Sunday 23 November 2014 23:10, UK
Lock Alun-Wyn Jones believes Wales are not the only team which has struggled to cope with the staying power of New Zealand.
The hosts led the World Cup holders 16-15 after 69 minutes, but New Zealand simply stepped up a gear, scoring three tries and 19 unanswered points to secure a 34-16 win at the Millennium Stadium.
This rally completed a triumphant tour for the All Blacks, who also overcame difficult spells to secure victory in England and Scotland.
Jones took positives from the Wales performance, but was impressed with New Zealand’s ability to come on strong in the closing stages.
"The scoreline showed they can just pull away in the last 20 minutes, as they have done before against other teams," he said.
"I would say they are probably 20 minutes ahead of everybody else.
"I would like to think we can make up those 20 minutes. 'Gats' (Wales head coach Warren Gatland) is pretty intent on ensuring that the guys who are selected will be together for a long period before the World Cup. That will be telling in terms of where we are.
"We have one more (autumn) game, then we can review where we are.
"This was New Zealand's last game of the year, and they have finished where they want to be. I think they will have a lot more question marks after the pressure they've taken in their last few games, and maybe against us to a degree, I don't know.
"For 60 minutes, we can take quite a lot out of the game.
"There is a bit of me that says 'same old,' but then there's a part of me that says 'well, actually, we were well and truly in it, when other times we have been dipping in and out'. We will go back and have a look at it.
"It's a marginal improvement again. We are probably still a bit short, but I think post-Fiji (Wales laboured to a 17-13 win seven days previously) it's a pretty good turnaround as well."
South Africa - unbeaten against Wales since 1999 - are next up on Saturday, with World Cup hosts England then following in a Six Nations opener on February 6.
Jones insisted his side were paying little attention to past results as they prepare for the visit of the Springboks.
"I am always optimistic," he added.
"I'm a big believer in not looking back, but in this instance we have to take heart from the second Test out there in the summer (Wales lost 31-30 to South Africa in Nelspruit), the Australia game at the start of this month, the match against New Zealand and look forward. That is all we can do.
"I don't think there was a secret in the first 60 minutes (against New Zealand). We were accurate and played in the right areas.
"We knew they were going to come out for the second-half and throw everything at us in the first 10 or 20 minutes.
"They did that and got the early score. We stemmed the tide a bit by getting one back, but the waves kept coming. The way their tries came - a couple of kicks, a tap back - these things come off when you have the experience, control of the loose play and the skills that these guys have got."
