It's Not All Black...

November 22nd, 2008 at the Millenium Stadium
Wales 9 New Zealand 29

Never mind the 30 years of hurt (er...make that 42...) so bewailed by the round ball fraternity...the 55 years' spell seemed to be fading at halftime at a packed Millenuim Stadium this weekend. Ryan Jones and his merry men faced down those years of dreaming, as well as the Haka, to bring us within sniffing distance of the All Black scalp.
The tribal nature of the Haka face off will remain in the memory for all of us who witnessed it, a genuine spine tingler. Gatland must have loved it.
The final score was a tad flattering, but testament to the All Blacks sense of purpose and cohesion when put under pressure, and their enormous physical reserves of raw power. As ever, McCaw gave a masterclass at the breakdown, where Martyn Williams faded in the second half, along with the last whiffs of all that cordite from the opening expolsions.
Ah well - next year...