Wales 25 New Zealand 37: Unlucky Wales are sunk as the All Blacks step up another gear

Although the tourists prevailed –late tries by wing Isaia Toeava and substitute prop John Afoa proved brutally harsh on Wales – it was far from an expected All Blacks cakewalk.

It is 57 years and 24 Tests since Wales toppled the 2011 World Cup favourites – days when players like Cliff Morgan, Bleddyn Williams and Ken Jones reigned supreme.

But there were times at the Millennium Stadium, packed to its 74,500 capacity after being almost a third empty for three successive autumn internationals, that one of rugby's rarest sights materialised – a rattled New Zealand team on the ropes.

Wales trailed just 13-12 early in the second half, All Blacks forward Daniel Braid had been sin-binned and it was time to go for the jugular against a side noticeably subdued following their previous November exploits against England, Scotland and Ireland.

Davies and company were on top up front, and the scene was set – then Wales full-back Lee Byrne failed to find touch with a penalty, New Zealand counter-attacked and Hosea Gear claimed a killer second try.

It was, as Wales coach Warren Gatland put it afterwards, a "massive" moment in the game.

Byrne was not the only culprit, though, as New Zealand's opening two touchdowns from Gear and outstanding full-back Mils Muliaina were direct products of collective missed tackles by George North, Tom Shanklin, Gethin Jenkins, Dan Lydiate and Ryan Jones.

The damaging combined effect contributed towards Wales now having gone seven Tests without a win heading into their Six Nations opener against England in Cardiff on February 4.

"It was the odd mistake again – a mad five minutes," said second-row Davies. "With 20 minutes to go, we really believed we could win.

"At 13-12 down and then 23-18 behind, I thought we were in with a big shout of the game. The fact they scored a try when they were down to 14 men just shows how good they are.

"No-one gave us a chance in this game but after 60 minutes we were right in it. We pushed by far the best team in the world a long way. With South Africa, they are more physical and try to run over you; Australia have got pace; but against New Zealand you just can't switch off for one second.

"One bad kick, they score, one missed tackle, they score. You have got to play the best game you can play to beat them.

"You think you have got them one minute, then all of a sudden someone scores in the corner. But we are getting closer, you know.

"We've played against the top three in world rugby this autumn, and pushed them all close. International rugby is all about fine margins, and at the moment we are not quite there, but we are a positive bunch of players and we want to work hard."