Robert Jones replaced the impressive Andy Moore at scrum half, and Wayne Proctor and Ricky Evans both returned to the international stage.
Without a win against the All Blacks since 1953 the much-changed team selection could have been designed to keep the All Blacks camp guessing about Welsh strategy. If this was the case, the plan unfortunately did not work. New Zealand inflicted a punishment on the Welsh to keep the 42-year unbeaten record intact.
Wales began the match promisingly and even led against the almighty All Blacks. Following an Andrew Mehrtens kick deep into the Welsh 22, Wales drove back upfield. After winning a line out, Derwyn Jones passed to captain Mike Hall who raced down the middle of the field. He provided Neil Jenkins with the ball, who drop-kicked it over the posts to secure Wales’s first three points of the game.
New Zealand regrouped following the score and started to exert the pressure they are infamous for. The tide started to swell and, due to the powerful kicking from Mehrtens and Walter Little, the Welsh were soon engulfed in the All Black torrent. Winger Marc Ellis failed to score following a tackle from Ieuan Evans but New Zealand were granted a penalty soon after, following an offside offence from Hemi Taylor. Mehrtens eased the ball over.
New Zealand, growing ever-more confident, strained at the leash for a score. Yet Proctor did well to restrain new force Jonah Lomu, and though the Welsh line appeared fragile they managed to hold the Kiwis off for a period. The inevitable first try came with a little luck and a helpful touch from a Welsh boot. Josh Kronfeld initiated the attack but lost possession following a tackle. The loose ball was nudged forward by Welsh lock Greg Prosser and Little pounced over the try line unchallenged.
Wales gained a little luck next as Kronfeld crossed the line, but lost the ball. Yet Mehrtens kicked another penalty stretching the All Black lead and soon after New Zealand began to finally sap the strength of the Welsh defence. Ellis was the player who went over to attain the second try of the game; Mehrtens converted the additional two points. Jenkins attempted to keep the scoreboard realistic with a penalty just before the whistle heralded the close of the first half.
Both Mehrtens and Jenkins added to their personal tallies on the resumption of the game. The New Zealander slotted over two penalties and a drop goal whilst Jenkins’s effort comprised only of one penalty kick. This last effort by the Pontypridd fly-half was to be the last points scored by Wales in the match. Despite this, Wales held good periods of play in the second half and managed to hold off a deluge of points that New Zealand normally so easily acquire. Nonetheless, the All Blacks did conclude the match with another try. Kronfeld, arguably the best player of the match, was rewarded for his superb play as he touched down, taking the New Zealand try count to three.
Despite the 34-9 score line Wales had only conceded three tries against a confident New Zealand side. They ultimately struggled to suppress the All Blacks’ powerful attacking and accurate kicking from Mehrtens, who kicked 19 points in the game setting a Rugby World Cup record against Wales. This result signified the 13th straight defeat at the hands of the Antipodeans. Only a victory against Five Nations rivals Ireland in their last pool match would see Wales progress into the quarter-finals.
