Warren Gatland’s men trailed just 23-18 with eight minutes remaining before late tries from Isaia Toeava and John Afoa ended any hopes of an historic victory over the world’s number one ranked side.
Wales went into the final match of the November Test window looking for a just their second-ever win over New Zealand, with their only previous triumph coming under the leadership of Bleddyn Williams 57 years ago.
And for large parts of the second-half it looked as though Wales might just end their All Black hoodoo as they trailed just 13-12 with half-an hour remaining and then 23-18 with 72 minutes on the clock.
Those late scores from wing Toeava and replacement prop Afoa put the game beyond Wales but the hosts did at least gain the try their efforts deserved when Lee Byrne crossed with the final play of a pulsating encounter.
Wales led 3-0 inside the opening minute thanks to good work from Stephen Jones, who contributed 20 points overall thanks to six penalties and a conversion. A towering up and under from the Scarlets fly-half drew a late tackle from Hosea Gear, with Jones then striking home the resulting penalty from the position in which the ball had landed deep in the New Zealand half.
The lead didn’t last long, though, as the All Blacks hit back in perfect fashion just three minutes later as Gear made amends for his earlier indiscretion by touching down for the game’s first try. The Wellington winger was left with the simplest of finishes after a powerful burst and deft offload from fellow wideman Toeava, who burst through two tackles before freeing his hands to put Gear in the clear when his own run had been halted by Byrne.
Dan Carter was off-target with the extras from the toughest of angles for a left-footer but the All Black fly-half was soon celebrating becoming the leading points scorer in Test rugby.
The Crusaders playmaker slotted a 49-metre penalty with the game nine minutes old to move ahead of previous record holder Jonny Wilkinson with 1179 points in 79 internationals.
The entire stadium applauded Carter’s achievement but there was no doubt that the loudest cheers came from the All Black fans delighted to see their side open up an early five-point lead.
Carter wasn’t the kicker creating records on the night, either, with Jones jumping from 892 points to 912, overtaking Percy Montgomery and Michael Lynagh to reach number seven in the world rakings. Jones’ seven successful kicks also beat his own previous record of 17 points against the All Blacks set in the World Cup thrillier in Australia seven years ago.
Carter could have extended New Zealand’s advantage and his own record three minutes later but he sent a second penalty wide of the near post from 40 metres out.
Byrne came close to intercepting Kieran Read’s lofted pass on the edge of the All Black 22 with 18 minutes played but it was the visitors who scored next courtesy of a fine individual try from Mils Muliana. The veteran full back sliced through from long-range after Wales had missed touch from a penalty that should have given them a platform deep inside All Black territory.
Carter was off-target for the third time in the match from wide on the right but New Zealand were suddenly 10 points clear at 13-3.
James Hook came within a matter of centimetres from opening the Welsh try-scoring account as the game reached the half-hour mark, with only a superb scrammbling defensive effort from the All Blacks dragging him down just short of the try line. Bradley Davies picked up the loose ball and touched down unhindered but referee Alan Lewis ruled that Hook had knocked on in the tackle, leaving Wales to mull over what might have been.
Stephen Jones did narrow the gap to seven points with a second successful penalty seven minutes before the break before cutting the gap even further four minutes later as Wales won a penalty at scrum time.
Jones’ comfortable 25-metre effort brought Wales back to just 13-9 at the break, although Carter did have the chance to re-establish New Zealand’s seven-point advantage with the final play of the half. The 28-year-old left a long-range penalty attempt just shy of the crossbar, much to the relief of a vibrant full house in Cardiff.
Wales began the second period brightly, pinning New Zealand back in their own half and looking dangerous with ball in hand. Although a determined defensive effort from the All Blacks kept Wales at bay, you sensed that the overwhelming majority of the Millennium Stadium crowd began to really believe that the Kiwis could be beaten.
Wales head coach Gatland looked to keep up the momentum by making a double change eight minutes into the second half, bringing on Andy Powell and Jonathan Thomas for Ryan Jones and Dan Lydiate. The All Blacks responded in kind, taking off Sonny Bill Williams and introducing the equally hard-hitting Ma’a Nonu.
Wales were finally rewarded for their second-half dominance when Jones narrowed the gap to a single point with a third penalty 10 minutes in. The sin binning of All Black back row Daniel Braid for failing to roll away in the tackle gave Wales an one-man advantage, again raising hopes that the six-decade drought could be about to end.
Those hopes were dealt a substantial blow just two minutes later, though, as Gear raced away for his second try of the game. In a similar manner to Muliana’s first-half score, Gear’s second again came from next to nothing. This time the television match official was required to confirm that Gear hadn’t been dragged into touch prior to scoring but the result was the same: five points to New Zealand.
Carter put a mixed kicking display to date behind him as he converted from the left-hand touchline to move the All Blacks two scores ahead at 20-12, before slotting a penalty on the hour-mark to move his side 11 points clear.
Two more penalties from Jones on 64 and 68 minutes brought Wales back to within a single score at 23-18 as Wales looked to create history, but Toeava and Afoa ensured that, despite Byrne’s last-gasp effort, it would be the All Blacks celebrating this evening thanks to a third Grand Slam tour in five years
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