Set piece dominance laid the foundation for the All Blacks 29-9 win over Wales at Millienium Stadium in Cardiff.
Second five-eighths Ma'a Nonu and flanker Jerome Kaino scored the only tries of the game, after 54 minutes and in injury time respectively, where the Welsh had the halftime lead of 9-6. And the last minute Kaino try was a cruel blow to the final scoreline for the game Welsh effort.
The scrum was especially effective, yielding nothing to the Welsh who were several times penalised for infringements.
While the lineout was untroubled in securing its own ball through locks Ali Williams and Brad Thorn, who also had another strong game driving the ball in midfield bursts.
Aggressive defence added to the set-piece dominance to round out a satisfying victory for the All Blacks.
There was little free-flowing play synonomous with the last two Tests on the tour but it was much more of a contest as the Six Nations champion battled all the way to try and stay in touch in front of a crowd of 74,000.
But in the slug fest that resulted the superior skills of the All Blacks proved the basis of absorbing what pressure Wales could mount.
The stage was set for the game when there was a stand off after the All Blacks completed the haka. Neither side gave ground for nearly a minute before referee Jonathan Kaplan ordered the teams to start.
Wales first five-eighths Stephen Jones opened the scoring after two minutes when second five-eighths Ma'a Nonu was penalised for a high tackle on Welsh fullback Lee Byrne.
Jones added two more in the 12th and 21st minutes to which All Blacks first five-eighths Dan Carter replied in the 15th minute. However, it was a shot that hit the post and rebounded into play by Carter that saw Wales mount one of its best attacks of the half.
Jones scythed through close to the line but the ball was lost and the All Blacks recovered.
One of the few attacking opportunities for the All Blacks occurred when wing Sitiveni Sivivatu countered from within the New Zealand half. He cut through and linked with No.8 Rodney So'oialo and in the resulting play Nonu and flanker Jerome Kaino made good ground.
The All Blacks threw back all the Welsh attacking thrusts and responded with their own just before halftime when a penalty was conceded by the home team and Carter kicked his second penalty goal to round out the half.
Carter opened the scoring in the second half with a penalty goal after one minute.
The All Blacks then attacked and Sivivatu and Nonu took play up to the goalline and centre Tom Shanklin ran the ball back into the Welsh in-goal. The All Blacks attempted several drives at the line and it appeared Kaino had scored when driving through a ruck.
But after long study by the TMO, a five-metre scrum was awarded to the All Blacks at which halfback Jimmy Cowan was penalised for an incorrect feed to the scrum.
A fine burst of continuity play from the All Blacks took its toll on the Welsh and with two Welsh players injured and out of the game, the All Blacks ran the ball through wings Joe Rokocoko and Sivivatu before it was moved across the face of the Welsh posts.
Out in mid-field hooker Keven Mealamu was well placed