The All Blacks showed just why they are the world’s best side as they led 23-0 at half-time before eventually running out 33-10 winners.
Starting in place of the injured Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden showed the strength in depth available to Steve Hansen, kicking 18 points before being replaced with 20 minutes left.
Liam Messam and Tony Woodcock both scored first-half tries with Cruden’s boot doing the rest of the damage as the All Blacks ran riot in the opening 40 minutes.
Luke Romano went over in the second-half and although Scott Williams and Alex Cuthbert crossed for Wales it was too little too late.
If Wales had refused to use injuries as an excuse for defeats to Argentina and Samoa, their strength in depth was tested further as they lost two men within the first couple of minutes.
Lock Bradley Davies was the victim of a cheap shot from New Zealand’s Andrew Hore with just seconds on the clock.
The hooker caught the Cardiff Blue with a swinging arm, the incident somehow missed by Craig Joubert. Davies was replaced by Aaron Shingler while Aaron Jarvis, who had gone down in the same move, was stretchered off and replaced in the front row by Scott Andrews.
A reshuffle in the pack failed to stop a committed start from Wales as they dominated territory in the early stages. The ferocious nature of the contest was evident but after a slow start, the All Blacks finally woke up.
Cruden gave them the lead with a tenth minute penalty before a crunching hit from Liam Williams on full back Israel Dagg curtailed an All Black overlap.
Wales were standing up well to a hugely physical New Zealand front five but the All Black’s threat behind the scrum was all too evident and only the combination of Cuthbert and Leigh Halfpenny stopped Julian Savea from going over in the corner.
The injury news for Wales failed to improve, Jamie Roberts joining the casualty list to be replaced by Scott Williams. By this time, Cruden had extended the All Blacks’ lead to nine with two further penalties and it wasn’t long before they pulled further clear.
From inside their own 22, the World Champions showed just why they are the best attacking side in world rugby.
Savea, who has been in such devastating form of late, broke clear. Cuthbert was the only one with the pace to live with him, eventually bringing him down but with the Welsh defence at sixes and sevens, New Zealand made the most of the overlap. The ball was spread right where flanker Messam crossed in the corner. Cruden converted for a 16-0 lead.
Wales seemed to be looking to kick for territory at almost every opportunity though Jonathan Davies did provide one clean break, escaping the New Zealand defence. Liam Williams provided support but with an overlap out wide, Paul James knocked on.
Such a simple error was then compounded when Rhys Priestland missed touch from a penalty. As good a side as New Zealand are, they need little help and Wales were punished for their mistakes.
Joubert’s whistle was antagonising the Welsh crowd but more importantly, it gave the All Blacks territory as the home side’s penalty count began to stack up. On the stroke of half-time, Cruden kicked a penalty to the corner where his forwards won simple line out ball. With a gaping hole in the Welsh defence, prop Woodcock capitalised, crashing over for his side’s second score. Cruden added the extra two for a 23-0 half-time lead.
The fly-half kicked an early second-half penalty and with a healthy lead, New Zealand began to step things up.
A free-flowing move saw Savea send lock Romano over in the corner with the difficult touchline conversion of no trouble to the outstanding Cruden.
Facing a 33-0 deficit and with the game up, Wales threw caution to the wind and started to play the attacking rugby which saw them named Grand Slam champions.
Priestland kicked a penalty to the corner, Shingler won line out ball and following a forward drive, Wales powered over.
Replacement Scott Williams was the unlikely figure to emerge with the ball as Wales got a reward their response deserved.
Halfpenny missed the conversion but his side were on the board.
With the game gone, Wales were now enjoying themselves and they received a further boost when All Blacks’ winger Cory Jane was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock on.Â
And they made the most of their man advantage, Cuthbert crossing with a few minutes left following lovely hands from Liam Williams.
Sadly for him and Wales though, the game was already up.
