New Zealand extended their crushing rugby dominance of Wales with a hard-fought 19-12 win in Cardiff on Saturday to stretch their winning streak to 21 games dating back 56 years.
The All Blacks bade their time in a match where defense ruled to score 10 points in a purple patch in the second-half when they deprived Wales of any real possession or territory.
The All Blacks opened the match with an aerial bombardment of winger Leigh Halfpenny and James Hook, in at fullback for the injured Lee Byrne.
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Halfpenny was penalized for holding on after scrambling to retrieve a clever Dan Carter chip and the All Black playmaker made no mistake with an easy kick for the first points of the match.
Jones pulled Wales level after Kiwi captain Richie McCaw was judged to have played the ball on the floor.
But Carter restored the visitors’ lead after the Welsh infringed during some desperate defense.
Neemia Tialata failed to roll away from the tackle and Jones brought parity to the scores with a simple penalty.
Carter handed the All Blacks the lead after just three minutes of the second-half when veteran flanker Martyn Williams played the ball as the Kiwis pressed the Welsh line.
With both sides running the ball, and Hook in particular fielding all kicks with aplomb, it was the Welsh defense that buckled, letting Andrew Hore burrow in for a try in the corner that Carter converted for a 16-6 lead.
Wales were struggling to get out their own half and Carter added a fourth penalty in the 65th minute when Andy Powell infringed on the floor.
Jones hit straight back after McCaw was penalized for 19-9 as Wales finally managed to break out of their own half, but it was that man Carter again who was on hand to produce a covering, albeit high, try-saving tackle on replacement scrum-half Martin Roberts after Shane Williams had stepped away from his marker.
Jones claimed a fourth penalty from out wide with five minutes to play to set up a nail-biting finish.
To the delight of the capacity crowd of 74,330, Alun-Wyn Jones intercepted a sloppy Jimmy Cowan pass and accelerated away to the All Blacks 22m line.
But Zac Guildford, making his debut on the wing, tracked back and knocked down the Welsh lock’s effort to offload.
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