All Blacks crush Wales in Cardiff

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Ardie Savea starred as New Zealand scored eight tries in Cardiff on Saturday to make it 33 wins in a row against the Dragons.

Savea’s Man of the Match performance and two tries each for Codie Taylor, Aaron Smith and Jordie Barrett propelled the visitors to a 55-23 win over Wales at the Principality Stadium.

The All Blacks got off to a blistering start as hooker Codie Taylor scored his 17th and 18th international tries, with Richie Mo’unga’s two conversions and earlier penalty establishing a 17-0 lead for the visitors.

Wales found a kink in the All Blacks’ armour in the 25th minute as 22-year-old wing Rio Dyer sliced through from a set-piece move to score under the sticks on debut before Gareth Anscombe added the extras.

Anscombe kicked a penalty to bring Wales within seven, but a perfectly weighted cross-kick from Mo’unga was eloquently plucked out of the air by centre Jordie Barrett to score the All Blacks’ third try.

With the game clock ticking into overtime Anscombe slotted his second penalty to settle the score at 22-13 in favour of the visitors heading into the break.

New Zealand’s fourth try came in the form of a piece of individual brilliance from Aaron Smith, who  spotted a gap and darted away for a trademark try.

Wales struck back through captain Justin Tipuric but the All Blacks wasted no time as Ardie Savea, one of the All Black standouts in the first half, sold the Welsh defence a dramatic dummy to put Smith away for his second.

The bustling No 8 was rewarded for his efforts, scoring the tourists’ sixth try, extending their lead to 41-23.

Jordie Barrett was the third All Black to bag his brace in the game before replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho scored New Zealand’s eighth and final try to finish the game 55-23 victors.

Photo: Twitter/@AllBlacks

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Rienk De Beer