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Cardiff - Dan Carter was made out to be villain and hero of the All Blacks victory over Wales after an unpunished "X-rated" tackle overshadowed a sublime performance that was the cornerstone of the win.
Following up on a 32-19 victory over Australia in Tokyo, the All Blacks travelled to Cardiff and scored a 19-12 win over the Welsh on Saturday, extending to 21 matches their unbeaten streak over the hosts.
Italy, England and France, whom New Zealand now face, will have been looking on in awe at the turnover capabilities of indefatigable captain Richie McCaw at the Millennium Stadium, as well as the assured performance by play-maker Carter, who caused controversy for himself in the final 10 minutes.
Carter felled a Welsh attack with a head-high tackle on Martin Roberts, but went unpunished for what seemed an instantly punishable offence.
"Reffin' Hell!" headlined the News of the World.
Wales coach Warren Gatland "blasted match referee Craig Joubert for bottling the decision to sin-bin All Black villain Dan Carter", it said, describing his tackle on Roberts as "X-rated".
Former Wales captain Eddie Butler, writing in The Observer, dubbed "sublime" Carter's masterminding of the All Blacks win in which he kicked four penalties and converted Andrew Hore's sole try of the game.
"It didn't exactly put the playmaker off his game," he said of the tackle on Roberts. "He had fallen slightly from his average of 18 points against Wales but had moved to within one of Andrew Mehrtens' record total of 967 points for New Zealand.
"Carter played sublimely, but it was perhaps a new experience for him to be jeered," Butler said in reference to the catcalls that reverberated around the stadium every time Carter touched the ball in the final 10 minutes.
"The rest of the day was the same old story, despite an even more clear-cut opportunity after the Carter incident."
Alun Wyn Jones intercepted a loose Jimmy Cowan pass and hared away with the line at his mercy but his attempt to offload was padded down by debutant winger Zac Guildford.
Former Wales and British Lions star Neil Jenkins was effusive in his praise for Carter, who had overcome a calf injury picked up in the Australia game, saying: "We can learn so much from Dan Carter - his understanding and variety of kicking was superb."
"While some of the fly-half's decision-making and execution were as rusty as you would expect from one who has spent so long out injured this year, much of what Carter did was heavenly," added The Sunday Telegraph.
"His ability to create and relieve pressure is still unparalleled, even on one-and-a-half legs."
Wales captain Ryan Jones admitted that his team had handed the All Blacks the chance to score points through unforced errors.
"The All Blacks capitalised on our mistakes and you can't afford to give the All Blacks and Dan Carter an easy ride," he said.
Barry John, the former Wales and Lions outside-half, claimed that there was now never a poor All Blacks team, after Gatland had questioned during the build-up to the game whether New Zealand had lost their "aura of invincibility".
"When those 15 men in black run out onto the pitch you can guarantee they will produce a hard-nosed, clinical performance under pressure where the players won't panic whatever the state of the game," John said.
"The difference between the two teams in the end was New Zealand's ability to deal with the big moments more effectively thanks largely to the master himself, Dan Carter.
"Forget that high tackle on Martin Roberts near the end, Carter was the man who orchestrated proceedings and deservedly won man-of-the-match."
John added: "As well as Carter's sublime kicking, at goal and from hand, his general composure and ability to break the Wales line was key to the New Zealand win."
Following up on a 32-19 victory over Australia in Tokyo, the All Blacks travelled to Cardiff and scored a 19-12 win over the Welsh on Saturday, extending to 21 matches their unbeaten streak over the hosts.
Italy, England and France, whom New Zealand now face, will have been looking on in awe at the turnover capabilities of indefatigable captain Richie McCaw at the Millennium Stadium, as well as the assured performance by play-maker Carter, who caused controversy for himself in the final 10 minutes.
Carter felled a Welsh attack with a head-high tackle on Martin Roberts, but went unpunished for what seemed an instantly punishable offence.
"Reffin' Hell!" headlined the News of the World.
Wales coach Warren Gatland "blasted match referee Craig Joubert for bottling the decision to sin-bin All Black villain Dan Carter", it said, describing his tackle on Roberts as "X-rated".
Former Wales captain Eddie Butler, writing in The Observer, dubbed "sublime" Carter's masterminding of the All Blacks win in which he kicked four penalties and converted Andrew Hore's sole try of the game.
"It didn't exactly put the playmaker off his game," he said of the tackle on Roberts. "He had fallen slightly from his average of 18 points against Wales but had moved to within one of Andrew Mehrtens' record total of 967 points for New Zealand.
"Carter played sublimely, but it was perhaps a new experience for him to be jeered," Butler said in reference to the catcalls that reverberated around the stadium every time Carter touched the ball in the final 10 minutes.
"The rest of the day was the same old story, despite an even more clear-cut opportunity after the Carter incident."
Alun Wyn Jones intercepted a loose Jimmy Cowan pass and hared away with the line at his mercy but his attempt to offload was padded down by debutant winger Zac Guildford.
Former Wales and British Lions star Neil Jenkins was effusive in his praise for Carter, who had overcome a calf injury picked up in the Australia game, saying: "We can learn so much from Dan Carter - his understanding and variety of kicking was superb."
"While some of the fly-half's decision-making and execution were as rusty as you would expect from one who has spent so long out injured this year, much of what Carter did was heavenly," added The Sunday Telegraph.
"His ability to create and relieve pressure is still unparalleled, even on one-and-a-half legs."
Wales captain Ryan Jones admitted that his team had handed the All Blacks the chance to score points through unforced errors.
"The All Blacks capitalised on our mistakes and you can't afford to give the All Blacks and Dan Carter an easy ride," he said.
Barry John, the former Wales and Lions outside-half, claimed that there was now never a poor All Blacks team, after Gatland had questioned during the build-up to the game whether New Zealand had lost their "aura of invincibility".
"When those 15 men in black run out onto the pitch you can guarantee they will produce a hard-nosed, clinical performance under pressure where the players won't panic whatever the state of the game," John said.
"The difference between the two teams in the end was New Zealand's ability to deal with the big moments more effectively thanks largely to the master himself, Dan Carter.
"Forget that high tackle on Martin Roberts near the end, Carter was the man who orchestrated proceedings and deservedly won man-of-the-match."
John added: "As well as Carter's sublime kicking, at goal and from hand, his general composure and ability to break the Wales line was key to the New Zealand win."
