New Zealand swat Wales aside to win Rugby World Cup bronze final
• All Blacks surge to win in Steve Hansen’s final game
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New Zealand sent off their head coach Steve Hansen with the bronze medal, which is not likely to be displayed too prominently at the union’s headquarters in Wellington. It extended their winning run against Wales but it had the flavour of a fixture being fulfilled.
Wales have become awkward opponents under their departing head coach, Warren Gatland. They were never in a position to win, but at the moments in each half when it looked like the All Blacks would get away from them, they hit back. Defiance, however, lost out to class with Richie Mo’unga’s late try, his side’s sixth, showcasing their sharper spatial awareness.