New Zealand overcame a magnificent performance by underdogs Wales to win 53-37 as the World Cup first round drew to a close with a thrilling Pool D battle here on Sunday.
Rocked back by a ferocious Welsh side, New Zealand only pulled clear of their opponents late in the game thanks to a dubious try from wing Doug Howlett, scoring from what looked like a forward pass by Justin Marshall.
A Leon MacDonald penalty and a late Aaron Mauger try gave the scoreline a healthier look but New Zealand were rattled for long periods and trailed 37-33 midway through the second half.
New Zealand’s victory sets up a quarter-final against South Africa in Melbourne on Saturday while Wales will face England in Brisbane.
”I thought they played fantastic,” All Black skipper Reuben Thorne said of the Welsh performance.
”We wanted a real contest and they certainly gave it to us. It was a real battle and that’s what we wanted going into the quarter-finals and now we can look forward to South Africa.”
Welsh winger Shane Williams said the underdogs had proved wrong all those who had written them off.
”In a way it worked to our advantage. No-one gave us a chance. The boys showed heart and strength to stop them. We showed enough passion and pride and we showed the critics.”
Given no chance of victory before Sunday’s game against a New Zealand side who had averaged more than 70 points a match, Wales produced a performance brimming with invention to stun the All Blacks.
Wales had not beaten New Zealand since 1953 but came closer to victory than they have done for years with tries from centres skipper Colin Charvis, wing Williams and centres Mark Taylor and Sonny Parker.
New Zealand ran in eight tries through Howlett (2), Fijian flyer Joe Rokocoko (2), MacDonald, lock Ali Williams, flyhalf Carlos Spencer and centre Mauger.
An extraordinary first half had seen Wales fight fire with fire and stun the All Blacks with three superb tries to trail only 28-24 at the break.
Wales must have felt the writing was on the wall as New Zealand swept forward to score through Rokocoko after only two minutes, MacDonald adding the conversion.
But the Welsh response was magnificent. Gareth Thomas, on for injured fullback Garan Evans, went agonisingly close to scoring after Wales recycled through 15 phases but fumbled as he stretched out for the line.
Yet enterprising Welsh play got its reward soon after. Flyhalf Stephen Jones chipped ahead and gathered brilliantly, and fed to wing Tom Shanklin who in turn passed to Taylor for the score.
Jones added the conversion but Rokocoko scored immediately with another electrifying burst which left the Welsh cover for dead.
Jones kept the Welsh in touch with another penalty but New Zealand appeared to be taking control.
A burst up the middle from dynamic No.8 Jerry Collins had Wales scrambling and they conceded a penalty. A quicktap from scrumhalf Marshall sent MacDonald in for the try.
New Zealand appeared to be racing away with the game when flyhalf Spencer weighted a marvellous cross-field kick for second row Williams to leap high and touch down.
MacDonald’s conversion made it 28-10 and Wales resistance looked broken.
But Wales threw caution to the wind and the result was two wonderful tries, with right wing Williams showing some bewildering footwork to set up a converted try for Parker.
Scenting blood, Wales boldly opted to kick a close-range penalty to touch and from the ensuing lineout Charvis crashed over to put Wales within four points of the lead.
Wales started the second half as they ended the first, Jones adding a penalty to close the gap further before Ceri Sweeney jinked through the New Zealand defence and offloaded to Williams for another remarkable Welsh try. Jones’ conversion made it 34-28 and Wales were in the lead.
But New Zealand always looked to have an extra yard of pace in attack, and Howlett scorched over after a well-worked try that looked to have more than a hint of obstruction about it.
MacDonald missed the conversion but another Jones penalty nudged Wales four points clear again.
Valiant Welsh resistance crumbled when Spencer darted over from a close-range scrum to put New Zealand 38-37 up. Howlett’s try was followed by a MacDonald penalty and Mauger’s late score. – Sapa-AFP