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| November 3, 2003 | Monday | Ramazan 7, 1424 |
Favourites N. Zealand overcome Wales
SYDNEY, Nov 2: World Cup favourites New Zealand were expected to score at least 50 points against an underperforming Wales side in the final pool D match on Sunday.
What was not expected, however, was that the Welsh would rack up almost as many to get close to causing one of the great World Cup upsets.
Wales came from behind to lead 37-33 midway through the second half before a rattled New Zealand regained their composure, scoring an unanswered 20 points to seal a 53-37 win.
It was a game of mixed emotions for All Blacks coach John Mitchell, who was pleased with his side’s lightning start in which they grabbed four tries in 30 minutes but was unhappy about their flimsy defence.
“We’re very thrilled with aspects of our attack, we scored eight tries,” Mitchell told reporters.
“We had some defensive lapses but I’d rather focus on the positives, we can fix those things very quickly. The start was quite exceptional and the last 20 minutes, the go-forward that was generated was also of the highest quality,” he said.
New Zealand have now beaten Wales 17 times in 20 tests and two tries by flying Fiji-born winger Joe Rokocoko in the first 14 minutes had the All Blacks on track to better their previous highest win over Wales, a 55-3 thrashing in June.
Wales coach Steve Hansen’s decision to make 12 changes, resting key players like lock Gareth Llewellyn and flanker Martyn Williams, had also lowered expectations of the Welsh.
“I think in some ways some of the media that I read during the week was a little bit disrespectful of their abilities. They played well tonight, we had to work very hard,” Mitchell said.
By the middle of the second half Wales were within reach of their first test win over New Zealand since 1953.
But the All Blacks regrouped and scored three unanswered tries to set up a quarter-final against South Africa next Saturday.
“We didn’t really contemplate losing the game, we just had to keep working hard and play the game down the right end of the field,” New Zealand captain Reuben Thorne said. “We were always confident that we’d get on top of them.”
Scrumhalf Justin Marshall admitted Wales had unsettled the All Blacks with their quick recycling of the ball but said lessons had been learned.
“We know that under stress we can absorb pressure and score points,” Marshall said.
In another positive sign for New Zealand, Mitchell said centre and vice-captain Tana Umaga, who damaged knee ligaments in the side’s first match against Italy, would return to training this week and be available for selection against South Africa.
England rout Uruguay
BRISBANE: England ran in 17 tries on the way to a crushing 111-13 victory over Uruguay in their final World Cup pool C match on Sunday. Flanker Lewis Moody crossed for England’s opening try in the third minute and two tries by winger Iain Balshaw helped his side to a 42-6 halftime lead.
Fullback Josh Lewsey took his tally to five tries after the interval and centre Mike Catt (2), scrumhalf Andy Gomarsall (2), winger Dan Luger, centre Stuart Abbott and replacement backs Jason Robinson (2) and Will Greenwod completed the scoring. Flyhalf Paul Grayson kicked 11 conversions and Catt two.
Prop Pablo Lemoine crashed over for a consolation try for the Uruguayans, and Juan Mencacha kicked two penalties and a conversion for the South American side.
England had already qualified for the quarterfinals.
Collated tables
Collated tables after Sunday’s game at the Rugby World Cup:
(Played, won, drawn, lost, points for, points against, bonus points, total points):
POOL A
Australia 4 4 0 0 273 32 2 18
Ireland 4 3 0 1 141 56 3 15
Argentina 4 2 0 2 140 57 3 11
Romania 4 1 0 3 65 192 1 5
Namibia 4 0 0 4 28 310 0 0
POOL B
France 4 4 0 0 204 70 4 20
Scotland 4 3 0 1 102 97 2 14
Fiji 4 2 0 2 98 114 2 10
United States 4 1 0 3 86 125 2 6
Japan 4 0 0 4 79 163 0 0
POOL C
England 4 4 0 0 255 47 3 19
South Africa 4 3 0 1 184 60 3 15
Samoa 4 2 0 2 138 117 2 10
Uruguay 4 1 0 3 56 255 0 4
Georgia 4 0 0 4 46 200 0 0
POOL D
New Zealand 4 4 0 0 282 57 4 20
Wales 4 3 0 1 132 98 1 13
Italy 4 2 0 2 77 123 0 8
Canada 4 1 0 3 54 135 1 5
Tonga 4 0 0 4 46 178 1 1
— Reuters/AFP
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