Rugby, Wales-All Blacks 26-52 | Gazzetta.it

The All Blacks defeated Wales 52-26 in Cardiff on the fourth weekend of the autumn international series. Coach Scott Robertson’s team thus returns home with a haul of 3 victories (after those over Ireland in Chicago and Scotland) and one defeat (England). Wales’ third and final victory over the New Zealanders dates back to 1953 (in Cardiff), which, after the defeat against Argentina and the victory over Japan, will host the reigning two-time world champions South Africa in the only match scheduled for next weekend. Side note: today’s match was refereed by the Scot Holly Davidson, first referee for an All Blacks match, indisputably one of the best whistlers around.

question and answer

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5 minutes are enough for the All Blacks to reach the goal: attack in the 22, quick hands and simple passes up to Damian McKenzie who finds Caleb Clarke wide, who comfortably reaches the end. But Wales’ response was immediate, scoring a try in the 9th minute with Tom Rogers at the left flag, unmarked by Dan Edwards’ splendid offload, on the action started thanks to Louis Rees-Zammit’s splendid catch in the air just outside the 22. Tries converted by McKenzie and Edwards, with the New Zealander then scoring a place in the 12th minute. In the 29th minute, 24-year-old Ruben Love, destined in the next few years to take permanent possession of the number 10 shirt of the All Blacks, lined up at fullback, in the 5th cap and starting for the second time, receives the ball just outside the 22, fakes the pass to instead slip into the gap that opens up in front of him and which opens up the path towards the posts. But once again the Welsh response was immediate, for Rogers’ brace: a kick from Tomos Williams surprised the New Zealanders from behind in the 22, the ball was recovered and quick hands freed the winger. McKenzie and Edwards turn them again. In the 38th minute, after the Welsh defense managed to stop the New Zealand maul within 5 metres, prop Tamaiti Williams was brilliant at turning in veronica on the tackle one meter from the line and smashing it. McKenzie converts it to make it 24-14 which leads to halftime.

triplets

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The second half opens with the splendid Welsh try, for Rogers’ hat-trick (the first Welshman to do so with the All Blacks): the winger finds himself receiving wide on the left after two splendid passes from the two centers Dafydd Hawkins and Mac Llewellyn, he returns to the last defender and crushes, for the conversion by Edwards which is worth -3. Nobody could have expected such a performance from new coach Steve Tandy’s team, who had been in charge for just 3 games. The All Blacks’ reply would also be immediate, but they saw the tries of Clarke (due to a forward move) and Will Jordfan (held high) canceled out at the TMO. In the 52nd minute, however, Rieko Ioane’s performance was finally good, collecting the high bounce of McKenzie’s cross-kisk in the air, to turn on Edwards’ tackle and smash. The Welsh defense came under pressure in their own 22 and a couple of fouls then cost prop Gareth Thomas a yellow card, with the New Zealanders taking advantage immediately by building the advantage wide right with quick passes for the dive at the flag by Seevu Reece, who had just taken over. In the 68th minute, an improvident tackle by Taine Plumtree on Jordan costs the Welsh number 8 a yellow card, as he closes the tackle correctly, but his shoulder is too high and comes into contact with the New Zealand winger’s head. With -17 in the score and two men less, there was no escape for Wales, so much so that a double from Reece arrived shortly after, picking up a bouncing ball wide to the right, sitting Nick Thompkins down and smashing it. McKenzie turns all three. Wales scored in the 77th minute with Rees-Zammit, who volleyed a one-handed shot at the right flag, with an opponent clinging to his back, to crown an excellent possession in the 22, but two minutes passed and the second hat-trick of the day arrived, scored by Clarke to finalize the work of Leicester Fainga’anuku and Rieko Ioane. McKenzie transforms it and ends his match with a perfect 8/8.

georgia-japan 23-25

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Dragged by the foot of Sungsein Lee, author of 6 goals, including the decisive one in the 81st minute, Japan defeated Georgia 25-23 in Tbilisi. Brave Blossoms who had opened the score with Dylan Riley’s try in the 10th minute, converted by Lee. Georgia, which remained in the game with 3 kicks from Tedo Abzhandadze, had turned everything around with converted tries from Demur Tapladze (68′) and Tornike Kakhoidze (77′). Curiously, it is the same result with which Georgia won in Japan in the last direct match in July 2024.