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* New Zealand make it 21 successive victories over Wales
* Wales stage late challenge but All Blacks hold on
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By John Mehaffey
CARDIFF, Nov 7 (Reuters) - New Zealand repelled a frenzied
late challenge at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday to defeat
Wales 19-12 and extinguish the home side's hopes of a first
victory over the All Blacks since 1953.
In the final 10 minutes, with New Zealand leading 19-6,
man-of-the-match Dan Carter pulled down replacement scrumhalf
Martin Roberts with a tackle the crowd thought was clearly too
high following a sizzling break by Shane Williams.
Alun Wyn Jones then galloped into empty territory after
intercepting a pass from Jimmy Cowan but with the defence racing
back desperately his attempted pass was knocked to the ground.
Two late penalties by Stephen Jones narrowed the gap but the
final score was a fair reflection of the match although Wales
coach Warren Gatland was unhappy that flyhalf Carter escaped
punishment for his high tackle on Roberts.
"It was a hard, high tackle and a swinging arm. It should
have been three points and a yellow card," he told a news
conference.
Assistant coach Shaun Edwards added: "They should have been
playing with 14 players."
CONSTANT THREAT
Carter, showing no sign of the bruised calf muscle which
prevented him training this week, drilled the ball persistently
at the Welsh back three, sapping the energy of the home side
during a dour first half.
The teams turned around with the score tied 6-6 and the
introduction of the lively Cowan at scrumhalf in place of the
cumbersome Brendon Leonard gave the All Blacks the spark they
needed.
Zac Guildford, making an impressive debut on the left wing,
wriggled inside the defence near the Welsh line and hooker
Andrew Hore completed the move to score in the 55th minute.
Six minutes later Conrad Smith, a constant threat at centre
with his pace and vision, thought he had scored when he appeared
to roll over the Welsh line but the try was denied after referee
Craig Joubert consulted the television match official.
New Zealand head coach Graham Henry said he thought Smith
should have been awarded the try.
"That would have opened up a gap, it was a wee bit
disappointing," he told a news conference after his team made it
21 successive victories over Wales.
(Editing by Sonia Oxley; To comment on this story:
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com) Updated on Saturday, Nov 7, 2009 3:55 pm, EST Email to a Friend | View Popular
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