Howlett crossed for two tries

Howlett nearly grounded a Ben Blair grubber kick, and from the resulting line-out a dynamic drive from the visitors was barely foiled as Colin Charvis got underneath Ali Williams.

New Zealand were looking slick in the backs, but when a 12th-minute move broke down in midfield Stephen Jones was on hand to hack forward.

The ball flew downfield to stick in the Millennium Stadium's muddy in-goal area, where flying centre Jamie Robinson gleefully touched down for the first try. Jones converted from the touch line.

The speedy, creative New Zealand three-quarters probed at the Wales defence, but the hard-working forwards and pacy backs of the men in red held the line.

The Blacks had to rely on Mehrtens' trusty right boot and he duly delivered two more penalties, leaving the half-time score at 10-9.

The relentless pressure on the Welsh defence continued in the second period.

The home side were struggling to win possession, but in the scrum they had their inexperienced opposition in all sorts of trouble.

Then in the 58th minute came the All Blacks explosion that had been threatening all game.

Quick ball reached Doug Howlett whose electrifying power and pace blasted him past Jamie Robinson.

Parker was on the losing side against his native New Zealand

He fed inside to Tana Umaga who was hauled down by Sonny Parker, but not before he fed a suspiciously forward pass back to Howlett. The crowd howled, but the score stood.

Wales brought on Iestyn Harris for Jones and the former rugby league man added an extra dimension to the home side's play.

They fired back at the All Blacks and were given hope when the Kiwis kicked the ball from an attacking 79th-minute scrum, resulting in a penalty try.

Wales were just five points behind, but back came the All Blacks. An Umaga kick was gathered by Howlett who flew in for his second.

There were still eight minutes to go, but it was all New Zealand as the tiring Welsh defence finally folded.

Replacement prop Kees Meeuws crossed under the posts, and with the last move of the game man-of-the-match Howlett fed impressive centre Regan King to round off a thrilling attacking movement.

Wales: R Williams (Cardiff); M Jones (Llanelli), J Robinson (Cardiff), S Parker (Pontypridd), G Thomas (Bridgend); S Jones (Llanelli), D Peel (Llanelli); I Thomas (Llanelli), R McBryde (Llanelli), B Evans (Swansea), R Sidoli (Pontypridd), G Llewellyn (Neath), D Jones (Llanelli), M Williams (Cardiff), C Charvis (Swansea, capt).
Replacements: M Davies (Pontypridd), G Jenkins (Pontypridd), M Owen (Pontypridd), R Parks (Pontypridd), R Powell (Cardiff), I Harris (Cardiff), D James (Bridgend).

New Zealand: B Blair; D Howlett, R King, T Umaga, J Lomu; A Mehrtens, S Devine; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, C Hayman, K Robinson, A Williams, T Randell (capt), D Braid, R So'oialo.
Replacements: A Hore, K Meeuws, B Mika, M Holah, D Lee, P Steinmetz, M Robinson.

Ref: Tappe Henning (South Africa)

Att: 72,500