Wales were beaten 46-6 in the third and final test of their summer tour to New Zealand as the world champion All Blacks made a clean-sweep in the series.
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“It was a bit messy at times but it was a good Welsh side and to get the 3-0 result was pretty pleasing”, All Blacks captain Kieran Read said.
“We just weren’t there in too many aspects of the game”.
“There are no excuses about it being a long season, they were just far better than us today”, said the flanker.
Wales conceded three tries and 21 points in the final 15 minutes in Auckland and then shipped four tries and 26 points in 15 minutes in Wellington as they lost the series.
“New Zealand have been outstanding and deserve the win over the last three Tests”, added Warburton.
The 25-year-old Moala, auditioning for a permanent role in the New Zealand midfield, repeatedly split open the Wales backline defense in the first half.
Fullback Israel Dagg proved to the remaining doubters that he is well and truly back to top form with several linebreaks and magnificent aerial skills in a fantastic all-round performance that was topped off with a try after the final hooter had sounded.
George Moala botched a marvelous chance after yet another counter-attack from loose kicking, held up over the line by a terrific Liam Williams effort, but the centre didn’t have to wait long for his score.
He was replaced in the 48th after a shoulder injury.
Barrett’s pace brought New Zealand’s next try – his second – and his superb pass put hooker Coles clear as Wales suffered for their inaccuracy with the boot out of hand.
Flyhalf Dan Biggar kicked two first half penalties for the visitors, who had been enterprising and put the world champions under pressure in the first two tests but ran out of steam after 12 months of constant rugby. But it was denied that opportunity early in Saturday’s match and the scoreline much more clearly reflected the difference between the teams.
Wales had a brain explosion just after halftime and they attempted to run it off their goal line for some reason, and ended up passing the ball forward, gifting the All Blacks a 5m scrum.
“The first two games we thought we played pretty well, just a couple of errors, but we were poor today”.
Wales skipper Sam Warburton will become only the 10th player to play 50 Tests as an global captain (including two for the British & Irish Lions). Now they head to Dunedin, where they will play under a closed roof, with a thrilling counterattacking game that they know can hurt the New Zealand defence.
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“When you play the best side in the world on their own patch, and play the way that we have played and tried to play, we’re only going to grow and learn”.
