The Welsh dam finally burst as the All Blacks romped to a 46-6 win on Saturday in Dunedin to sweep their three-Test series.
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The world champions unleashed their attacking weapons in compelling style, scoring six unanswered tries against a Wales outfit who looked out on their feet.
While the tourists were competitive in the first two Tests, they were no match for New Zealand’s speed and willingness to counter-attack.
Fullback Israel Dagg, winger Ben Smith and centre George Moala ran amok, while Beauden Barrett thrived in a rare start at five-eighth, scoring two tries in a 26-point haul.
Wales had more possession but nothing like the same potency, paying for a creaky defensive line and a back-pedalling scrum.
It was their heaviest loss to New Zealand since 2003 and continues a 63-year winless streak.
The All Blacks forged their first halftime lead of the series at 18-6, an advantage they were never likely to squander against a Wales team playing their 18th game in 10 months.
Wales were 6-3 up after 20 minutes, courtesy of two penalties to Dan Biggar, before the All Blacks cut their early error count and found some rhythm.
Smith bagged the first try in the right corner in contentious fashion, with French referee Jerome Garces ruling in favour of the winger after his knee hit the touchline in the process of scoring.
Barrett’s second penalty put the hosts up 11-6 before centre Moala’s influence began to be felt in just his second Test.
The powerhouse Blues’ back was stripped of the ball as he powered over the tryline on the half-hour mark but he made no mistake shortly afterwards, capitalising on a sizzling Dagg bust.
Barrett virtually sealed Wales’ fate when he spun through Biggar’s tackle to score a simple try soon after the break.
Flanker Sam Cane was shown a yellow card for repeat infringements but, soon after he returned, Barrett bagged his second try with 20 minutes still to play.
Hooker Dane Coles powered over from a Cane short ball and Dagg had the last say after the final hooter, racing 80m.
The Test ticked several boxes for the All Blacks, who fielded three debut forwards in Elliot Dixon, Liam Squire and Ofa Tu’ungafasi, while several other fringe players had game time.
Their players will return to Super Rugby, two months out from a Rugby Championship opener against Australia in Sydney.
World No.6 Wales end a gruelling tour with four losses, including an embarrassing midweek thumping from the Chiefs.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Yes , good old Alan - almost as miserable as his Jock mate Kenny Dalgleish . Having said that , oh what Liverpool would give to have these happy Chappies back at the Kop !
Shane D
Roar Rookie
England had not played & lost to the All Blacks the last 2 weeks running with a mid week game thrown in as well. Fair to say the Welsh team was jaded from the games they played & that showed once the result was no longer in doubt. England had the high from winning the series & the goal of a 3-0 series outcome to pull them through.
CUW
Guest
Alen hansen - of Liverpool fame? :P
CUW
Guest
All Blacks crush tired Wales in third Test so did the auzzy lose to a tired England in the 3rd test ? :D
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Alan Hansen is the soccer dude from England ! Alzheimer's and Parkinson's is a terrible combination ??
CUW
Guest
it was interesting to see Crokett and Ofa pack down - becoz both are like 6' 4". i think they were really strong in the scrum. this year Whitelock is not firing like he used to do ; not for crusaders and not for all blacks. still not sure about Moala's defence but then the centers keep changing so , untill there is a set pair defence will be an issue. did he break a hand ? moala is more useful to blues than MIB :D as for Barrett , am still not sure how he will do under pressure , starting a game. does he have the calmness of a dan carter to run a team with 14 men for one hour? and still win at a canter !!! i am a beliver that he is good off the bench , especially when the game is one that matters and when there is pressure. as for dagg and smith - people shud go back in time and checkout the year when smith had a purple patch and scored like 10 or 11 trys in tests. dagg was fullback and smith was tight wing. savea/naholo shud work on the left wing - since both have issues ; one in the head and one with the game :)
Lara
Guest
BB loves speedball, so does AS, BS and Dagg. They can't play speedball all the time , but when they do, man is it worth watching. With AS pass, everything just follows.
ben
Guest
Steve Hansen...you must be thinking of Alan Hewson!!??
Ngati Tumutumu
Guest
Agreed NB.
