Wales's record defeat by New Zealand was the seventh time they have lost to the All Blacks in the last eight meetings but it was far from the typical one-sided affairs since 1980.

As Wales reflect on an opportunity lost - they were only five points adrift going into stoppage time - the men in black will go into next year's World Cup group match knowing their opponents still lag some way behind. Even with largely second- and third-choice players, they were superior in every phase except the scrum.

As the Wales prop Ben Evans said: "We thought we were good enough to beat them but it's never enough to hammer nails in the coffin: you have to dance on their grave."

Wales did manage to score more points than ever before against New Zealand but if the scoreline was hard on them, it reflected the essential difference between the sides: New Zealand were always comfortable when in possession while the home side struggled to create openings.

Only when Iestyn Harris came on as a replacement 20 minutes from the end did any doubt enter the minds of the visitors' defence, with Wales's two tries coming from a kick-and-chase and a penalty try given after an unidentified New Zealand forward had wilfully kicked the ball out of a scrum which was ominously approaching his own line.

For the third year in a row a lack of belief cost Wales against a major southern hemisphere side. Two years ago they fell to South Africa in stoppage time and last year they scored the match's only try against Australia only to lose on penalties.

They led 10-3 midway through the first half but the pivotal moment came one minute from the end of normal time when Wales, after a period of pressure initiated by Harris, were awarded a penalty. It brought Wales back to 17-22 but, instead of playing for position from the kick-off, they ran the ball from deep and were turned over for the wing Doug Hewlett, as enterprising as Jonah Lomu was leaden-footed, to claim his second try of the game.

Tiredness was cited as the reason for Wales's collapse in the nine minutes of stoppage time but as the New Zealand centre Regan King, who scored a debut try with the last move of the match, said: "Both sides were exhausted by the end."

Steve Hansen, the Wales coach who has confirmed that he will be returning to New Zealand after his contract expires in May 2004, has blooded a number of young players and his team looked considerably more proficient than at the start of the month against Romania.

His next task is to keep the momentum going for the Six Nations Championship. Wales have not won their championship opener for six years and the advances made by the players each November tend to be diluted when they return to their clubs.

Wales: R Williams (Cardiff); G Thomas (Bridgend), Robinson (Cardiff), Parker (Pontypridd), M Jones (Llanelli; James , Bridgend, 76); S Jones (Llanelli; Harris , Cardiff, 64), Peel (Llanelli); I Thomas (Llanelli; Jenkins , Pontypridd, 64), McBryde (Llanelli), Evans (Swansea), Sidoli (Pontypridd), Llewellyn (Neath; Owen , Pontypridd, 64), D Jones (Llanelli), M Williams (Cardiff), Charvis (capt).

Tries: Robinson, Penalty try. Cons: S Jones, Harris. Pen: S Jones.

New Zealand: Blair (M Robinson, 56; Steinmetz, 80); Howlett, King, Umaga, Lomu; Mehrtens, Devine; Woodcock, Mealamu, Hayman (Meeuws 60), Williams (Mika 80), K Robinson, Randell (capt; Holah 50), Braid, So'oialo.

Tries: Howlett 2, Meeuws, King. Cons: Mehrtens 4. Pens: Mehrtens 5.

Referee: T Henning (South Africa). Att: 74,340.