A much improved Wales team lost their second match on tour to the All Blacks 29-10 at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday.
Wales suffered a heavy loss last week to the All Blacks but came much closer in Hamilton and finished the stronger team with Jamie Roberts scoring Wales' only try.
The try was however neutralised as Lee Byrne dived for a ball in the Wales try area and missed allowing Aaron Cruden to score the All Blacks second try as the clock showed full time.
The All Blacks outscored Wales by two tries to one and the boot of fly-half Dan Carter punished Wales for frequent infringements, kicking five penalties.
The All Blacks have now gone through their three June Tests beating Ireland once and Wales twice while scoring 15 tries and amassing 137 points while conceding just 47.
But it was not the exemplary performance they were looking for as they again made a slow start, squandered at least three try-scoring opportunities and allowed Wales to come back and control the later stages of the match.
Zac Guildford, Rene Ranger and Richard Kahui were all guilty of losing the ball at crucial attacking moments, although Guildford made amends with try-saving tackles on Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies in the closing stages.
The All Blacks were looking for a far more convincing showing as they prepare to launch their Tri-Nations campaign with two home Tests against South Africa, who beat them in all three Tests in 2009.
As in the first Test, Wales took an early lead with a long-range penalty by Leigh Halfpenny and had a chance to break a five-year try drought soon after with a five-metre scrum.
The Welsh pack had the All Blacks on the back foot on the tighthead side only for the scrum to screw too far and were then penalised when it was reset.
It took until the 15th minute for the All Blacks to reply with a Dan Carter penalty as they began to take command up front after a slow start.
Cory Jane scored the first try after the All Blacks' forwards drove Wales back to their line and when Jimmy Cowan opted to move the ball wide the right wing came across to find a gaping hole in the Welsh defence.
Carter landed the conversion and a penalty right on halftime when Welsh fullback Lee Byrne was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle on Tom Donnelly.
The All Blacks pivot extended the lead to 22-3 in the opening 13 minutes of the second half as the All Blacks pinned Wales deep in their own half and within Carter's kicking range as the penalties flowed.
Wales coach Warren Gatland had, however, demanded his side earn respect by testing New Zealand until the final whistle and his players answered the challenge.
In the final 10 minutes, with both sides down to 14 men after Sam Whitelock and Gavin Thomas were yellow-carded for an altercation, Wales took control.
Their relentless battering of the All Blacks line was eventually rewarded with a try for Jamie Roberts which replacement fly-half Stephen Jones converted.
Not to be outdone, the All Blacks scored from the kick off when Aaron Cruden scored from a lucky bounce after chipping over the Wales line.
Final Score New Zealand 29 (12) Wales 10 (3)
Scorers
Tries - Jane, Cruden
Pen - Carter 5
Con - Carter , Kahui
Drop -
Cards - S. Whitelock - Yellow
Wales
Tries - J. Roberts
Pen - Halfpenny
Con - S Jones
Drop -
Cards - Byrne - Yellow, G. Thomas - Yellow
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (RSA)
Teams
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Richard Kahui, Benson Stanley, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Rene Ranger, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu, Adam Thomson, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Aled de Malmanche.
Wales: Lee Byrne, Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Tom Prydie, Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips, Ryan Jones (captain), Gavin Thomas, Jonathan Thomas, Alun Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Paul James.
Reserves: Huw Bennett, Craig Mitchell, Deiniol Jones, Rob McCusker, Richard Rees, Stephen Jones, Will Harries.
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