Wales' bid for a rare victory over New Zealand disappeared after the All Blacks delivered an imposing second-half display to win 19-12 at the Millennium Stadium.

Fly-half Dan Carter, who overcame a calf muscle injury to play, booted 14 points while hooker Andrew Hore scored a 56th-minute try.

Wales relied on four penalties from Carter's opposite number Stephen Jones, yet New Zealand still have not lost in the fixture since 1953.

Wing Leigh Halfpenny sent a seventh-minute penalty narrowly wide from 45 metres but that was the cue for New Zealand to stir. Carter put them in front with his first penalty chance, while Jones then booted an equalising penalty as a breathless opening quarter drew to its close with Wales still hell-bent on spinning the ball wide at every opportunity.

Wales had a fortunate escape after 22 minutes when Halfpenny was snared trying to run out of defence, and the New Zealand forwards rumbled him back over his own line. Scrum-half Brendon Leonard looked to have touched down, but referee Craig Joubert ruled a knock-on after consultation with English television match official Graham Hughes.

Joubert awarded New Zealand a penalty, though, that Carter landed; yet Wales were soon back on the offensive as Jamie Roberts smashed through a first wave of All Blacks tacklers. Yet Wales could not find a final telling blow in attack, and a growing number of penalties began going New Zealand's way.

With Carter, who took his personal points tally against Wales to 106, mixing his kicking game expertly, New Zealand looked as though they were over the worst - while also beginning to boss the critical breakdown area through irrepressible captain Richie McCaw.

But Jones slotted his second penalty six minutes before the break, ending the scoring after a pulsating half.

From a Welsh perspective, though, the second period was a non-event as a third Carter penalty and try by Hore left Wales reeling.

Much of the snap disappeared from Wales' game, and New Zealand did not require a second invitation to take charge. Despite some occasional attacking glimpses from Wales in the dying minutes, the All Blacks had done enough - setting themselves up for an all-conquering march through Europe with Italy, England and France now on their November agenda.