I wonder in fact how many people are left in Wales who actually watched that game at the Arms Park, I’m guessing perhaps a score or less, they will be into their 90s now even if they attended as teenagers.
That’s how remote victory over New Zealand seems.
Positive note
But let’s also acknowledge that this felt significantly different to many of Wales recent performances.
They offered so much more than we have seen for a while against a New Zealand side determined to finish the season on a positive note.
For a start they scored four good tries and demonstrated at last that they possess the firepower to trouble top teams. As a side and indeed a country Wales need to cherish the little wins at present and review what they did right yesterday as well as the mistakes that cost them dear.
Tom Rogers became the first Welshman in history to score a hat-trick against New Zealand, something that eluded the likes of Gerald Davies, Shane Williams, George North, Ken Jones and others.
Take a bow son. And it was a cracking well worked hat-trick owing nothing to luck while on the other wing Louis Rees-Zammit jackknifed spectacularly for a fine late try and caused New Zealand plenty of problems in the air.
Exeter Chiefs lock Dafydd Jenkins, back to his best, enjoyed a sterling combative game up front, Taine Plumtree and Alex Mann rolled up their sleeves in an injury disrupted back row and Dan Edwards showcased a few very tidy skills at fly-half.
Class act: Louis Rees-Zammit goes over for Wales in the corner against the All Blacks
Picture: Getty Images
Improve
In the main Wales defended well and bravely for long periods although the All Blacks, as ever, capitalised on every missed tackle, scoring a number of tries after Welsh slips.
They were costly and will have hurt but nonetheless, there was a buzz of appreciation around the Cardiff crowd on the final whistle.
It had been a proper game and contest. There is hope and the fact is Wales are not without the raw talent to work with.
But how to improve? Well there is no magic wand but Wales certainly need to build more of their attacking plays around Rees-Zammit who – no fault of his own – was underemployed yesterday.
He chased hard and lept high to catch a box kick – his NFL training having sharpened his instincts in that respect – in the build up to Rogers’ first try and took his own try brilliantly but Wales need him on the ball much more often. He was operating on very reduced rations yesterday.
The Wales attack coaches need to get him in space and on the overlap, even if that is 80m from the opposition try line; they need as many one on ones as possible, preferably on the blindside with less cover defence because his footwork has also improved and there were a couple of dazzling improvised moments yesterday; they need to recognise that not only is he good in the air but his long distance pace means you can grubber though from much deeper in your half than you would ordinarily think wise.
Mindset
To be fair Wales probably know all this but now they need to execute and it’s possibly a mindset issue really, building your attack around a player who some might say rather left Wales in the lurch in their hour of need when he jetted off to the States to pursue his long held dream of trying to become an NFL star.
Such subconscious thoughts, if they exist, need to be buried. Rees-Zammit needs to be front and centre of the Wales attack. He is their one world class talent.
Which makes next week very difficult for Wales when, playing South Africa outside of the Test window, they will be without all their English-based players.
There will be little continuity and there is a risk that the good from yesterday might be undone but the WRU will argue the Welsh game badly needs another big payday.
Hopefully all the good from yesterday won’t be undone.
READ MORE: Wales 26-52 New Zealand: Steve Tandy’s side are down but far from out
