This weekend I watched Wales play New Zealand (rugby union) at the Millenium stadium in Cardiff part as the Invesco Perpetual Series. It was brilliant despite the final score Wales 9 - New Zealand 29, this game was the 20th successive defeat to the All Blacks. Currently they are ranked world no. 1 and Wales 6th in the IRB world ranking. Apart from England there is nobody I would rather go to see Wales try and beat.
Penalty conversions were scored first by Steven Jones for Wales and then Conversions from Dan Carter and tries from Ma'a Nonu and then Jerome Kaino for the All Blacks sealed the victory. I'll admit I didnt believe we would really beat them going into the match, I believed it was possible but unlikely because we are so used to New Zealand dominating. Same is widely thought by fans and players and Warren Gatland knows it, hopefully the first half performance this time will go some way towards future self belief.
I loved the build up with pyrotechnics, singing, Joe Calzaghe bringing on the match ball and the ceremonial goat, of course. There were 74,000 people and the atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic. Im sure the Haka stand off at the start will be remembered by everyone and will be talked about as much as the great heart shown by Wales in the first half and the All blacks expertise in the second. Watch the stand off in the video above, the history is that at last meeting in Cardiff the All Blacks refused to perform the Haka on the pitch before Land of Our Fathers was sung. Because Wales wouldn't allow the Haka to be the last thing before play began (giving the opposition a psychological advantage on home turf) the All Blacks did the Haka in their dressing room only.
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