New Zealand 29 - 10 Wales: All Blacks have options after beating Wales

JOHN Afoa, Corey Flynn, Liam Messam and Ma'a Nonu have been recalled to the New Zealand squad for the Tri Nations series with Australia and South Africa.

Messam's inclusion is probably the biggest surprise but his form for the New Zealand Maori during their recent Centenary series has seen him oust Adam Thomson from the loose forward mix. Prop Neemia Tialata has made way for Afoa who the All Blacks coaches believe has a long-term future covering all three front row positions.

Flynn's return, which is subject to him passing medical and fitness tests when the players go into camp later this week, means there is no room for Aled de Malmanche, although the Chiefs hooker will return if Flynn is ruled out. Zac Guildford is the other unlucky player from the June series squad to miss out after coaches Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith opted for two specialist wings in Cory Jane and Joe Rokocoko with Richard Kahui and Rene Ranger – who was only called in as cover for the last Test against Wales but ended up making his debut at Waikato Stadium – seen as other wing options. Nonu has recovered from the knee injury which kept him out of the June series wins over Ireland and Wales and was always going to return if he was fit.

Like Ranger, Sam Whitelock, the Crusaders lock who came in as cover for the June series when Tom Donnelly was under an injury cloud, becomes an official member of the squad for the upcoming Tests against the Wallabies and Springboks.

New Zealand open their Tri-Nations campaign with back-to-back Tests against reigning champions South Africa in Auckland on 10 July and Wellington on 17 July.

Warren Gatland, the New Zealander, who has been in charge of Wales since November 2007, saw an improved effort from his side in the second Test on his old stomping ground after the capitulation the week before in the 42-9 defeat at Carisbrook, Dunedin. But it still was not enough to keep the All Blacks at bay as they ran in tries by Cory Jane and Aaron Cruden, while Dan Carter (17 points) and Piri Weepu (two) contributed the rest of the points with the boot.

Aside from losing captain Ryan Jones to a leg injury in the 25th minute Wales had two players sent to the sin bin and New Zealand one in a scrappy game that lacked the free-flowing rugby of the previous week until late on in the contest.

Lee Byrne was shown a yellow card in the dying stages of the first half for lifting Tom Donnelly in a tackle then Gavin Thomas and All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock were left to cool off with nine minutes of the game remaining after Thomas retaliated to being pulled back by Whitelock.

But it was the ill-discipline at the start of the second half that proved to be the most costly when Carter turned a 13-3 lead at the break into a 22-3 advantage after kicking three successive penalties following a Jonathan Thomas shoulder charge on Brad Thorn, Mike Phillips straying offside and Adam Jones putting his hand in the ruck.

It left Wales chasing the game but they dug deep and were rewarded with a good try to Jamie Roberts in the latter stages of the game – the first time since Martyn Williams in 2006 that Wales had got a try against the All Blacks.

Scorers: New Zealand: Tries: Jane, Cruden. Cons: Carter, Kahui. Pens: Carter 5. Wales: Tries: Roberts. Cons: S Jones. Pens: Halfpenny.

New Zealand: Muliaina; Jane, Kahui, Stanley (Ranger 55) Guildford; Carter (Cruden 71), Cowan (Weepu 48); Woodcock, Mealamu (de Malmanche 71), Tialata, Thorn, Donnelly (Thomson 48), Kaino, McCaw, Read (Whitelock 63). Subs not used: Owen Franks.

Wales: Byrne; Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Roberts, Prydie (Harries 69); Biggar (Stephen Jones ), Phillips (Richie Rees 66); James, Matthew Rees (Bennett 66), Adam Jones, Bradley Davies (Deiniol Jones 56), Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Gavin Thomas, Ryan Jones (McCusker 26). Subs not used: Mitchell.

New Zealand squad for Tri Nations: Backs: Daniel Carter (Crusaders), Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders), Aaron Cruden (Hurricanes), Israel Dagg (Highlanders), Cory Jane (Hurricanes), Richard Kahui (Chiefs), Mils Muliaina (Chiefs), Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes), Rene Ranger (Blues), Joe Rokocoko (Blues), Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), Benson Stanley (Blues), Piri Weepu (Hurricanes). Forwards: John Afoa (Blues), Anthony Boric (Blues), Tom Donnelly (Highlanders), Corey Flynn (Crusaders), Ben Franks (Crusaders), Owen Franks (Crusaders), Jerome Kaino (Blues), Richie McCaw (Capt, Crusaders), Keven Mealamu (Blues), Liam Messam (Chief), Kieran Read (Crusaders), Brad Thorn (Crusaders), Victor Vito (Hurricanes), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), Tony Woodcock (Blues).