We’ve got seen this movie earlier than. The script has been written and there have been numerous sequels to Wales’ woes towards New Zealand.
Pre-match optimism developed earlier than Wales had been overpowered on Saturday by an All Blacks aspect who registered a thirty third consecutive victory within the fixture’s one-sided historical past.
New Zealand had been final overwhelmed by Wales in 1953 and 25 of the victories since have been by a margin of 15 factors or extra.
The 2022 model noticed the All Blacks rating eight tries and a document variety of factors towards Wales of their 55-23 win at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
There was the standard Wales sluggish begin because the hosts discovered themselves 17-0 down after 19 minutes.
Then got here the hope as a attempt from skipper Justin Tipuric after 51 minutes decreased the deficit to 6 factors early within the second half.
Nevertheless, the inevitable conclusion adopted because the All Blacks dominated the ultimate half-hour, romping away with 4 additional tries and 26 unanswered factors.
The defeat represented the second successive 12 months Wales shipped 50 factors towards the All Blacks in Cardiff.
It additionally equalled the very best quantity of factors Wales had conceded towards New Zealand, after Steve Hansen’s 2003 Welsh aspect had additionally coughed up 55.
So we face one other inquest into simply why Wales can not beat the All Blacks, as recollections of an encouraging summer time in South Africa fade.
Passive defence and exasperating exits
A porous defence just isn’t an accusation that might be levelled at Wales through the summer time tour of South Africa, however the rearguard resistance proved passive towards New Zealand.
Wales conceded eight tries and the All Blacks weren’t made to work that tough for a lot of of their scores, as they virtually crossed comfy when coming into the hosts’ 22.
Wales missed 24 tackles, lots of them essential challenges, together with a collector’s merchandise of a failed Tipuric try. You can’t try this towards New Zealand.
Wayne Pivac’s aspect had been additionally responsible of too many particular person errors and receiving restarts additionally wants pressing consideration.
Exiting their 22 after kick-offs, Wales had been persistently inaccurate and a primary instance was when the hosts had battled again to 29-23 early within the second half.
A wayward kick gave New Zealand the platform to cross for a vital try to there was no approach again for the house aspect because the All Blacks dominated the ultimate quarter.
Off the tempo and overpowered
Wales had been hopelessly outmuscled within the Six Nations opener towards Eire in Dublin final February.
The identical occurred right here on Saturday with Pivac suggesting New Zealand had been “match-hardened”.
A lot of the Wales front-five forwards had been off the tempo as they had been dominated bodily by their New Zealand opponents.
Adam Beard and Tomas Francis got here off at half-time, whereas Ospreys prop Gareth Thomas, with solely 52 minutes underneath his belt earlier than dealing with New Zealand due to a hamstring harm and concussion points, trudged off quickly after as he appeared in need of match motion.
Pivac can be involved in regards to the potential of his front-five unit to match up with worldwide opponents with the All Blacks exerting scrum superiority.
The exception was hooker Ken Owens, who marked his worldwide return from a long-term again harm with a gritty efficiency that included 14 tackles and 46 metres made in 12 carries.
Ball-carrying is once more Wales’ Achilles heel with New Zealand comfortably dominating the acquire line.
Wales’ main gentle was Taulupe Faletau with 49 metres constructed from 15 carries, whereas Thomas and Beard solely managed a collective whole of 5 metres from three carries, in keeping with the official statistics.
The All Blacks back-row trio, impressed by the sensible Ardie Savea and assisted by Shannon Frizell and Dalton Papali’i, had been far simpler as they made 138 metres from 32 carries between them.
Savea, maybe one of the best participant on the planet proper now, was a part of that dominant All Black pack that carried successfully and bossed the breakdown.
The quantity eight dived over for a well-deserved attempt, additionally producing an outrageous dummy to arrange Aaron Smith’s second attempt.
Again-row stability
After the group had been chosen to face New Zealand, the Wales back-row stability of two open-side flankers, Tommy Reffell and Tipuric, alongside quantity eight Faletau had promised to showcase an thrilling new-look trio.
It merely didn’t work. Whereas Tipuric was injured, Reffell had been excellent within the three-Check sequence towards South Africa within the quantity seven jersey as he excelled alongside the tough-tackling Dan Lydiate.
Reffell’s potential to create turnovers was negated by the New Zealand forwards who saved powering over the gain-line and recycling fast ball.
The distinction within the velocity of possession between the 2 sides was noticeable as Wales attacked towards a New Zealand defence that all the time appeared to have time to reset.
Tipuric and Faletau labored tirelessly with admirable particular person performances as they racked up 23 and 26 tackles respectively.
Wales’ present skipper, although, has proved simpler in his favoured quantity seven jersey.
So it’s secure to say this experiment didn’t come off towards New Zealand. Possibly it is going to flourish towards different sides however an enormous blind-side flanker was missed on this event towards the direct All Blacks assault.
With Reffell additionally selecting up a rib harm to supply a doubt, it stays to be seen whether or not Pivac goes again to Lydiate at six or asks Christ Tshiunza to fill the position for the remainder of the autumn with Josh Navidi injured and Ross Moriarty not chosen.
Energy in depth concern
Wales have some drawback positions they should fill, most notably full-back. They didn’t lose towards New Zealand due to this concern, there have been extra urgent issues than that, however it’s a concern.
Liam Williams was dominated out of the autumn sequence with a dislocated shoulder, whereas Leigh Halfpenny was a late withdrawal from the aspect to face New Zealand due to a hamstring drawback.
This pressured Gareth Anscombe to change from fly-half to fifteen with 35-year-old Rhys Priestland slotting in at fly-half to make his first Wales begin in 5 years.
Anscombe was competent at full-back and Priestland kicked nicely at instances through the All Blacks recreation.
However with the knee harm to common skipper Dan Biggar, Wales wished to see Anscombe within the quantity 10 shirt this autumn for a run of video games.
There are few different choices for the time being for Pivac with Johnny McNicholl not chosen within the squad and common wing Josh Adams sidelined with a hand drawback.
Causes to be cheerful?
Right here is the difficult bit. Dragons wing Rio Dyer didn’t look misplaced on his worldwide debut as he celebrated with a attempt.
That was created by centre Nick Tompkins, who’s starting to type an encouraging midfield partnership with George North, because the pair began their fourth worldwide collectively.
It’s a mixture price persevering with earlier than the World Cup subsequent 12 months. They simply want an attacking platform and construction to flourish in.
Scrum-half Tomos Williams confirmed glimpses of his attacking potential and artistic affect as he helped create the Tipuric attempt with a intelligent kick.
And there was the industrious work-rate of Faletau, Tipuric and Owens to fall again on.
Wales additionally usually enhance the longer they spend collectively, as they turn into accustomed to the velocity of worldwide rugby once more.
Pumas await
Argentina are subsequent within the autumn sequence in Cardiff on Saturday earlier than Georgia and Australia observe.
A worrying issue is the Pumas have really managed to defeat New Zealand this 12 months.
Wales will have a look at that victory occurring earlier than the All Blacks obtained their act collectively and went on to win the Rugby Championship.
Pivac will know Michael Cheika’s Argentina will current their very own stern take a look at of his aspect’s credentials.
Defeat would show a serious bump within the street in the direction of the World Cup which begins in 10 months and go away Pivac’s Wales dealing with a testing autumn.
