All Blacks end season with win over Wales

The All Blacks have pulled another Test win out of the fire, ending their season with a come-from-behind 34-16 defeat of Wales in Cardiff.

Trailing 16-15 with 10 minutes remaining, the world champions unleashed the powerhouse finish they have turned into an art form, pulling clear with late tries to five-eighth Beauden Barrett and No.8 Kieran Read.

New Zealand’s 26th successive win over Wales since 1953 was also the ideal way to mark Richie McCaw’s 100th Test as captain, as he became the first player in the world to reach that milestone.

A record was broken when hooker Keven Mealamu came off the reserves bench in the 65th minute for his 362nd first class game, surpassing the New Zealand record held by lock great Sir Colin Meads.

New Zealand scored five tries to one but that didn’t reflect the tight, physical nature of Test which was locked 3-3 at halftime.

Play opened up in the second spell, with Barrett coming into his own, scoring two tries and setting up another as he fully justified his selection ahead of Aaron Cruden and Dan Carter.

He also kicked nine points but wasn’t as accurate as Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny, who slotted 11 points in a four-from-four return.

New Zealand complete their four-Test tour unbeaten and end the year with 12 wins, one draw and a loss.

It was a typical All Blacks Test in many ways. They struggled for form in the opening quarter, falling behind to a Halfpenny penalty.

Barrett missed a 20th-minute penalty shot from a handy position but slotted another from 49m to level the scores.

Winger Julian Savea put the visitors 10-3 ahead soon after the break with a converted try, bumping off Welsh inside centre Dan Biggar in a bullocking 20m charge.

Wales struck straight back through impressive halfback Rhys Webb, who created a half-break from close range and backed up to score.

Halfpenny levelled the scores with his conversion and put them ahead with a 53rd-minute penalty.

Flanker Jerome Kaino scored from a pinpoint Barrett cross-kick following a long period of New Zealand pressure but Halfpenny’s boot restored Wales’ lead.

A crowd at fever pitch became muted as the All Blacks stormed home.

Barrett received the ball 30m out on the right touch before chipping the defence and reacting quicker to the bounce than Halfpenny to score.

Read scored from a charge down before Barrett had the final say, scoring from another cross-kick.

Wales must regroup to host South Africa next week.

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