New Zealand 53-37 Wales
New Zealand survived their first real scare of the World Cup today before beating a gallant Wales side 53-37 to seal top spot in pool D and set up a quarter-final showdown with South Africa.
The All Blacks secured victory with three late tries after Wales had threatened to pull off an extraordinary upset when they edged ahead midway through the second half.
New Zealand showed why they are rated as the best attacking team in the competition as they piled on eight tries, but the Welsh exposed some major problems in defence as they ran in four touchdowns despite fielding a second-string team.
They crossed three times in the first half and once more after the break to lead 37-33 with less than 20 minutes to go before the All Blacks regained their composure.
Wingers Joe Rokocoko and Doug Howlett finished with two tries apiece, and outside centre Leon MacDonald, lock Ali Williams, flyhalf Carlos Spencer and inside centre Aaron Mauger grabbed one each.
MacDonald also landed five conversions and a penalty for a personal tally of 18 points. Centres Mark Taylor and Sonny Parker and flanker Colin Charvis and winger Shane Williams scored tries for Wales, with flyhalf Stephen Jones kicking four conversions and three penalties.
Wales play England in Brisbane next weekend.
The signs looked ominous for Wales from the kick-off when the All Blacks elected to run the ball from inside their own quarter. Swinging the ball quickly from one side of the field to the other, the All Blacks effortlessly worked their way into Welsh territory before Rokocoko strolled over in the second minute.
The ease of the try suggested the All Blacks were about to run the Welsh ragged but the Red Dragons clearly had other ideas, punching holes through the New Zealand defence almost at will.
Jones chipped and regathered to put Taylor over in the 11th minute before the All Blacks briefly took control with three quick tries. Rokocoko grabbed his second when he bamboozled the defence on a 50-metre burst down the left side before MacDonald scored from a quick tap.
New Zealand secured their bonus point inside half an hour when Williams soared above two Welsh defenders to catch a perfectly directed cross-field bomb from Spencer, with MacDonald converting to give his side a 28-10 lead.
But just when it seemed the floodgates were about to open, New Zealand suddenly lost their way as Wales racked up 24 unanswered points. Parker crossed out wide in the 34th after Williams broke through the defence, captain Charvis plunged over from the back of a ruck on the stroke of halftime to send his side to the break trailing 28-24.
Wales started the second half where they finished off in the first, with Jones booting a long-range penalty to cut the margin to one point before Williams put his side in front for the first time when he scored in the left corner after replacement Ceri Sweeney broke through.
New Zealand replied with a quick try by Howlett but another penalty from Jones gave Wales a 37-33 lead, to the disbelief of the full-house at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.
The All Blacks regained the lead 20 minutes from the end when Spencer sliced through a hole after a long build-up of pressure as the Welsh tired.
Howlett scored on the right wing 10 minutes from the end to put the match out of Wales's reach, then Mauger crossed near the posts to give the All Blacks a flattering victory margin.
New Zealand- 15-Mils Muliaina; 14-Doug Howlett, 13-Leon MacDonald, 12-Aaron Mauger, 11-Joe Rokocoko; 10-Carlos Spencer, 9-Justin Marshall; 8-Jerry Collins (18-Rodney So'oialo 33-36, 19-Marty Holah 52), 7-Richard McCaw, 6-Reuben Thorne (captain), 5-Ali Williams, 4-Brad Thorn, 3-Greg Somerville, 2-Keven Mealamu (16-Mark Hammett 70), 1-Dave Hewett (17-Kees Meeuws 50).
Wales- 15-Garan Evans (22-Gareth Thomas 5); 14-Shane Williams, 13-Mark Taylor (21-Ceri Sweeney 25-33), 12-Sonny Parker (21-Ceri Sweeney 35), 11-Tom Shanklin; 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Gareth Cooper (20-Dwayne Peel 76); 8-Alix Popham (19-Dafydd Jones 64), 7-Colin Charvis (captain), 6-Jonathan Thomas, 5-Robert Sidoli, 4-Brent Cockbain (18-Chris Wyatt 60), 3-Adam Jones (17-Gethin Jenkins 33), 2-Robin McBryde (16-Mefin Davies 62), 1-Iestyn Thomas.
Scorers:
New Zealand- Tries: Joe Rokocoko (2), Leon MacDonald, Ali Williams, Doug Howlett (2), Carlos Spencer, Aaron Mauger; Conversions: Leon MacDonald (5), Penalty: MacDonald
Wales- Tries: Mark Taylor, Sonny Parker, Colin Charvis, Shane Williams; Conversions: Stephen Jones (4); Penalties: Stephen Jones (3)