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Gatland upset at last try

What would have been a most satisfactory night for the Welsh camp was upset by the All Blacks' last minute try to claim a 29-10 win at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium on Saturday.

Sunday, 27 June 2010

Sportal.co.nz

What would have been a most satisfactory night for the Welsh camp was upset by the All Blacks' last minute try to claim a 29-10 win at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium on Saturday.

The Welsh had managed their first try in five years, and only the fourth in their history on New Zealand soil, when second five-eighths Jamie Roberts crossed in the 77th minute.

But the All Blacks struck back straight away and a mistake by fullback Lee Byrne, when he failed to cover a grubber kick by replacement first five-eighths Aaron Cruden, saw him follow up and score.

Wales coach Warren Gatland said he would have been happy with a 22-10 losing margin but he was 'pretty gutted and pretty disappointed' with the last try.

The side had conceded two yellow cards and a lot of penalties but the effort was a step up from the first Test when Wales was beaten 9-42.

"We worked hard in some areas this week in terms of stopping the All Blacks' counter attack, making sure that defensively we were stronger and again I think we made a big improvement in that area and if had've ended up at one try all we would have been happy," he said.

The side hadn't gained anything from its good scrummaging during the first 60 minutes and had been guilty of indiscipline in giving away soft penalties.

Defensive coach Shaun Edwards said he was very pleased with the team defensively especially with a very young backline and that boded well for the future.

Gatland backed that point and said with so many players getting exposure, and with five or six players at home missing through injuries it was good for the future with the team. He said he also took pride from the fact the side showed character by committing to the performance rather than having one foot on the plane on the way home on Sunday.

The All Blacks traditionally improved from Test to Test at the start of a season and the Welsh had managed to restrict that improvement, he said.

There was still a gap between the European sides and the southern powerbases but with a 22-10 scoreline and a reduction in penalties and missed chances the team could have been in the hunt.

But the education the players had on the tour would be significant in their futures, he said.

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