New Zealand 29 - 10 Wales: All Blacks see off determined Welsh effort

DANIEL Carter slotted 17 points with his boot as the All Blacks overcame Wales at Waikato Stadium yesterday.

Carter slotted five penalties and a conversion of Cory Jane's first-half try, while replacement fly-half Aaron Cruden scored his maiden Test try in the final minute before Piri Weepu's conversion completed the scoring.

Wales winger Leigh Halfpenny had scored an early long-range penalty before centre Jamie Roberts grabbed a consolation try, converted by Stephen Jones, in the final three minutes.

Halfpenny and Carter traded early penalties and while the All Blacks counter-attacked from deep and created pressure, they were unable to score until winger Jane crossed for a try after a brutal build-up by the forwards eventually created gaps out wide. Carter converted and added his second penalty on half time, after Wales fullback Lee Byrne was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on lock Tom Donnelly, to give the All Blacks a 13-3 lead. The All Blacks dominated the second half and with Wales attempting to slow the tempo of the game, Carter's three penalties were their only reward as their handling let them down.

Roberts crossed for a consolation try before Cruden responded with his try on the full-time whistle.

Wales coach Warren Gatland praised the character of his players after the hard-fought loss

. "The pleasing thing about the performance is that the All Blacks tend to get stronger from game to game, particularly at the start of their campaigns, and these guys could have thought about getting on the plane tomorrow and going on holiday for six weeks and they didn't do that," Gatland said.

"That is what I was really proud of. They showed some character out there and they wore that jersey with some real pride and as coaches that's what you're looking for."

South Africa blew the cobwebs away in their final match before the Tri Nations with a seven-try rout of Italy in second Test at East London. Morne Steyn set the platform for the 55-11 victory with the game's opening 20 points, including two tries. Steyn's burst, plus a try from Pierre Spies, fired the hosts' into a 27-6 half-time lead, with Mirco Bergamasco adding a pair of penalties for Italy.

In the second half, Jannie du Plessis, Bryan Habana, Flip van der Merwe and BJ Botha scored tries and Steyn finished with a match haul of 26 points after a perfect seven-from-seven kicks. Winger Michele Sepe scored Italy's only try in the 66th minute.