Rugby: All Blacks maintain winning start

The All Blacks outclassed Wales side 29-10 in the second test at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton. Photo / getty Images

New Zealand 29
Wales 10


The All Blacks went through the motions to defeat an ill-disciplined Wales 29-10 in the second rugby test here tonight and complete a clean sweep of their June internationals.

In a stilted affair at Waikato Stadium, New Zealand scored two tries to one and were never challenged thanks to the boot of first five-eighth

Two of their players, fullback Lee Byrne and flanker Gavin Thomas, were shown yellow cards while All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock also spent time in the sinbin.

Carter steadily compiled 17 points - short of the 27 he tallied in last weekend's 42-9 victory at Dunedin - including five penalties while Wales managed a penalty in the third minute to grab the lead and a consolation try at the death.

It was the All Blacks' 23rd straight defeat of Wales, extending the longest winning sequence between two major test playing nations, handing them a perfect record this month which began with a 66-28 defeat of Ireland in New Plymouth.

The performance was the All Blacks' least impressive, failing to garner the sort of momentum they were seeking heading into two home tests against the Springboks next month to kick-start the Tri-Nations.

Welsh coach Warren Gatland stressed the need for his side to earn respect after the first test hammering and while they reduced the margin, they offered little aside from a strong scrum and some decent scrambling defence.

Their best spell was the final five minutes when constant pressure resulted in a try to second five-eighth Jamie Roberts.

Despite still conditions, the All Blacks failed to match the attacking verve achieved at Carisbrook, even though their backs were again more penetrative than the tourists, with the likes of centre Richard Kahui and winger Cory Jane standing out.

Fielding seven changes, including the first start in a top match for several months for fullback Mils Muliaina and lock Tom Donnelly, it was no surprise the All Blacks had some rusty moments.

They were guilty of poor handling while halfback Jimmy Cowan's short kicking game in the first half was ineffectual.

Wales weren't helped by the sinbinning of impressive fullback Lee Byrne on the stroke of halftime for a lifting tackle on Donnelly while a knee injury forced captain Ryan Jones from the field midway through the first spell.

Wales opened the scoring with a 50m penalty goal by winger Leigh Halfpenny but Carter responded in kind in the 15th minute before the game's momentum swung 10min later.

Jane crossed for the only try of the first half, running off a short ball from second five-eighth Benson Stanley after some sustained work by the forwards.

Up 10-3, the talismanic Ryan Jones then limped from the field, taking some of the fight out of the Welsh pack.

Carter and Biggar both missed penalty attempts before the New Zealander was successful on the stroke of halftime following Byrne's yellow-card offence and he landed three more in the 15min after the break to effectively seal the outcome at 22-3.

The match failed to come to life beyond then, with Thomas and Whitelock both shown yellow cards by Kaplan after engaging in fisticuffs 9min from time.

Roberts' 75th minute score was matched in the final play by a first test try to All Blacks' reserve first five-eighth Aaron Cruden, who pounced on a mistake by Byrne in handling a grubber kick into the dead ball area.

There were no apparent injuries to the All Blacks, with coach Graham Henry to name his Tri-Nations squad tomorrow morning.

New Zealand 29 (Cory Jane, Aaron Cruden tries; Daniel Carter 5 pen, con, Piri Weepu con) Wales 10 (Jamie Roberts try; Leigh Halfpenny pen, Stephen Jones con). Halftime: 13-3.

- NZ HERALD STAFF