Scrappy All Blacks down Wales

Hamilton - The All Blacks struggled to a 29-10 win over Wales in the second Test on Saturday to complete their Tri-Nations preparations unbeaten.

They 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 game today was a bit messy. There was a lot of ball turned over at the tackle, dislodged at the tackle," said All Blacks coach Graham Henry, while captain Richie McCaw described the game as "frustrating".

"When we did hold the ball and got down their end it was penalties we were getting so we just kept on taking the three points but it would have been nice to build pressure and score tries," McCaw said.

Wales coach Warren Gatland, however, was happy with the way his side stepped up from the 9-52 hiding they suffered in the first Test last week.

"We made a big improvement. I thought we scrummaged very well for the first 60 minutes but didn't really get anything from the dominance of our scrum. Defensively we probably gave away a couple of soft penalties."

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 the 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.

Teams:

New Zealand:

15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Reid, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock

Substitutes: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Sam Whitelock, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Rene Ranger

Wales:

15 Lee Byrne, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tom Prydie, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Ryan Jones (captain), 7 Gavin Thomas, 6 Jonathan Thomas, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Paul James

Substitutes: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Craig Mitchell, 18 Deiniol Jones, 19 Rob McCusker, 20 Richard Rees, 21 Stephen Jones, 22 Will Harries