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Warren Gatland\u2019s final game as Wales head coach ended in defeat as New Zealand emphatically won the World Cup bronze medal at Tokyo Stadium.<\/p>\nWarren Gatland\u2019s final game as Wales head coach ended in defeat as New Zealand emphatically won the World Cup bronze medal at Tokyo Stadium.<\/p>\n
The All Blacks\u2019 40-17 triumph consigned Wales to a fourth place finish for the second time in three World Cup campaigns under Gatland.<\/p>\n
It also extended New Zealand\u2019s winning run against Wales to 31 Tests, having not lost in the fixture since 1953.<\/p>\n
Gatland\u2019s 12-year reign, highlighted by four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-final appearances, could not find a fairytale finish.<\/p>\n
New Zealand had the game sewn up by half-time through wing Ben Smith\u2019s try double, plus touchdowns for prop Joe Moody and full-back Beauden Barrett, with fly-half Richie Mo\u2019unga kicking four conversions.<\/p>\n
Wales countered through Hallam Amos\u2019 clever try and five points from Rhys Patchell, but center Ryan Crotty\u2019s try and another Mo\u2019unga conversion early in the second-half finished them off before Mo\u2019unga added a late touchdown.<\/p>\n
Wing Josh Adams scored a second Wales try, though, giving him seven in the tournament and breaking Shane Williams\u2019 Wales record for one World Cup campaign that he set 12 years ago.<\/p>\n
Dan Biggar converted, leaving an under-strength Wales to take considerable comfort from a battling display that augers well for their future under Gatland\u2019s successor Wayne Pivac.<\/p>\n
Gatland made nine changes for his final game in charge, with injuries sidelining players like Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Aaron Wainwright, while wing Owen Lane made a World Cup debut and lock Adam Beard also started.<\/p>\n
All Blacks boss Steve Hansen, who is also standing down after the tournament, included the likes of center Sonny Bill Williams, wing Rieko Ioane and flanker Sam Cane.<\/p>\n
The Wales players did not follow England\u2019s example in the semi-final last weekend of encroaching over the halfway line while New Zealand performed their pre-match Haka.<\/p>\n
They faced it in regulation fashion standing on their own 10-meter line, but Wales were soon back-pedaling under pressure before Mo\u2019unga hit the post with a straightforward penalty chance.<\/p>\n
But the All Blacks struck after five minutes following a charge by lock Brodie Retallick that ended with Moody touching down and Mo\u2019unga converting for a 7-0 lead.<\/p>\n
Wales showed some promising glimpses, with wing Adams prominent in attack, but New Zealand cut them open again in the 12th minute when scrum-half Aaron Smith broke sharply and found try-scorer Barrett.<\/p>\n
Mo\u2019unga again converted, and Wales were already hugely up against it, trailing by 14 points.<\/p>\n
Wales then sacrificed two kickable penalties, and their forwards went close to breaching New Zealand\u2019s defense before Amos applied a neat finish, claiming a try that Patchell converted.<\/p>\n
Wales continued to attack with freedom, and Patchell kicked a 27th-minute penalty that made it 14-10.<\/p>\n
Wales\u2019 response to two early setbacks had been outstanding, and another pinpoint Patchell touch-finder took them back inside New Zealand\u2019s 22.<\/p>\n
Both sides looked to attack at every opportunity, and New Zealand struck next when Smith worked his way over for a try, again converted by Mo\u2019unga.<\/p>\n
Wales continued to have plenty of possession, yet New Zealand finished the half well on top.<\/p>\n
Smith sprinted over for a second try in five minutes, and another Mo\u2019unga conversion made it 28-10 at the interval.<\/p>\n
New Zealand had gone up a gear, and their fifth try arrived just two minutes into the second period, with Crotty crashing over and Mo\u2019unga converting.<\/p>\n
It looked like being a long second-half for Wales, and Gatland began making changes, with half-backs Biggar and Gareth Davies both going on.<\/p>\n
New Zealand had the game done and dusted, though, to at least gain something tangible from a World Cup campaign that saw England end their hopes of a world title hat-trick.<\/p>\n