Carter cuts down Wales again
Dan Carter kicked 17 points to help New Zealand to a 29-10 victory over Wales in the second Test in Hamilton.
By Simon Dilger
Last Updated: 01/07/10 3:31pm
Dan Carter kicked 17 points to help New Zealand to a 29-10 victory over Wales in the second Test in Hamilton.
Wales however, will not go home too disappointed, despite losing the series 2-0, after they produced a much more committed performance following last week's disappointing 42-9 loss in Dunedin.
That result had prompted coach Warren Gatland to stress in the build up the need for his team to earn the respect of the New Zealand public.
And Jamie Roberts might have done just that with his late try to become the first Welshman since Martyn Williams in 2006 to score against the All Blacks.
Solid start
Wales made a solid start and the early pressure paid off in the second minute when Cory Jane was penalised for not releasing Tom Prydie.
Leigh Halfpenny booted the tourists into an early three-point lead with a long range penalty from just inside the halfway.
Wales squandered a good opportunity after driving the All Blacks back at a five metre scrum. But Adam Jones was adjudged to have faded on the hit and Carter duly cleared from the resulting free-kick.
Centres Richard Kahui and Benson Stanley began to make inroads in midfield as the All Blacks started to look more threatening.
And when flanker Gavin Thomas was caught for incorrect entry at the ruck on 14 minutes, Carter stepped up to level the scores.
Soon after scrum-half Mike Phillips sparked a promising Wales attack with a strong run down the right flank.
However the poor execution that had characterised last week's defeat returned to haunt the visitors when, several phases later, Alun Wyn Jones lost the ball in the tackle.
New Zealand were quick to make the Welsh pay when they spun the ball out wide from a ruck close to the Welsh line.
Stanley put Jane into the gap and the winger cruised past Dan Biggar to touch down on 24 minute. Carter's conversion stretched the home side's lead to 10-3.
Wales night worsened when skipper Ryan Jones limped off with a leg injury to be replaced by Rob McCusker.
Biggar completely mis-cued a penalty, which would have closed gap to four points, when Tom Donnelly killed the ball at the breakdown.
Carter returned the favour a couple of minutes later sending his own penalty wide.
But when Byrne was sin-binned for a lifting tackle on Donnelly on the stroke of half time the All Black number 10 made no mistake to take the score to 13-3.
Indiscipline
Welsh indiscipline continued at the start of the second half and Carter duly punished them with another three penalties to extend the gap to 22-3.
The free-flowing rugby of last weekend failed to materialise, though, as the game became scrappier and both coaches turned to their benches.
Flanker Thomas and All Blacks replacement Sam Whitelock were sin-binned for an altercation on 71 minutes.
A staunch All Black defence denied Roberts who was held up over the line as Zac Guildford somehow managed to get his body underneath the centre.
But the British and Irish Lion finally gave his side something to cheer in the 78th minute, diving over in the corner to break Wales' try-scoring drought against New Zealand.
It was left to sub Cruden to have the final say when he chipped behind the on-rushing Welsh defence and Byrne failed to ground the ball.
The young fly-half was quick to pounce for his maiden Test try in the dying seconds, Weepu adding the conversion to close the game out.
