THE mood in the bars of Cardiff was one of resignation rather than bitter disappointment after the All Blacks came to town and won again.

Welsh rugby fans, it seems, have long since grimly accepted coming out second best whenever they play New Zealand.

Gareth Earey, 37, an engineer from Fleur-de-Lys, said: “It’s the same old story so I’m not really that gutted. New Zealand are so much more streetwise and clinical than Wales.

“Every time they come into your 22 they score. Losing to them is just to be expected.

“We didn’t seem to have a match-winner, someone who could make that difference.

“I’m still hopeful about our other matches this autumn, though.

“Beating Samoa on Friday is a given and I think we’ll win against Argentina and Australia.

“Those last two will be tough, though, because most people don’t give Argentina the credit they deserve, while Australia will be a real test.”

Matthew Bates, 36, an advertising executive from Pengam, also rued another lost opportunity for Wales.

He said: “This was a great opportunity missed, but as usual, the All Blacks were too savvy for us.

“I don’t think we had much of a game plan. We didn’t seem to know quite how to break New Zealand down.

“On the plus side, though, we are improving against them. Last year we lost by 20 points so we’ve narrowed the gap.

“I thought Ryan Jones had a fine game and was at the forefront of a lot of good things and James Hook did very well at fullback.”

Alessandro Basso, 36, a student teacher, formerly of Pengam, was also encouraged by another gutsy failure: “I think we are moving forward and there was a belief in the Wales team that we could beat New Zealand.

“We probably didn’t deserve to win the game but we could have edged it. They are always that bit smarter and more aggressive than us. But I’m also quite confident about our chances going into our other autumn internationals.”