were blowing a bit and they just kept coming.
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Savea fetched a crosskick from Cruden for his try but he missed two crucial tackles on a poor night, and was substituted early in the second half. Wales made six clean breaks in the opening 40, three of them from Liam Williams, and matched the hosts in the priceless art of turning defence into attack.
