Waisake Naholo’s second try of the match with about 20 minutes remaining helped the All Blacks overhaul a combative Wales side to record a 39-21 victory at Eden Park on Saturday.
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 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 TMO, who reviewed the footage before deeming the pass legal.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen had spoken before the game of starting a new era after the international retirement of six stalwarts following the World Cup, but the rustiness that has blighted the first match of previous seasons returned.
At times they were brilliant, only for a comedy of errors to occur in the same movement as they made numerous handling errors that reduced all the pressure they had built.
It was not until the introduction of the replacements, especially the dynamic Patrick Tuipulotu and Ardie Savea, that they managed to overtake the Welsh and extend the gap. Naholo’s punishing pace was the catalyst for both his tries.
Wales also scored both of their tries from long range, the first to Faletau following some superbly controlled phase play after fullback Ben Smith had dropped a high kick inside his own half.
Wales fullback Liam Williams then produced his second long range burst which ended in halfback Webb’s try. Biggar’s conversion gave them an 18-15 lead to take into the break.
Biggar and Cruden traded penalties in the second half before Naholo and then Read scored in quick succession before Harris scored after the buzzer to blow the scoreline out.
Wales will play the Chiefs in Hamilton on Tuesday before the second test in Wellington next Saturday. The series concludes with the third test in Dunedin on June 25.
Meanwhile England continued their revival under new coach Eddie Jones with a deserved 39-28 victory over an ill-disciplined Wallabies side to claim their first ever win in Brisbane and take a 1-0 lead in the three-test series.
Recovering from an early 10-0 deficit, the Six Nations champions scored tries through centre Jonathan Joseph, wing Marland Yarde and replacement wing Jack Nowell with first-five Owen Farrell contributing 24 points with his boot.
Wallabies flanker Michael Hooper claimed two tries with fullback Israel Folau and Tevita Kuridrani also crossing but Bernard Foley, the hero of the 33-13 victory over England at last year’s World Cup, landed only three of his six kicks on goal.
England have never scored more points against the Wallabies on Australian soil and will take huge confidence into the final two tests in Melbourne and Sydney over the next two weeks.