Yet despite containing the All Blacks in the first quarter, once Doug Howlett had been worked clear for the home side’s first try after 21 minutes the floodgates began to open. The New Zealander’s were keen to make amends for their defeat at the hands of England the previous weekend and they dominated the game, restricting Wales to only nine pieces of possession in the first-half and enjoying 75% possession in total over the 80 minutes.
As well as the pain on the scoreboard, Wales lost Colin Charvis after only 23 minutes with a head injury after he was seemingly knocked unconscious by a thundering tackle from the Kiwi No.8 Jerry Collins in open play. Home centre Tana Umaga was so concerned at seeing Charvis laid out on the floor that he turned him on his side as play progressed and removed his gum shield to ensure he had no problems with his breathing.
Wales skipper Martyn Williams also picked up a nasty injury in the first-half when he was cut at a ruck. His cheek wound required eight stitches, although it did not prevent him from returning to lead his side. Howlett’s try, his 19th in international rugby, came at the end of almost ten phases of rugby and settled the home side’s nerves. It also gave new boy Daniel Carter his first kick in the Test arena and his conversion was the first of six successes on a night when the Canterbury centre marked his debut with twenty points.
That try ended any real Welsh resistance and from there on it was complete one-way traffic. Carter kicked a penalty and another conversion, after Carlos Spencer had crossed frrom close range, and the All Blacks found themselves leading 17-3 at the break.
The second half became exhibition stuff as six more tries flowed. A long cut out pass from Spencer allowed Carter to get on the outside of Mark Taylor and fend him off to grab his first Test try before prop Kees Meeuws drove over from close range. Hooker Keven Mealamu was next to score before Carter did the hard work to allow his co-centre Tana Umaga to cross.
Explosive new wing Joe Rokocoko rounded off proceedings with two tries, the latter coming after he charged down a Ceri Sweeny clearance behind the Wales line, and Carter’s boot enabled the home side to clear the fifty points margin against Wales for the third successive Test in New Zealand.
