All Blacks blitz finish crushes Wales 39-21

AFP: Kieran Read celebrated his elevation to the All Blacks captaincy by leading a come-from-behind victory as his team produced a lethal finish to crush Wales 39-21 in the first Test in Auckland on Saturday.

In a Test which swung from scintillating to scrappy, in the end it was the pace and intensity of the All Blacks in the closing 20 minutes that determined the outcome.

It was an “awesome feeling” said Read who takes over from World Cup winning skipper Richie McCaw.

“The boys showed some belief and showed that connection that we needed. It was a tight spot.”

Read paid credit to the All Blacks bench who come on to pick up the speed of the game when it mattered.

The second Test is in Wellington next Saturday.