Jones' dozen not enough for Wales

Even though the Welsh side, drawn exclusively from Magners League teams, held New Zealand 6-6 at the break, a lapse in the third quarter proved fatal as hooker Andrew Hore drove over for the game's only try to send his side on to a 19-12 triumph.

You have to go back to 1953 for the last time Wales beat the All Blacks and this was seen as one of their best chances of breaking that sequence. There were 74,330 fans urging them on under the Millennium Stadium roof, but man of the match Dan Carter tipped the scales.

He directed operations superbly at No 10 for the visitors, kicked four penalties and landed a touchline conversion of Hore's 56th minute try. As well as that, he chopped down Scarlets scrum half Martin Roberts with a crucial tackle that saved a try in the second half.

Wales coach Warren Gatland claimed it should have been a penalty and a yellow card, but the All Blacks got away with smothering the move and not conceding any points.

Ospreys lock Alun Wyn Jones made a 70 metre run late in the game that many thought could lead to a crucial score, but his overhead pass to Cardiff Blues centre Tom Shanklin was batted away by New Zealand debutant Zac Guildford on his 22.

Wales face 2011 Rugby World Cup rivals Samoa at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night in the second game in their four match Invesco Perpetual Series.