In the last game of coach Steve Henson and captain Kiran Reid, the All Blacks had a clear win against Wales on Friday in Tokyo with 40:17 (28:10).
Against New Zealand, whose third World Cup title dream broke after a 7:19 semi-final defeat against England, the former team clearly had a better team in front of the eyes of Akihito and his wife Michiko in a duel with six successful attempts. Meanwhile, Welsh missed their second World Cup medal after bronze in 1987 and their first win against New Zealand since 1953.
England and South Africa face each other in the final at Yokohama (10:00 pm / PROSBEN MAXX) on Saturday. In the remake of the 2007 finals, when Springbox won 15: 6, the English are favorites and are aiming for their second title since 2003. South Africa could win the WebAllis Trophy for the third time after 1995 and 2007 and thus level with New Zealand.
Neither New Zealand nor Wales scored a bronze duel, but thrilled fans with a fascinating offensive game. In the fifth minute, Joe Moody made his first successful try and All Blacks picked up by Richie Mounga led 7–0, while it was 14–0 after 13 minutes in the second attempt by Buden Barrett and Mounga. But with the first attempt of Hallam Amos and the subsequent kick, Welsh was cut short by 7:14 (21st minute).
But Ben Smith (33.) was clearly leading at half-time with two attempts and a kick – and All Blacks 28:10 – from Mounga. Even after the break, New Zealand was the dominant team and deserved the win.
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