Wales lost their third straight autumn international as New Zealand cruised to a 33-10 victory at the Millennium Stadium.
After defeats by Argentina and Samoa, Wales were outlassed by the ruthless, clinical - and occasionally cynical All Blacks.The latter was demonstrated just two minutes into the contest when lock Bradley Davies was laid out by a cheap shot from behind from All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore - an incident that will surely interest citing commissioner Mike Rafter.
The other, lighter side to the All Blacks was also on display, particularly when they earned quick turnover ball and could scythe through Wales at pace while maintaining complete control of the possession.
New Zealand had to settle for nine points from the boot of Aaron Cruden in the opening quarter, Julian Savea going closest when he was forced into touch at the corner by Leigh Halfpenny.
But on 22 minutes Cruden broke from inside his own 22 and just moments later Conrad Smith was putting Liam Messam in for a trot over unopposed in the opposite corner.
The closest Wales came to scoring came from a superb break by Jonathan Davies from his own 22, only for Paul James to knock on, but they hardly helped themselves as Rhys Priestland twice missed the corner with penalties.
Two minutes before the break the All Blacks struck again. Wales were penalised for not releasing, the ball went into the corner and Tony Woodcock crashed over from a simple two-pod lineout move.
The deficit became 26 points just after the break as Cruden added another penalty, before a superb passing movement and a fine finish in the corner from Luke Romano gave New Zealand their third try. Cruden's conversion was his seventh successful kick from seven.
Wales finally got on the scoresheet just before the hour when Halfpenny did find the corner with a penalty, Wales committed almost their entire team to the lineout drive and Scott Williams went over.
Wales had more of the game in the final quarter, particularly after Cory Jane was sin-binned for a deliberate knock on, and did cross again through Alex Cuthbert in the closing moments, but long before then the result was no longer in doubt.
http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/match_report/0,,11069_52801_1,00.html
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