All Blacks hit top gear

By Bruce Pope
BBC Sport at the Millenium Stadium

Report: Wales 3-41 NZ Wales reaction NZ reaction

It's long been suspected that New Zealand have an extra gear when they play rugby, but we were given literal proof in the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Rico Gear claimed a hat-trick as the Crusaders wing took full advantage of a dominant All Blacks' display against an under-strength Wales side.

Every try was rubbed in by Carter the unstoppable points machine, as master Daniel converted every kick and added two tries of his own in the 41-3 win.

Much of the pre-match talk had been about the history of this fixture, and how Wales had won the first match between the two nations 100 years ago.

But since 1905 the All Blacks have only ended up on the losing side just twice more - in 1935 and 1953.

What a shame this centenary match had to fall after a gruelling Lions tour that deprived Wales coach Mike Ruddock of a good half of his leading players through injury.

No Gavin Henson - groin damaged but writing arm in fine fettle - no Dwayne Peel, Tom Shanklin, Ryan Jones or Gethin Jenkins, and Martyn Williams on compassionate leave.

Nov 2004: Wales 25-26 New Zealand

Wales inevitably start matches against the All Blacks as underdogs, but cannot afford to play the strength-in-depth game with the Kiwis.

No disrespect to Robin Sowden-Taylor, but Wales had the fast improving Cardiff Blue as their replacement flanker, while New Zealand were able to hold arguably the world's best open-side, Richie McCaw, in reserve.

But with a Six Nations Grand Slam under their belts and last year's one-point defeat fresh in their minds, Wales still harboured hopes of a famous win.

Just in case anyone was unsure which hemisphere each team came from, New Zealand entered the pitch and jogged to the south of the ground, with Wales heading to the north.

New Zealand perform a 1905 vintage version of the Haka

We had not even got to the anthems and already there was a gulf between the teams, a bad portent.

Then there was the unusual sight of the All Blacks' performance of the Haka moved from its usual place just before kick-off to in-between the anthems, to mirror how it had been done a century before.

Skipper Tana Umaga admitted there had been a long discussion within the All Blacks camp about whether to allow Welsh organisers to mess with their current tradition.

"We were paying respects to what was done in 1905... they asked us and after long deliberations we decided to do it," Umaga said.

"It won't happen again - it'll be back the way it was next time."

It may have seemed a good idea at the time, but it was the rugby equivalent of trying to calm down a growling Doberman by poking it with a stick.

All the talk of Wales copying the Springbok example of blitzing the All Blacks was turned on its head, as Wales were pinned back in their own half.

Despite their dominance the All Blacks looked rusty in the first half.

But under a Millennium Stadium roof that was on, the gloves came off after the break as New Zealand hit their stride.

There had been plenty of talk about debutant Chris Masoe getting a start at open-side flanker, with McCaw left on the bench.

Masoe - whose brother Maselino is the WBA middleweight boxing champion - did well, but it was fellow back-row Jerry Collins who was the knock-out.

Wales prop Duncan Jones is manhandled by Jerry Collins

The Wellington flanker was simply immense, showing deft handling skills that belied his 17-stone frame and displaying a dominant presence in the loose.

At one point prop Duncan Jones found himself hovering in midair, as Collins took a firm handful of Welsh shorts and plucked his opponent from terra firma.

With Collins leading the way, the All Blacks were able to bully Wales at the breakdown.

The set piece was not much cheerier for the hosts, with the lineout - a long-time Achilles' heal - showing cracks.

Chris Jack was named man-of-the-match, but the suspicion was the All Blacks lock got the award for being the only player on either side to get close to some of Wales' throw-ins.

All Blacks debutant Neemia Tialata was also causing havoc at the scrum, as the loose-head prop put Adam Jones under immense pressure.

Referee Chris White occasionally caught Tialata boring-in and penalised him, but all too often the Wales scrum was wheeling like a spinning-top.

Gareth Thomas: "It's going to take a mighty team to beat New Zealand"

It was no surprise when Ruddock sent on Chris Horsman for his first cap early in the second half.

The Worcester prop steadied the ship and his arrival as a fully-fledged Wales player, after completing a three-year residential qualification, is one comfort Ruddock can take from Saturday.

But small mercies aside, Wales had their fingers burnt on Bonfire Night and it is now down to Ireland, England and Scotland to see if they can douse this All Blacks fire.

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