Mon, Nov 03, 2003 page20

• Wales challenges All Blacks as England shows off

  • AP
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  New Zealand survived a major fright and outlasted Wales 53-37 in a World Cup thriller on Sunday to clinch top place in its group and set up a quarter final with South Africa rather than England.

  John Mitchell's team was even looking at defeat when it trailed a Welsh team that made up 24 points to lead 34-28 early in the second half. But two late tries by Doug Howlett and Aaron Mauger turned the match back the All Blacks way and now it's Wales to meet the English in the last eight.

  

  New Zealand lock Ali Williams (top right) and Welsh lock Brent Cockbain (top left) vie for the ball during their final Pool D match in Sydney, yesterday.

  PHOTO: AFP

  "I thought they played fantastic," said All Blacks captain Rueben Thorne said of the Welsh. "They are a very passionate team."

  "It was a real battle ... now we can look forward to South Africa."

  It was supposed to be a stroll for the All Blacks. But the game became a 90-point, thrill-a-minute feast of attacking rugby before 80,000 fans at Sydney's Olympic Stadium The Welsh hadn't beaten the All Blacks for 50 years since a 13-8 victory in Cardiff and they came so close.

  "We are very proud of the fact we put up a very good performance," said Welsh captain Colin Charvis.

  The All Blacks needed just 90 seconds to score the first try.

  The move came from a knock-on by Welsh hooker Robin McBryde deep in his own half and, from the scrum, they moved the ball swiftly to the left with fullback Mils Muliaina making the last pass for Joe Rokocoko to go over in the corner.

  The Welsh should have gone level when they won a turnover in midfield and had 11 phases of play near the New Zealand line. Thomas finally had a sight of the line but, to the groans of the Welsh and Australians in the huge crowd, effectively threw the ball over instead of touching down.

  But they managed to go over in the 12th minute when Alix Popham and Tom Shanklin broke through and back row Jonathan Thomas neatly fed center Mark Taylor who had plenty of space to run to the line. Jones kicked the conversion and it was 7-7.

  Stung by that score, the All Blacks went straight on the attack and regained the lead through another converted Rokocoko try. Lock forward Brad Thorn made the break, released the winger out to the left and Rokocoko weaved inside to outpace the covering defenders.

  England 111, Uruguay 13

  Fullback Josh Lewsey ran in five of England's 17 tries to beat Uruguay 111-13.

  Winger Iain Balshaw, scrumhalf Andy Gomarsall, center Mike Catt and winger Jason Robertson added two tries each, most on open-field runs in which they easily eluded Uruguayan pursuers.

  England, 4-0, will play a quarterfinal next weekend against Wales in Brisbane. New Zealand beat Wales 53-37 in the final pool match Sunday.

  Paul Grayson, who has lived in the shadow of superboot Jonny Wilkinson for the past four years, had 11 conversions in Wilkinson's absence from the lineup Sunday.

  England coach Clive Woodward said the big win without Wilkinson underscored that his side was not a "one-man team."

  I've been stressing all along that we can win whether Jonny plays or not,'' said Woodward. "He is the best player in the world at his position. He'll be back next weekend when the real competition begins."

  Uruguay beat Georgia last Tuesday, giving it only four days to prepare for England.

  Uruguayan manager Daniel Herrera Vidiella said the match was "like a Formula One car racing a bicycle."

  The crowd of 46,233 was a sea of red and white in England colors. Supporters barely had time to lower their flags after "God Save Our Queen" when flanker Lewis Moody scored on a fine team try in the third minute.

  Minutes later, winger Balshaw, dropped from the squad last year, scored tries two minutes apart and Grayson's fourth conversion put England up 28-3.

  Catt celebrated his return to the starting lineup after two years in the wilderness due to injuries and indifferent form by scoring England's fifth try in the 34th minute.

  With two minutes left in the half, Gomarsall scored in between the posts and Grayson's sixth straight conversion put England up 42-3 before fullback Juan Menchaca hit a 22m penalty on halftime, his second of the game, to give England a 36-point lead after 40 minutes.

  Lewsey's second try came just minutes into the second half to continue the rout and winger Dan Luger added England's eighth try two minutes later. It was Luger's 24th try in 37 test matches.

  Balshaw took a hard tackle moments later and was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury in the 44th minute. Woodward said it was a slight strain and he should be available for selection for the quarterfinals.

  England flanker Joe Worsley was given a yellow card with 12 minutes remaining after a high tackle. He smiled on his way to the sidelines and applauded the English fans in the crowd, a move that brought a rebuke from Woodward.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    UK navy unveils plans near Taiwan

  • 2

    US involvement in Iran could affect Taiwan: expert

  • 3

    31 charged over KMT-led recall campaign forged petitions

  • 4

    Chikungunya fever cases rise to 13, CDC says

  • 5

    Lai begins 10-stop tour with speech on ‘nation’