All Blacks' late surge gives Wales measure of size of task ahead

Wales 17 New Zealand 43

It would be as unwise for Wales supporters to get carried away after a record defeat such as this and sink into a slough of despond, as it would be madness for them to accentuate and exaggerate the positives too much. The line is fine, the balance delicate, between these two extremes.

And just as questions can and should be asked of Wales as to how and why they capitulated so dramatically in injury time to present the All Blacks with their highest points tally and biggest margin in Cardiff, so it is only right to ask of New Zealand why it took them so long to break down their opponents.

The tag "second string" when describing these tourists has been bandied around with irritating glibness, especially in the context of their two previous results on this short European tour, namely the one-point defeat against England and the draw against France.

But in fact, the "unknowns" of this tour party are the next generation, not a bunch of over-the-hill has-beens. These are eager and ambitious young men with their sights set, not just on next year's World Cup, but, more ominously for the rest of the global rugby fraternity, the 2007 tournament.

Wales' veteran lock, Gareth Llewellyn, summed up the attitude that has to be – and is being adopted – in the Wales camp. "We are closing the gap, but the last five or 10 per cent, that is the hardest to close of all," he said. "This autumn we have come a long way, but there is still a long way to go."

Welsh feet are staying four square on terra firma. Their coach, Steve Hansen, got one of the things he has been looking for since taking over the side at the beginning of the year – performance. The next step is improved performance, vastly improved performance.

The only way that is going to happen is for Wales to keep battering themselves to a standstill as they did on Saturday, against the best.

Jamie Robinson, scorer of their opening try, said as much: "That was the most physical game I have ever played in. We need to play a lot more at this level. Today was the start of a long journey."

The next stage of that trip comes with the Six Nations early next year, followed by a visit to the southern hemisphere where they will take on New Zealand. "The more tough games we have the better," Hansen said.

One of the most important things Wales have to learn from this is the length of a match. Matches do not stop after the statutory 80 minutes are up. As Wales found out to their dismay, there is always stoppage time.

Martyn Williams, a member of Wales' outstanding back row, confessed: "We competed for 80 minutes, but we let ourselves down in injury time. We have to learn that tests last for 85 or more minutes. And we have to become more clinical. But at least we have some self-belief now. At least we know that we can compete with the best."

And they certainly did, to the extent that they went in ahead at half-time. Wales not only survived the searing pace of the first half – "We looked to wear Wales down by setting off as quickly as we did,"the All Blacks captain, Taine Randell, admitted – they had the better of it, including Robinson's try which resulted from an opportune moment.

Stephen Jones, the Wales fly-half, stuck his boot out when the All Blacks lost control of the ball and the speedy centre Robinson gave chase, left Tana Umaga for dead and dived on the ball which had obligingly come to rest just over the New Zealand line.

They could have had another try just after the interval when another kick and chase opened up the All Blacks, but Gareth Thomas just failed to control the ball. And really that was that.

New Zealand had their share of luck, a forward pass for the first try, an infringement at the breakdown, which also went unnoticed, that led to their second, but they were worthy winners.

Doug Howlett's second try and the two they ran in deep into injury time were well-worked, but New Zealand had to wait most of the match before running away with it. Those three touchdowns were scored against a side that was on its knees with exhaustion, not surprising given that the Wales tackle count was 86, compared with 72 for the All Blacks.

"Both teams were exhausted," Howlett said. "We were just fortunate to a get a couple of scores up on them. It took us a long time to wear them down and create the chances."

The Welsh error count was lower than that of their opponents 15 to 21, and there was enterprise aplenty from the Welsh. "There is a lot more to Wales' game and in the first 20 minutes especially they played with intensity," Umaga, playing at inside centre, added.

There was one more record here – Wales had never before scored as many points against the All Blacks in Cardiff. Little by little they are making progress. The first steps have been taken, the rest of the journey awaits.

Wales 17
Tries: Robinson, penalty try
Cons: S Jones 2
Pen: S Jones

New Zealand 43
Tries: Howlett 2, Meeuws, King
Cons: Mehrtens 4
Pens: Mehrtens 5

Half-time: 10-9 Attendance: 72,500

WALES: R Williams (Cardiff); M Jones (Llanelli), J Robinson (Cardiff), S Parker (Pontypridd), G Thomas (Bridgend); S Jones, D Peel; I Thomas, R McBryde (all Llanelli), B

Evans (Swansea), R Sidoli (Pontypridd), G Llewellyn (Neath), D Jones (Llanelli), C Charvis (Swansea, capt), M Williams (Cardiff). Replacements: G Jenkins (Pontypridd) for I Thomas, 62; M Owen (Pontypridd) for Llewellyn, 62; I Harris (Cardiff) for Jones, 62; D James (Llanelli) for M Jones, 72.

NEW ZEALAND: B Blair (Canterbury); D Howlett (Auckland), R King (Waikato), T Umaga, J Lomu (both Wellington); A Mehrtens (Canterbury), S Devine (Auckland); T Woodcock (North Harbour), K Mealamu (Auckland), C Hayman (Otago), K Robinson (Waikato), A Williams (Auckland), T Randell (Otago, capt), R So'oialo (Wellington), D Braid (Auckland). Replacements: M Holah (Waikato) for Randell, 48; M Robinson (Canterbury) for Blair, 54; K Meeuws (Auckland) for Hayman, 57; P Steinmetz (Wellington) for M Robinson, 79; B Mika (Auckland) for Williams, 80+1.

Referee: T Henning (South Africa).