Stephen Jones. Photo / Getty Images
Wales began promisingly in their latest assault on the 57-year victory hiatus against the All Blacks.
They created some intense pressure, charging down Daniel Carter's attempted clearance and carrying the ball from side to side across Carisbrook.
Then they lost it. It was either a lack of confidence or patience
or both. But after three and a half minutes of serious inquiry, first five-eighths Stephen Jones dropped back in the pocket and dropped a goal from 35m. Damned fine droppie too, three points down the high-diddle-diddle.
But in that moment, you suspected the All Blacks probably thought they had made the gains. They were off their game, out of sync and struggling to find any rhythm.
But their defence was solid. They had worked particularly hard on that part of their game after shipping four tries against the Irish in New Plymouth. The clamp they slapped on the Welsh early gave the visitors the message that it was going to take something extraordinary to break down the All Black tackling.
Whether it was a consequence or not, Wales kicked; Stephen Jones or Mike Phillips went the aerial route. Some of the kicks were on the money, others were wayward, all were defused.
The All Blacks tried to use any ball they won while Wales, after their initial forays, appeared to be spooked about their lack of success and pounded the leather to the heavens. On a night where conditions were as good as they ever get, certainly in Dunedin, for international rugby, Wales did not seem to trust their running game.
The more they kicked, the more the All Blacks began to test their counter-attack game. Wales did not try to kick for touch or to pin their opponents near the sidelines. Unlike most nations, they did not seem to fancy trying to disrupt the All Black lineout. And the more they tired in the second spell, the more they hoofed the ball downfield.
Carter, twice, scored after kicks were returned while Richard Kahui raced 55 metres through a tiring defence to score.
This week? Who knows what tactics the Welsh will employ. Conditions in Hamilton are not expected to be as sharp as they were in Dunedin and tactical kicking may be the best method of attack. If it is, Wales needs to create equal measures of heat from their kick and chase if they are to deliver more problems than they did last week.
