Wales 23 – 55 New Zealand

The All Blacks cruised to victory against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff

An ultra-clinical and physical New Zealand proved too strong for Wales in Cardiff, earning a 55-23 Autumn International victory at the Principality Stadium.

An entertaining clash saw New Zealand take a 17-0 first-half lead as Codie Taylor scored twice, but Wales fought back with a superb try from Rio Dyer – on his debut – and two Gareth Anscombe penalties either side of a Jordie Barrett try for the visitors.

The second half saw tries raining down early as New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith scored twice, either side of a try from Welsh skipper Justin Tipuric, as the All Blacks pulled away each times Wales have threatened to complete a comeback – twice in six runs. .

The All Blacks ultimately proved too powerful and effective, however, running away with the game with further tries from Ardie Savea, Jordie Barrett and Samisoni Taukei’aho.

The All Blacks took the lead within three minutes as Mo’unga hit clean from the tee from around 30 yards out after Wales second row Adam Beard was penalized for coming in wide with an early breakdown .

Richie Mo’unga scored the first points of the Event via an early penalty

Just after 10 minutes – although Wales made a promising start with the ball in hand themselves – New Zealand had the opening try as hooker Taylor leaned in to score wide open carrying after 11 attacking phases in Wales 22 and a superb initial line break from flanker Dalton Papalii.

Mo’unga converted for a 10-0 lead but the visitors knocked down the restart to give Wales an attacking opportunity in the 22, only for a tight header Tomas Francis to strike. A subsequent scrum penalty won by New Zealand allowed them to clear the danger completely.

More pressure from the All Blacks at Wales 22 saw a second try scored – again by Taylor near the try line – as the visitors repeatedly displayed their superiority in power and contact.

Mo’unga’s second conversion saw Wales facing a worrying 17-0 deficit, and although 17 Welsh attacking phases followed, they struggled time and again to progress and progress.

A penalty against New Zealand winger Sevu Reece in the breakdown allowed the hosts to kick into the corner, however, and from there Dyer scored a superb try from a set piece as Tompkins played a brilliant blind pass for the debutant to sprint.

Rio Dyer scored a superb try for Wales on his Test debut

Anscombe converted the tee, before a counter-ruck just outside the 22nd saw Wales regain possession as the All Blacks looked for a quick repost.

Tompkins picked and passed in the middle of a ruck to sprint into the All Blacks 22 shortly after, and with the visitors stretched out they were penalized on the ruck. With the crowd agitated, Wales resisted the temptation to go for a second try, as Anscombe scored three more points via the boot.

With six minutes left in the half, the All Blacks struck again for another clinical try as, on penalty advantage, inside center Jordie Barrett swung wide for a cross pass from Mo’unga , who landed perfectly for Barrett to claim over Dyer’s head and score.

Jordie Barrett scored the All Blacks’ third try

In the final two minutes of half, Wales squandered a big chance to fight back on the scoreboard, as No.8 Taulupe Faletau was penalized for losing his footing as a close lock the All Blacks try line.

Anscombe added three more points before the break, however, splitting the amounts with the final kick of the half after New Zealand played the ball off the feet, leaving the score 22-13.

A quick second-half start by Wales saw Faletau chase All Blacks full-back Beauden Barrett out of the park deep in the 22nd, and out of the resulting line-out the hosts awarded another penalty , which Anscombe struck from close range to reduce the Kiwi lead to six points.

Gareth Anscombe cut the All Blacks lead to six points twice, before the visitors pulled out again

This optimism was quickly rebuffed, however, in typical All Blacks fashion, they scored a try from scratch: scrum-half Smith faking, stepping in and sprinting for a solo try – on occasion he becomes the most capped All Blacks. all-time comeback (113).

All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith scored two tries in the dominant win

Wales fought back almost immediately, as from the penalty spot scrum-half Tomos Williams launched a brilliant chip, which Mo’unga was only able to fend off under pressure from Anscombe in the air. The stray ball was recovered by skipper Tipuric for a scrappy finish, which he appeared to lose control of, but replays proved inconclusive.

When Anscombe converted Wales were again within six points but a third try in seven minutes between the sides allowed Smith to extend the lead with his second after magnificent play from the huge impressive Ardie Savea in attack, feigning, carrying and offloading with brilliant effect.

Savea put the result beyond doubt with 15 minutes to go, when he finished off a power-packed All Blacks attack on contact – almost making a mess of the grounding as he looked to make a dive, but making enough to score.

There was time for two more All Blacks tries, as first Barrett slipped in to score his second, before substitute hooker Taukei’aho scored after a maul drive in the final game.

And after?

Wayne Pivac’s Wales will next host Argentina at the Principality Stadium on Saturday November 12, 15:15 (GMT) for the second of their four autumn internationals this Test window.

For Ian Foster and the All Blacks, they will then travel to take on Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on Sunday November 13, kicking off at 2.15pm (GMT).