Wales vs New Zealand LIVE: Result and reaction from autumn international fixture today
Follow all the action from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff as Wales take on the All Blacks
Depleted Wales lost captain Alun Wyn Jones to injury and suffered a 32nd successive defeat against New Zealand as the All Blacks triumphed 54-16 in Cardiff.
Jones hurt the same shoulder that threatened to sideline him from this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa before he made a startling recovery and started all three Tests.
Flanker Ross Moriarty also departed early after Wales went into action without 20 players – including a number of Lions – due to injuries, illness and Gallagher Premiership-based personnel not being released by their clubs as the game fell outside World Rugby’s international window. None of that strife bothered New Zealand in extending a relentless winning run against Wales. They are unbeaten in the fixture since 1953.
Beauden Barrett’s try double, in his 100th Test, plus TJ Perenara, Will Jordan, Dalton Papalii, Sevu Reece and Anton Lienert-Brown touchdowns kept New Zealand in charge, while Jordie Barrett kicked 19 points.
Beauden Barrett a lucky boy?
Yes. I’m not quite sure how Mathieu Raynal and Brian MacNeice convinced themselves not to show yellow to Barrett for that deliberate knock-on - the refereeing on that sort of decision has been incredibly consistent over the last few years.
Wales have to now capitalise on Nepo Laulala’s yellow card and the player advantage they will enjoy. New Zealand’s final-quarter dominance tends to mean an opponent has to be ahead of them at the hour-mark, which will be a big ask. For what it is worth, 18 points is the third most that Wales have conceded to the All Blacks in a home Test.
H/T: Wales 6-18 New Zealand
Scrappy enough stuff at the Principality. Wales have fought well but their set-piece has failed to give the stable platforms they probably need to convert territory in to more consistent points, and New Zealand have taken two try-scoring chances. Gareth Anscombe will be rueing that early gift for his former Under-20s teammate - perhaps just the antsy anticipation of being back out there in a Welsh jersey after so long.
Half-time: Wales 6-18 New Zealand
Anscombe makes the fairly straightforward kick and Wales do at least get some points on the board before the break. Still all to do in the second half after those tries by Barrett and Perenara.
Wales 3-18 New Zealand
Wales waste a lineout with a sloppy long throw. They come again after New Zealand kick long, and this time they take advantage, winning a penalty on the 22 after building pressure through 12 phases. Gareth Anscombe will kick this, and you feel Wales need these three points desperately in what is going to be the last moment of the half. Could they have gone for a try with a one-man advantage?
Yellow card!
39 min: Laulala is penalised for essentially headbutting Moriarty rather than tackling him, barely using his arms. The replay looks like a horrible jar to the neck and it’s no surprise Moriarty has required treatment. Laulala will spend 10 minutes in the sin-bin.
Wales 3-18 New Zealand
38 min: Wales build from a lineout, but they go nowhere and it’s brought back for a penalty to the Welsh at the set-piece. Another injury, though, this time to Ross Moriarty, and it looks like another forward is going off.
Try! Wales 3-18 New Zealand
It had been coming. New Zealand attack down the right and it’s TJ Perenara who gets the ball down over the line, celebrating passionately. Jordie Barrett fails to add the two, pulling his kick across the posts.
Wales 3-13 New Zealand
32 min: Both teams spill in contact in what is a bit of a scrappy conclusion to this half in the teeming rain. New Zealand get the put-in at the scrum, close to Wales’ 22.
Wales 3-13 New Zealand
29 min: Jordie Barrett finds touch from a penalty and from there New Zealand drive at the heart of the Wales defence. More huge pressure as Retallick and then Laulala carry into contact. But an All Black mistake at the breakdown five yards out gives away a penalty, and much-needed relief for the hosts.
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