Riccus
Guest
As an AB supporter I was happy enough with the result but disappointed in the number of handling mistakes, especially from the backs. As in the end of the second test I think the team got white-line fever and started throwing miracle passes etc which led to a lot of scrappy play. Therefore I put the onus on the leadership group - they should have seen what was happening and pulled the team's heads in; I cant believe that King Richie would let the team play that way. My other thoughts: - Moala was just what the back-line needed: Fekitoa+Crotty has no fear-factor/hard runner - Wales had played only 1 more test than England BUT had that time off when all the Welsh teams were out of the Euro comps, so tiredness is NOT a factor (Wales Online agreed) - Liked the look of Squires, not so much on Dixon - One of the best NZ fly-half displays by Barrett since Carter's display against the Lions
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
My Observations about All Blacks Aaron Smith fast becoming the greatest scrum half since Joost Westhuizen Ben Smith fast becoming the greatest full back since Chrstian Cullen Keiran Read fast becoming the greatest No 8 since Zinzan Brooke Alan Hansen fast becoming the greatest coach of all time period Did I mention that McCaw , Carter and Nonu are the greatest players of all time in there respective positions . If those three were still playing the All Blaks would represent the world XV – and no international composite side would touch them ! Reply
taylorman
Roar Guru
Moala was on for about 40 I think. Agree with the Dagg, Smith combo. Those two, with Read and Aaron Smith will form lethal combinations. The four really have a sniff of the tryline constantly. May as well play the four while the midfield gets up to speed. Smiths pass is unreal. Should be insured!
Observer
Guest
Barrett is a genuine x-factor player who may go on to be a great - if he performs as well under pressure from the big boys (Oz and SA) then he may well sew the spot up ahead of Cruden. I think the next big thing will be Squires who has a lot of Buck Shelford about him in his go-forward ability. The English are being lauded (perhaps rightfully so) but it was interesting to see them reverting to type in the closing stages of the test last night when they kicked for position deep in the Australian half. The DNA suggests that Australia and New Zealand will play running open field football and the Poms and Springboks their traditional forward-oriented style of control up front. Normally a team with more dimension in its playing patterns will prevail but interesting times are ahead when we see the two styles clashing in the coming months.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Good game from the All Blacks plenty of missed opportunities which wouldn't bother Hansen so much at this stage of the season. I think Dagg has sewn up his spot for the first RC match without question. His combination with Ben Smith on the right edge was all class. Naholo will need to go away and work on his basic handling and ball control, simply to many errors in his game that he can't be relied on to start tests against Australia or South Africa. Julian Savea was disappointing again. He is not coming off his wing to get involved which tells me he is unfit. George Moala showed more in that 80 minutes then Fekitoa has and i think he has put his hand up for the first start in the RC. He is not by any means the finished product with his decision making costing us a couple of tries but he was creating havoc and having an impact which we didn't get from any other midfielder this series. The big question marks come at 10. Barrett was outstanding and really put his hand up for another start. Personally i think we have 3 guys capable of doing the job so it's a headache that is going to work out well for the AB's no matter what combination Hansen goes with. Elliot Dixon done enough to be happy with his debut. He has shown he can foot it at this level and can be relied upon when given another chance. I don't think he done enough to trouble Kaino for the next start. Ofa come off the bench and nailed his roll, well done to him hopefully he can carry on the improvements and work himself into being a good versatile option for the Ab's Was very impressed with Squires little cameo. He got involved early and made some strong carries and was aggressive at the breakdown and in the tackle. For me Elliot Dixon makes way for Savea and Squire when it comes to being on the bench. Dixon is a starter and therefore struggles to make the side if he is not starting imo. Plenty of positives for the All Blacks moving forward, there are some very good players who are not going to make the 23 each week. The great thing for Hansen and co is that they have plenty of combinations and bench options to rotate and select from depending on the opposition and the game they wish to play.
atlas
Guest
Tired? Wales captain Warburton: "If you look at the scoreboard it tells the story. We can have no excuses about it being a long season. They were far better than us, it is simple as that."
lassitude
Guest
Indeed. Perhaps a headline like " Depleted and Wilting Roses Whitewash Clueless Cheika's Charges" ??
lassitude
Guest
Young McCaw was spectacular - not solid. Dixon and Moala were better than average IMO and the combination of Crotty and Moala already looks more natural and synergistic than the others we've tried - I hope Moala gets better soon.
ebop
Guest
Heck yeah, I'm spooning hubris tonight
Not Bothered
Guest
Our centres wete good. No problems in the centres tonight. Going forward I see it as 12 SBW 13 Ngatai 23 Tamanivalu/Moala Which will be the envy of all other countries. The ABs have no holes. Looks like England will be a hard team to beat though.
Not Bothered
Guest
Theyll never move B.Smith to the wing, why would they? Nek minnut.