OPINION: The All Blacks got the job done against Warren Gatland's Wales with a 33-18 victory in Cardiff on Saturday night (Sunday morning NZ time).
Here's how the All Blacks rated in their final match of 2017.
Damian McKenzie 7: Lively as ever at fullback, including neat defensive work, and has grown stronger with every game in black since that initial omission from the Lions series squad.
Waisake Naholo 8: Two outstanding first-half finishes that he made look so easy and was a constant menace when running at the Welsh defence.
Ryan Crotty N/R: Left the field early in the 19th minute for a head injury assessment and sadly didn't return. It's been an injury-hit international year for the Crusaders centre.
Sonny Bill Williams 6: Not vintage Sonny Bill, but few second-fives carry as strongly as Williams who continued eating metres. Made the odd loose pass and was caught out defensively for first Welsh try.
Rieko Ioane 9: It's now hard to imagine an All Blacks team without him. His electric running game carved Wales open in initial break for Naholo's first try and then set up Lienert-Brown's score so well. Punished awful Dan Biggar pass to score an intercept try and then galloped clear with tremendous pace to claim a double in the final minutes.
Beauden Barrett 5: Was guilty of defensive lapse for Wales' first try, his kicking game was poor, and he dropped a few cherries under Welsh pressure. Not a great night at first-five. Shifted to fullback in the final 10 minutes.
Aaron Smith 8: Brilliantly calm work for Naholo's first try after Ioane's break and superbly crisp distribution all night was epitomised by excellent fired pass out wide to Naholo for his second score.
Luke Whitelock 6: Had big shoes to fill with captain Kieran Read battered and bruised on the sidelines, but didn't look out of place in just his second test.
Sam Cane 9: Was like a bull stomping around the turf in Cardiff, smashing anything that moved in Welsh red. Made try-saving tackle on Taulupe Faletau in the first half and one crucial bone-crunching hit that dislodged the ball when Wales were chasing a second-half lead with the All Blacks defending their own line. Finished with 21 tackles.
Liam Squire 7: Really beginning to make that No 6 jersey his own since replacing Jerome Kaino. Moved to No 8 when Luke Whitelock went off and made his presence felt with 14 tackles.
Sam Whitelock 6: Captain's innings in first test as skipper. Was on par with Cane for tackles made (16) until 68th minute yellow card when Wales were applying intense pressure.
Patrick Tuipulotu 5: Finishing a tumultuous year with a test start will be pleasing, but will be disappointed to have come off early in the second half after a quiet night when he was preferred to Scott Barrett.
Nepo Laulala 6: Went off at half-time after taking a knock but scrum again held up against determined Welsh front row. Has not let the All Blacks down since becoming the starting tighthead prop following Owen Franks' injury.
Codie Taylor 7: All Blacks didn't lose a lineout or scrum all match and Taylor again proved a more than capable deputy for Dane Coles.
Kane Hames 6: What a year for this man. Still conceding a few too many penalties for the All Blacks coaches' liking, but has stood up since regular loosehead Joe Moody was ruled out for the year.
Reserves
Nathan Harris N/R: (71st minute for Taylor)
Wyatt Crockett N/R: (60th minute for Hames)
Anton Lienert-Brown had an excellent game off the bench.
Stu Forster
Anton Lienert-Brown had an excellent game off the bench.
Ofa Tu'ungafasi 6: (41st minute for Laulala) Like for like when Laulala went off and went about his work well.
Scott Barrett 6: (46th minute for Tuipulotu) Bit nervy when entering the fray with loose pass near the All Blacks' line, but battled hard whenever Wales were forcing the issue.
Matt Todd 7: (46th minute for L Whitelock) Made stunning try-saving tackle on Faletau when All Blacks were defending so desperately. Can be pleased with how this tour has gone as he's now ahead of Ardie Savea in that bench role.
