By Lestyn
November 2 2003

For the first time in what feels like an eternity, Wales produced a truly unforgettable display in Sydney. Not since the golden day's of Graham Henry's reign have we seen a Welsh side compete, and for long periods out play one of the big guns in world rugby.

In the scheme of things on paper this game meant little in terms of qualification for the quarters, only a near miracle would see Wales avoid a dreaded quarter final with England, due to the All Blacks racking up enough bonus points against sides that Charvis and co struggled to beat to go through as group winners if they picked up a try scoring bonus point. 

Although Hansen was widely criticised, it was probably the right thing to rest his key men. Without the trio of Harris, Martyn Williams and Kevin Morgan who had all picked up knocks in the Italian game, the more or less full strength Kiwi's must have thought it was their lucky day. Even the most optimistic of Welsh fan couldn't have predicted how the game panned out.

It was that horrible sinking feeling when Rockcoko left Shane Williams sprawling after exploiting an overlap in the left hand corner, with the All Blacks moving the ball around with such confidence with only minutes on the clock. When Garan Evans was stretchered off it was almost as if he was lucky to avoid a probable rout, but his replacement Gareth Thomas was to prove a blessing in disguise. Thomas who in the past has only briefly flirted with the number fifteen - that back in 2000 for Cardiff, fitted in very well at the back - as Rueben Thorne found out when trying to go straight through him in the second half.

A five minute gap as the unconscious Evans was stretchered off allowed Wales to re-group and stop most the All Black momentum gained. Belief began to creep into the Welsh game, after Rob Sidoli burst into the All Back 22 only for Gareth Thomas to knock on with the try line gaping. Of all people Stephen Jones produced a spark of genius, chipping over the All Black defence and then feeding Shanklin and then more superb support play from Johnny Thomas saw Mark Taylor wrong foot the Kiwi defence to score under the sticks - surely just a blip?

Well It certainly looked like one, as Rockcoko left Shane Williams sprawling on the flaw to add to his earlier effort, after a Charvis slip on the touchline. It went from bad to worse after the brief interruption of a Jones penalty Leon MacDonald touched down with the simplest of efforts with the Welsh defence all over the place 21-10. When Ali Williams collected Spencer's well placed kick for his sides fourth try it was looking like a case of how many they would add, however it was as if the All Blacks stopped playing and began to sit back.

Shane Williams a man supposedly only taken to the World cup by Hansen to please the media and supporters, produced a piece of magic to dance through countless men in Black, Shanklin was on hand in support yet again before offloading to Gareth Thomas who some how offloaded out of a thumping tackle and the ball was worked well to Sonny Parker who dived over - sadly though Parker was to injure his dodgy shoulder in the process, and another Welsh sub was to come on and play out of position, this time Ceri Sweeney. Sweeney like Gareth Thomas was to adapt very well though. Charvis's try with just seconds left proved it was no fluke, and with the score line 28-24 at half time Wales were well and truly in this one.

The expected All Black break away at the beginning of the second half didn't happen, incredibly it was Wales who surged into the lead, for the next twenty minutes the unthinkable was outrageously thinkable. Unthinkable is certainly a word which did come to mind before today when thinking of Stephen Jones as a creative outside half, he may not be the one dimensional ten we all thought he was - this game was certainly his best in a Welsh jersey. Jones's kicking a little off target against Tonga, was spot on as well tonight. New Zealand collapsed a scrum on the ten metre line in their own half and Jones obliged with the three points 28-27.

Ceri Sweeney's aggressive style worked a treat, as Spencer was caught off guard near the half way line and the stand in centre raced through and Charvis was on hand to take the 23 years old pass before be dragged down just short of the line, then what I thought summed up the Welsh effort, the willingness to take risks was really illustrated when Gareth Thomas threw a risky pass which just missed Carlos Spencer's reach and Ickle Shane danced over unopposed to send World rugby into a state of bedlam 34-28 after 45 minutes.

But it proved to be the kick up the backside the All blacks needed, as Howlett darted through for the first of his scores, however MacDonald's penalty miss meant the lead was still in Welsh hands and careless rucking allowed Jones to increase the deficit once more, 37-33.

Howlett almost touched down again minutes only to be let down by his handling. It was heroic stuff from Wales for the next few phases, Muliaina was just held up, and from the resulting scrums it took a massive Welsh effort to drive the All Blacks backwards. However there was no way that we were ever going to realistically soak up attack after attack and keep the favourites out, Spencer regained interest and ran onto the ball from deep to punish the tiring Welsh defence. MacDonald's kicking game picked up but the make shift centre who proved a soft spot defensively, hit the post. Only one point in it, but mentally and physically it was clear to see we were starting to tire.

more to follow..........