WALES rattled the All Blacks but sadly the wait goes on after the world champions showed their class in the final quarter to earn another Cardiff victory.

Warren Gatland’s team had a nation dreaming of a stunning victory when they got their noses in front 16-15 with 13 minutes left.

Alas, New Zealand powered home at the Millennium Stadium to expose a Wales team that had emptied their tanks.

The hosts were heroic in defence with captain Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate, Richard Hibbard, Alun Wyn Jones and Jamie Roberts putting in tremendous shifts in a bruising encounter.

But the All Blacks’ quality told in the end for a five tries to one victory that leaves Gatland’s charges with one shot for autumn glory against South Africa next Saturday.

Wales have not beaten New Zealand since 1953 but Warburton had written in the Telegraph that it would only take one brilliant performance – like the one that stunned England in the 2013 Six Nations decider – to write themselves into the history books.

He said: “We are not looking to 'hold our own’ or 'just compete’. I hate phrases like that. They are so defeatist.”

They produced a performance to be proud of to give the All Blacks a scare yet it was another case of close but no cigar, with Wales hindered by a faltering set piece and an inability to live with their formidable visitors for the full 80 minutes.

Wales made an aggressive start and got their noses in front in the seventh minute when full-back Leigh Halfpenny punished a breakdown offence by legendary openside Richie McCaw, captaining his country for the 100th time, slap bang in front of the sticks.

The hosts, with lock Alun Wyn Jones to the fore, was harassing the world champions and getting in the face of fly-half Beauden Barrett.

The number 10 had a chance to level in the 20th minute but sliced his kick at goal with the big screens promptly showing a shot of water boy Dan Carter.

The Welsh scrum was creaking and gave Barrett another chance from just under 50 metres and this time he made no mistake.

Wales were forcing the tourists into an unusual amount of errors and from one spilt ball inspirational captain Warburton went on a rapid 30-metre dash into the All Blacks’ 22 but just as they were ramping up the pressure the attack was ended by a forward pass from Halfpenny to wing Alex Cuthbert.

The New Zealanders looked to step things up approaching half-time but the defence stood firm with hooker Richard Hibbard and blindside Dan Lydiate putting in some shuddering tackles.

The visitors pummelled away at the line with the final play of the half but Wales held firm to trot to their changing room to raucous applause as the home crowd started to believe.

It was sensational half of rugby but New Zealand crossed the whitewash within three minutes of the restart thanks to a typically powerful finish by wing Julian Savea.

He smashed off Dan Biggar to score his 30th Test try in 33 appearances when the ball was worked left after New Zealand had turned over Halfpenny in his own half.

But Wales impressively came straight back with scrum-half Rhys Webb diving over after Taulupe Faletau showed nimble footwork before providing a perfect offload.

Halfpenny converted and then bisected the posts in the 53rd minute to earn a 13-10 lead.

The stadium was rocking and the All Blacks were (slightly) rattled, racking up the errors as the game entered the final quarter.

The fear was that Wales would tire in the face of the Kiwi onslaught – and they were back behind when flanker Jerome Kaino went over with quarter of an hour remaining.

The hosts scrambled brilliantly to deny McCaw down the right but Barrett's cross kick found Conrad Smith, who put the flanker over.

Crucially Barrett was wide with the conversion and Wales were back in front with 13 minutes left when McCaw was pinged at the breakdown, Halfpenny punishing the skipper.

But the lead didn’t last long and it was the home full-back who was cursing his luck after Barrett was left with no option but the chip over the defence when pinned in down the right. He weighted his kick perfectly and was the beneficiary of the bounce to dive under the sticks. 22-16.

And the prospect of a tense finale was gone with eight minutes left when Mike Phillips’ clearance kick was charged down by Kieran Read, who gleefully gathered to cross down the right.

Colin Slade plunged the dagger in by converting from the right and the tourists ruthlessly crossed for number five when Ben Smith slapped a cross-kick back for Barrett to go over and give the scoreboard a cruel look.

Wales: L Halfpenny, A Cuthbert, J Davies, J Roberts, G North (L Williams 65), D Biggar (J Hook 73), R Webb (M Phillips 56), P James (N Smith 73-76), R Hibbard (S Baldwin 61), S Lee (R Jones 73), J Ball (L Charteris 61), A W Jones, D Lydiate (J Tipuric 61), S Warburton (captain), T Faletau.

Scorers: try – R Webb; conversion – L Halfpenny; penalties – L Halfpenny (3)

New Zealand: B Smith, C Piutau (C Slade 55), C Smith, S Williams (R Crotty 70), J Savea, B Barrett, A Smith (T Perenara 72), W Crockett (J Moody 40), D Coles (K Mealamu 64), O Franks (C Faumuina 46), B Retallick, S Whitelock (P Tuipulotu 64), J Kaino (L Messam 64), R McCaw (captain), K Read.

Scorers: tries – J Savea, J Kaino, B Barrett (2), K Read; conversions – B Barrett, C Slade (2); penalty – B Barrett

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Star man: Julian Savea