Even though the All Blacks clinched the series with their 36-22 win in Wellington in Saturday’s second Test, Charteris still believes Wales can end their tour on a high if can eradicate individual errors against the world champions.
While his club side will be chasing a first French title since 1990 in Paris this weekend following their last gasp semi-final win over ASM Clermont Auvergne, Charteris will have a first win over New Zealand in 63 years for Wales uppermost in his mind in the third and final Test.
“At half-time in Wellington we said we were pretty comfortable – we weren’t too tired or under the cosh. We spoke about what we needed to do in the first 20 minutes of the second half, but there were some little inaccuracies and individual errors and they went two tries up,” said Charteris.
“If we had scored when Sam Warburton intercepted and Taulupe Faletau dropped the ball it would have been a big swing in the game. But you have got to give credit to New Zealand, they are just so clinical in those open play scenarios.
“They didn’t do anything different, they just took their chances when they had them. We managed to contain them for much of the first-half and we were a little bit disappointed with the way they scored some of their tries, which were a little bit too easy.
“They didn’t have to work too hard and that is annoying and was down to a couple of individual errors. In those 10-15 minutes they were very clinical and while we showed good character at the end, but it was too little, too late.”
An Alun Wyn Jones try on the stroke of half-time enabled Wales to go into the break on level terms at 10-10. But the Al Blacks cut loose with four tries in the space of 14 minutes in the second half to open up a 26 point gap with 14 minutes left to play.
If it looked ominous for Wales at that stage, especially given they had conceded three tries and 21 points in the closing 20 minutes in the first Test, they hit back with two tries of their own in the end to cut the gap to 14 points – their best defeat against the All Blacks way from home.
“We have to raise our game for next week. I didn’t play in the first Test, but everyone said they felt better with the intensity of this game,” said Charteris.
“It is going to be a fast game again next weekend under a closed roof, so we have to prepare for that. I thought we controlled the ball better today and had more of the ball – it is easier to try to control games when you do that.
“We just have to sort out those inaccuracies. There isn’t a major swing in tactics in our game, it is just that the way New Zealand play you are going to get chances.
“We took a few in the end with Liam Williams’ run and Jamie Robert’s interception and great interplay with Rhys Priestland that led to Jonathan Davies try. We have to make sure that when we get chances we take them because we know that’s what they are going to do.”
