This archive report was first published on 1 November 2019.
On November 1, 2019, New Zealand sealed their third-place finish at the Rugby World Cup with a resounding 40-17 win over Wales at Tokyo Stadium.
The match marked the final Test for both New Zealand coach Steve Hansen and Wales counterpart Warren Gatland, who have been at the helm for seven and 12 years, respectively.
Ben Smith, a veteran winger, scored a classy double, while Aaron Smith's influential play helped set up several tries for the All Blacks.
"It was just important we come back and honoured the jersey and our fans and get over the disappointment of last week," Hansen said, referring to the semi-final defeat by England.
"Tough old game for both sides and just want to congratulate Wales too because I know they'll be feeling a bit at the moment," he added.
Wales' Gatland, who will now coach the Waikato Chiefs, acknowledged the challenge his team faced, saying, "Our boys never gave up and kept trying to play some good rugby in the second half. Probably a game too far for us really."
The All Blacks' victory means they have won 32 of their 35 meetings with Wales, with their last loss dating back to 1953. Hansen's impressive record includes just 10 defeats in 107 Tests in charge.
