Read will take over the mantle of All Blacks captain on a full-time basis from Richie McCaw on Saturday night at Auckland’s Eden Park, in his side’s first game since completing back-to-back World Cup triumphs against Australia at Twickenham seven months ago.
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“We played some great stuff, and that’s what I’m pleased about”, he told Sky Sports 1.
“The boys were pretty eager, but then realized what test match footy is about, you’ve got to work really hard, and I’m proud of the lads, we dug at it and came out in the second half with a better attitude”.
Hansen said this week that Wales were a “good side” that did not receive the merited credit, although a run of three victories in their past eight Tests would suggest they have become like a grand hotel of faded glory, in need of a modern decor.
“There were a lot of positives”, Gatland said.
“But you have to start somewhere and this group has started, and they’re going about re-establishing themselves”.
Wales led after an hour, but the world champions scored 21 unanswered points in the final quarter to overpower them.
New Zealand: Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Brodie Retallick, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane.
For Wales, Taulupe Faletau and Rhys Webb crossed the whitewash and Dan Biggar supplied 11 points with the boot.
Referee Wayne Barnes controversially disallowed a touchdown by TJ Perenara to the consternation of the home crowd, but redressed the balance by ruling out Faletau’s late try.
Smith surged through the Wales defence after claiming a high bomb before firing out to Cruden, who in turn set up wing Waisake Naholo to race clear.
It was one of the few bright spots in Savea’s game, who had trouble containing explosive Welsh wing George North.
Naholo, who was unsafe with ball in hand all night, created the first with a break before Cruden’s cross kick was pulled in by Savea.
As the game morphed into a frantic period of attack and counter-attack, marred by handling lapses, it was Wales who broke the deadlock. But ball security was a problem at times and Wales made them pay, eating back with two penalties, then a brilliant try which saw Liam Williams counterattack through the middle and link with Rhys Webb.
Cruden and Biggar traded penalties early in the second half before the All Blacks got back in front when turning down an easy penalty attempt to tie the score.
All Blacks winger Naholo scored an important try to give his side the lead against the visitors at Eden Park.
Tries: Savea, Naholo 2, Read, Harris.
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But the All Blacks are equally confident that careful planning for the post-World Cup era has reduced any vulnerability they might otherwise have faced after the retirement of six players with a collective 700 test caps.
