New Zealand have claimed the bronze medal at the Rugby World Cup in Japan with a 40-17 victory over Wales this morning.
Tries from Joe Moody, Beauden Barrett, Ryan Crotty, Richie Mo’unga as well as a brace from Ben Smith saw the All Blacks run out healthy winners in the third-place play-off.
The All Blacks got off to a flying start and although Mo’unga missed an early penalty they were over for a try within the opening five minutes as they burst through the Welsh defence making some wonderful offloads which led to prop Moody racing over for the score. Mo’unga made no mistake from the tee this time around to make it 7-0.
Eight minutes later and they had their second try of the match as Aaron Smith sent a lovely inside pass to Beauden Barrett who showed some dancing feet to shuffle his way past the defence and run in the five-pointer. Mo’unga smashed over the extras to extend the advantage.
On the quarter-hour mark Wales hit back through full-back Hallam Amos who darted towards the line, deceiving the defence with a dummy pass and waltzing over for the try. Rhys Patchell converted to make it 14-7.
Wales cut further into the lead minutes later with Patchell knocking over a penalty to make it a four-point game.
However, on 33 minutes Ben Smith got in for the first of his tries with a brilliant jinking run in the Welsh 22, evading players left, right and centre to get over the line for the score. Mo’unga again converted to make it 21-10.
Smith was in again on the stroke of half-time as Aaron Smith sent a beautiful pass out to him and from there he showed great strength and pace to avoid the touchline to go over in the corner. Mo’unga sent the conversion over from the touchline to leave it at 28-10 come the whistle.
Things only got worse for Wales after the break as New Zealand got off to a blistering start, as centre Crotty was sent through from close-range by a fantastic offload from Sonny Bill Williams with Crotty touching down for the try. Mo’unga made it 35-10 with the kick.
Ben Smith thought he had scored his hat-trick minutes later only for it to be chalked off for a forward pass.
Wales hit back once again on the hour mark as winger Josh Adams got his seventh try of the tournament as he made a great pick and go at the back of a maul on the try-line and dived over for the five-points. Replacement fly-half Dan Biggar scored the conversion make it 35-17.
The All Blacks had the last laugh though as Mo’unga received a pass from the back of a scrum five-metres out from the Welsh line, slipping through two defenders to touch the ball down. He failed to convert his own try leaving the final score at 40-17.
It is the end of the road for both teams in the competition as the All Blacks take home the bronze medal. While it is also the end of the road for a number of players involved such as All Blacks captain Keiran Read, centres Crotty and Williams, winger Smith as well as both their coach Steve Hansen step aside from the international stage, while for Warren Gatland it is the end of a 12 year coaching career with the Welsh.
Player Ratings
New Zealand Starting XV:
Beauden Barrett (8), Ben Smith (9), Ryan Crotty (7), Sonny Bill Williams (8), Rieko Ioane (6), Richie Mo’unga (8), Aaron Smith (8); Joe Moody (8), Dane Coles (6), Nepo Laulala (7), Brodie Retallick (9), Scott Barrett (8), Shannon Frizell (7), Sam Cane (7), Kieran Read (8)
Replacements (7)
Wales Starting XV:
Hallam Amos (7), Owen Lane (7), Jonathan Davies (7), Owen Watkin (6), Josh Adams (8), Rhys Patchell (7), Tomos Williams (6); Nicky Smith (7), Ken Owens (6), Dillon Lewis (6), Adam Beard (7), Alun Wyn Jones (7), Justin Tipuric (7), James Davies (7), Ross Moriarty (6)
Replacements (7)
Match Highlights:
