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A lively crowd of 68,388 streamed out of Principality Stadium after witnessing an exhilarating match featuring 11 tries, and Welsh supporters left with a sense of satisfaction.
“That was awesome,” one enthusiastic fan remarked as he exited. “You’ve got to be quite positive about that,” chimed in another.
This game marked the 34th consecutive time Wales fell to New Zealand. Even during Wales’ peak under Warren Gatland, they could not overcome the All Blacks.
The last Welsh victory over New Zealand dates back to 1953. Before the game in Cardiff, the big screen at Principality Stadium played clips from the glory days of Welsh rugby, narrated with the legendary voice of Bill McLaren.
The match announcer maintained an upbeat and encouraging tone throughout.
But these were memories from a time gone by. These days, Wales are now no longer a powerhouse and that, combined with the lessons of history, meant this result was no surprise. The country’s sad rugby demise means valiant defeats are now celebrated.
Wales fell to a 52-26 defeat at the hands of New Zealand on a raucous evening in Cardiff
Tom Rogers became the first Welshman in history to score a hat-trick against the All Blacks
Even in defeat – their 34th straight against New Zealand – Steve Tandy’s side provided hope
Such a situation might seem patronising. But it is a brutal reality of where Wales are at in the global pecking order and equally, it is true Steve Tandy’s side did provide cause for cheer.
While the fact New Zealand made 12 changes from the side beaten by England must be taken into account, Tom Rogers became the first Welshman to score a hat-trick against the All Blacks. There were four home scores in total. Wales showed plenty of heart.
But ultimately, they weren’t helped by a penalty count of 14, two yellow cards, and the fact they lack the physical power to compete with the best in the world. It is beyond daunting that this weekend coming, Wales will have to take on the might of South Africa with 10 of their squad which played here unavailable.
‘I’m immensely proud of the effort the boys put in. We spoke about not giving up and I don’t think we did. We’ve spoken a lot about discipline,’ Wales captain Dewi Lake said.
‘If you give a team like the All Blacks that many entries, it’s tough to stop them. There are a lot of learnings to take on that. The game was in the balance at half time, but discipline cost us.’
Scottish referee Hollie Davidson became the first woman to officiate the All Blacks and indeed one of the home nations and did so impressively. She justly punished Wales’ ill-discipline in the second half though if she had done so earlier, there could have been no complaints.
New Zealand crossed the gainline too easily, with man of the match Wallace Sititi causing havoc. You only had to compare the size of the two sides to see the task facing Wales.
The All Blacks were bigger, faster and stronger and ultimately, in Test rugby, brute force tells. Scott Robertson’s visitors had the power. Wales, for all their valiant intent and endeavour, did not.
New Zealand boss Scott Robertson had been a man under pressure going into Saturday’s game
Louis Rees-Zammit provided Wales with a surge of momentum throughout the encounter
‘Our power game was really strong. We’re ranked one and two in the world in a lot of areas and one of them is our power game,’ said All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. ‘We knew it would take a little while to break them down and they’d be in it at 50 or 60 minutes, but that their fatigue would set in and we could make the most of that.’
Wales were only 10 points adrift at the break and that gap was narrowed to just three when wing Rogers grabbed his third in the 43rd minute. The Cardiff crowd nearly took the roof off when the Scarlets wing completed his treble.
New Zealand were far from devastating. But equally, they were always able to hold Wales at arm’s length. Damian McKenzie kicked superbly. Sititi led the forward charge.
And when Welsh forwards Gareth Thomas and Taine Plumtree were yellow carded, New Zealand pulled away. Replacement back Sevu Reece scored twice and Rieko Ioane’s try was crucial.
And it could have been worse for Wales as Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan both had efforts ruled out. In the end, it mattered little even though Wales never stopped trying. Clarke finished with two scores regardless.
Louis Rees-Zammit finished acrobatically in the corner as Tandy’s men ended with four tries to their opposition’s seven. ‘There’s lots to be proud of,’ said Wales head coach Tandy.
‘Scoring four tries equals the record against the All Blacks in Cardiff. There are still things to work on, but the effort I saw makes me massively proud. It was a huge effort from the group. A couple of yellow cards doesn’t help.
‘We have to look at ourselves in terms of discipline. We’ve definitely got to be better.’
New Zealand were far from their best but they did enough to overcome Tandy’s Welsh side
Sevu Reece scored two tries for New Zealand as they bounced back from last week’s defeat
Wales’ final autumn encounter is against the formidable Springboks on Saturday. Tandy admitted he will have to call up some new players for the game as it takes place outside World Rugby’s designated Test window.
It means Wales’ players employed by English or French clubs, including key men Tomos Williams, Rees-Zammit and others, are ineligible.
Tandy does hope to have Aaron Wainwright back available after he missed the All Blacks with a hip injury. Wales are also badly missing their first-choice captain Jac Morgan after he dislocated his shoulder against Argentina.
Morgan is the one player who can go toe-to-toe physically with the biggest men on the planet. How Wales could have done with him here.