Steve Hansen’s men led the not-so-mighty All Blacks for 16 second-half minutes but could not survive the intense pressure that followed and ended up beaten despite scoring more than twice as many points as they have ever previously managed against their opponents.

The result pitches Wales into a last-eight showdown with England in Brisbane next Sunday, while New Zealand, whose porous defence was exposed time and again by the gallant men in red, stagger back to Melbourne where they will face South Africa.

It was suggested that Hansen had virtually admitted defeat with his team selection, retaining just five of the starting line-up which scrambled past Italy to earn a quarter-final berth last weekend.

When Joe Rokocoko burst down the left touchline on the All Blacks’ first attack, then sprinted over for his opening try with just 90 seconds on the clock, a massacre looked certain, especially as full-back Garan Evans was stretchered off shortly afterwards with a what appeared to be a severe neck injury.

What followed was startling and will have alerted the attention of all the All Blacks’ rivals for the Webb Ellis Trophy.

Instead of ripping through the Welsh defences at will, the All Blacks found badly exposed as holes appeared right across their rearguard.

Stephen Jones collected his own chip kick, fed Evans’ replacement Gareth Thomas, who in turn sent veteran centre Mark Taylor speeding over the line.

The setback spurred the All Blacks into action and Rokocoko raced 50 metres for his second before Leon MacDonald crossed and then Ali Williams rose above namesake Shane to collect Carlos Spencer’s steepling crossfield kick and fall over the line.

In between the carnage, there had been another worrying moment for New Zealand as Wales just failed to finish off a clean Jonathan Thomas break after Jones had again turned their defence around.

So it was no real surprise when Shane Williams danced into space just after the half-hour, found Tom Shanklin on his shoulder and then Sonny Parker who slid over.

It proved to be Parker’s last involvement as his injured arm exploded in pain but the agony was only just beginning for the All Blacks, who failed to protect their line at a ruck and allowed Colin Charvis to dive straight over the top and across the line.

Wales’ four-point interval deficit was reduced by Jones’ second penalty four minutes after the re-start, then, to stunned disbelief from an 80,000 capacity crowd, Shane Williams flew over after Spencer had failed to intercept a looping Gareth Thomas pass.

Doug Howlett replied with a long-awaited All Blacks try but MacDonald missed the conversion and Jones slotted over a penalty to put Wales four points clear.

They hung on for seven long minutes, twice preventing opponents from grounding the ball over the line, before Spencer finally slit their defences to put the favourites back in front again.

It signalled the end of Wales’ resistance as Howlett and Aaron Mauger took advantage of their tiring defence in the final 10 minutes but it is what went on in the previous 70 that has raised serious question marks over New Zealand’s World Cup bid.