NEW ZEALAND 40 WALES 17

The All Blacks acknowledged this was not the game they wanted to be playing in, but made it clear they still wanted to play.

And they wanted to play to finish off on a high. To put some of the disappointment of the previous week behind them and to ensure that those leaving – Kieran Read, Steve Hansen, Ryan Crotty, Ben Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Matt Todd and Mike Cron – were farewelled appropriately.

It was mission accomplished on all fronts. The All Blacks made plenty of changes to their starting team, introduced fresh legs and ran Wales off their feet.

Their attack game which had faltered against England was back somewhere near its best again and it was flowing, creative effort from the All Blacks – led by Ben Smith who was outstanding.