The 24-year-old was one of Wales’ standout players during Saturday’s 39-21 loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park but failed to finish the first Test, limping off with 18 minutes left to play in Auckland.
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Coach Steve Hansen said the players needed time to build their combinations. “Out here we just thought we’ve got to take those risks and we’ve got to go for it – it’s definitely more enjoyable to play”.
Wales were particularly impressive after their shaky start, and they got the reward their performance deserved just before half-time through the ever-impressive Liam Williams and Rhys Webb. “We have got a group of young men. We got to get our wingers and backs to be more stronger over the ball and contest for ball better than we did”.
The second test is in Wellington on Saturday.
“It will be a good occasion for the Chiefs”, All Blacks flanker Sam Cane, a co-captain of the Super Rugby team, told reporters.
A split second decision from the Highlanders duo, Aaron Smith and Waisake Naholo, is being credited as the game changer.
The All Blacks, though, mounted a late three-try blitz to record a 34-16 win.
Instead, halfback Aaron Smith opted for a quick tap and Naholo powered over from six metres out.
The home side hit back with two tries, one each to wings Julian Savea and Naholo.
“I made the comment to him, “Son the pleasing thing is that you came through the other side of that”. We knew we were going to have to take some risks, take some chances.
“Coming all the way to New Zealand, it was important we had a big enough squad for the three Tests but also to provide game time for the players on tour”, he said. The second Test will come down to energy levels and that’s hard at the end of a season – and even more so when you’ve got to play half your squad on Tuesday.
“There were a lot of positives”, Gatland said.
So you think the New Zealand Haka is the sole preserve of the All Blacks?
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. “That try at the end was a bit disappointing and made the scoreline look a little bit ugly, even though they fully deserved to win”.
Kieran Read touched down not long after, collecting an offload from Patrick Tuipolotu after the ball had popped out the back of a ruck.
“We’re an 80 minute team and the bench come on to lift our team and it’s what we expect of them”, Read said.
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English referee Wayne Barnes also disallowed a try to replacement scrumhalf TJ Perenara in one of the most freakish decisions in recent test history. The series concludes with the third test in Dunedin on June 25.
