Sam Warburton enjoying new Wales attacking approach despite defeat to New Zealand

Can Wales win against the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time, or will their 63-year drought in all Tests against the world champions continue? Its eventual winning margin, while apparently convincing, was its slimmest ever in a home test against Wales.

But Naholo’s second try was followed by new skipper Kieran Read touching down, before replacement hooker Nathan Harris added the icing with his side’s fifth five-pointer after the full-time hooter.

Even so, the 18-point losing margin was Wales’ best on New Zealand soil.

“Ireland have been a good side for a number of years while England seem to be getting their mojo and self-belief back, while Scotland seem to be improving and Wales are a good side so it bodes well for the Lions when they come to New Zealand next year”.

English referee Wayne Barnes also disallowed a try to replacement scrumhalf TJ Perenara in one of the most weird decisions in recent test history.

The decision ended up not affecting the outcome of the Test at Eden Park of Saturday night.

The performance of several players who had stepped into the boots of the likes of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and the centre combination of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith, was telling.

“I thought we played some good rugby for 60 minutes but you have to play for 80”, he said. “The Welsh were fired up”, he said. When you get guys coming on – like Crocky [Crockett] and Patrick [Tuipulotu] – and inject a bit of energy and voice, it kind of gets you past that “this is hard” feeling, that hump.

Wales – who saw lock Alun Wyn Jones win his 100th cap – pounced on full-back Ben Smith’s failure to catch a high kick, a sweeping passing move from right to left sending Taulupe Faletau over in the corner.

“That first Test is always a tough one”.

New Zealand came out fighting in the second-half with Beauden Barrett replacing Savea before Cruden leveled the game with a penalty eight minutes in.

But Wales coach Warren Gatland also made reference to 2007, when he questioned the first of All Blacks wing Waisake Naholo’s two tries. Naholo’s and Read’s tries in a five-minute span deflated Welsh morale.

“On game day we’ve got 23 guys who we want to ask the opposition ‘do you have 23 who can play the speed of game that can challenge an opposition?'”.

The midfield of Ryan Crotty and Malakai Fekitoa, despite being cut open a little too much in general play during the first half, settled in the second period as they went forward and held the defensive line together.