Rennie doesn’t regret selection after All Blacks stunned by Wales in Nations Championship

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Coach Dave Rennie wasn’t going to second guess his selection after New Zealand lost to Wales in rugby for the first time in 73 years on Saturday.

Wales won a stunning Nations Championship nail-biter 35-28, first by starting each half with two quick tries to make the All Blacks play catchup, and then by holding out wave after wave of attacks for nearly the last half-hour when New Zealand was held up three times over the tryline.

The last year the All Blacks tasted defeat against Wales — 1953 — Edmund Hillary, a New Zealander, had just become the first person to summit Mount Everest.

After the All Blacks sunk Scotland 43-21 last weekend, Rennie made 10 changes, including eight of the starting XV, to give front-liners a breather before facing England and the playoffs.

“We had a good enough side to win,” he said. ”We had opportunities to win but we weren’t clinical enough, so I have no regrets around the side we picked. There’s not a lot between certain positions. Whoever wears the jersey bars up.”

Rennie didn’t hide his disappointment, though, and paid tribute to Wales.

“Massively disappointed (in the result),” he said. “We started both halves poorly. Conceded 14 points quickly. (We were) a little bit disconnected. In the end, we had plenty of possession, territory and opportunity to squeeze them up and pick them off.

“Credit to Wales, they were really clinical when they got their chances and then they defended for massive periods. Wales were passionate. Every time they kept us out they grew and became harder to break down.”

In the first half Rennie noted his side turned over the ball nine times, four of them offloads trying to force a pass. That was in response to Wales’ 14-0 start inside the first six minutes.

“They ran hard onto the ball and were able to generate lightning quick ball,” Rennie said. “We struggled to slow it down. They were able to find space on the edge. They were clinical and their ability to take points was excellent.”

First-time All Blacks captain Beauden Barrett, who’d won his previous nine matches against Wales, said the defeat was tough to take.

“We were building a lot of pressure and couldn’t convert that into points. We were held up a lot of times. It’s frustrating. It felt like a brick wall at times,” Barrett said. “You have to give them credit. We gave them opportunities to bring the crowd into the game. That’s why it’s one of the best places in the world to play. It feels like you’re playing 16 or 17.”

New Zealand blew a chance to put a big buffer on South Africa in the southern hemisphere standings but owns its fate for making the Nov. 29 final by taking a one-point lead. Next weekend the All Blacks go to Twickenham, where they lost last year, and are likely to recall Codie Taylor, Fabian Holland, Cam Roigard, Damian McKenzie and Jordie Barrett.

“We expect a response against England,” Rennie said.

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