World champions New Zealand staged a storming second-half display to dash Wales' hopes of claiming a famous victory at the Millennium Stadium.
Wales looked on their way to ending 61 years of hurt against New Zealand when they led 16-15 with only 11 minutes left, but fly-half Beauden Barrett's try double either side of a Kieran Read touchdown gave the All Blacks a remarkable 26th successive victory in the fixture, winning 34-16.
New Zealand claimed four touchdowns in 13 devastating minutes during the final quarter, and Wales were reduced to shellshocked bystanders.
Flanker Jerome Kaino and wing Julian Savea also scored for the visitors, with Wales replying through scrum-half Rhys Webb's try and 11 points from the boot of full-back Leigh Halfpenny.
Wales centre Jamie Roberts rued that his side let New Zealand overpower them in the closing stages of their clash in Cardiff. "We played very well for 65, 70 minutes and in the last 10 they got away from us," Roberts said.
"They got some bounces of the ball, but you create your own luck and they attacked very well. We are disappointed, but played well for 70 minutes."
Passion and commitment was nowhere near enough to thwart an All Blacks side that delivered rugby from the gods and underlined their status as favourites for next year's World Cup. Yet Wales shaded the early sparring, gaining two penalties in quick succession that allowed them to enjoy a reasonable territorial position before Halfpenny kicked them in front through a seventh-minute strike following Roberts' powerful surge - moving past 400 points for Wales in the process. Barrett missed a chance to put New Zealand level, but found his range from double the distance, making it 3-3 after 22 minutes of an intense encounter.
Wales had impressively held their own in the toe-to-toe battle, yet they fell behind within three minutes of the restart as New Zealand stepped up a gear.
Barrett's sharp break split the Welsh defence, and after New Zealand's pack went through the phases, possession was quickly moved wide and Savea brushed off Dan Biggar's challenge to claim his 30th try in just 33 Tests, with Barrett converting. The lead lasted just two minutes as Wales hit back brilliantly when Webb linked superbly with No 8 Taulupe Faletau and touched down, before Halfpenny's conversion tied things up again.
New Zealand were rattled, and a second Halfpenny penalty put Wales back in front. But back came New Zealand, as Richie McCaw ran deep into Welsh territory and set up an opportunity that Barrett capitalised on, kicking to the far touchline for Jerome Kaino to touch down unopposed. Again New Zealand's lead proved short-lived, as another Halfpenny penalty made it 16-15 to Wales before Barrett responded with a solo score two minutes later. Colin Slade converted, and New Zealand sealed the deal when Read charged down Mike Phillips' clearance and Barrett scored again.
Wales: Halfpenny, Cuthbert, J Davies, Roberts, North, Biggar, Webb, James, Hibbard, Lee, Ball, A Jones, Lydiate, Warburton, Faletau. Replacements: Baldwin, Smith, R Jones, Charteris, Tipuric,
M Phillips, Hook, L Williams.
New Zealand: B Smith, Piutau, C Smith, Williams, Savea, Barrett, A Smith, Crockett, Coles, O Franks, Retallick, Whitelock, Kaino, McCaw, Read. Replacements: Mealamu, Moody, Faumuina, Tuipulotu, Messam, Perenara, Slade, Crotty.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
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