Expect the All Blacks to build on Saturday's win and stick with a similar side for the second Test against Wales in Wellington.
Waisake Naholo scores his first try. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Look back at match commentary here.
Wales led the match right up until the final quarter of the opening Test at Eden Park, but the All Blacks scored three unanswered tries to blow the score out to 39-21.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said the players needed time to build their combinations.
"We'll look to keep it pretty settled at this stage," Hansen said. "There's no point rehashing what we've just done this week and having another rusty performance."
"We need to put a few together, there might be one or two changes but I wouldn't think there would be too many if any."
Hansen said his team would be working on shoring up their defence and tidying up the breakdown after Wales did a superb job, particularly in the first half, of slowing down and disrupting the All Blacks game plan.
"Defensively I think we can get better, particularly out wide.
"At the break-down we have to get better particularly out wide again. We've got to get our wingers and backs to be more stronger over the ball and contest for ball better than we did."
Lock Sam Whitelock is doubtful for the second Test with the hamstring injury which ruled him out of the Auckland series opener.
Julian Savea scores the All Blacks first try. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
All Blacks flanker Sam Cane said the senior leadership group were impressed with the way the less experienced squad members refused to panic even when Wales were up 18-15 and hammering the hosts tryline just before half-time.
"The most pleasing thing was that everyone was really calm out there even when we were put under a bit of pressure particularly in the back end of that first half.
"Everyone was really calm and we made sure everyone was in connected and messages were getting across, the same at half-time. I thought we went out after half-time with a wee bit more spring in our step," Cane said.
The All Blacks rallied in the final 20 minutes, scoring three tries to run away with victory.
A split second decision from the Highlanders duo, Aaron Smith and Waisake Naholo, is being credited as the game changer.
Smith took the quick tap that led to Naholo's pivotal second half try and the No. 9 agreed it was the turning point of the match.
"Waisake, with a bit of a run up five out, he's pretty hard to stop anytime so just those moments being able to be really precise about what you want to do.
"I think it was pretty influential, we take three points there or we score there I think it's a bit of a dagger so it was really good," Smith said.
Hansen praised Naholo's strength of character after the wing overcame a horror start to play a vital role in the win.
Naholo dropped several passes and highballs and made some basic errors, before fighting back to score two tries, the second of which swung the momentum in the All Black's favour.
Hansen said Naholo's bounce back was outstanding.
"I made the comment to him 'son, you know the pleasing thing is that you came through the other side of that', and that takes a lot of effort, mental effort particularly. We know he's really talented and when you try too hard sometimes you make some mistakes."
Wales coach Warren Gatland conceded his side could not match the All Blacks superior conditioning.
"We were blowing a bit, they just keep coming at you so you're playing against a team that are used to playing at a higher level and they can continue to keep putting you under pressure for longer lengths.
"That relentlessness that the All Black bring in, keep playing for 80 minutes," Gatland said.
Julian Savea, new captain Kieran Read and replacement hooker Nathan Harris also scored tries for the All Blacks with first-five Aaron Cruden kicking four conversions and two penalties.
Number eight Toby Faletau and halfback Rhys Webb scored tries for Wales with No.10 Dan Biggar adding three penalties and a conversion as the visitors had looked like they could end a 63-year losing streak against the All Blacks.
The All Blacks celebrate Kieran Read's try. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The All Blacks bench and finishing quarter, however, proved to be the difference again, just as they had two years ago in Cardiff when Wales led 16-15 with 10 minutes remaining before the All Blacks scored three unanswered tries.
The scoreline could have been even wider, with referee Wayne Barnes denying the All Blacks a sixth try for what he called a forward pass.
It was a dubious call at best and Hansen, Read and assistant coach Ian Foster made it clear they thought the pass was fine.
Barnes also overruled the Television Match Official, who reviewed the footage before deeming the pass legal.
Wales will play the Chiefs in Hamilton on Tuesday before the second test in Wellington on Saturday.
The series concludes with the third test in Dunedin on June 25.
-Reuters/RNZ
