An experimental and largely second-string Welsh side gave New Zealand a major scare in their final Rugby World Cup pool game at Telstra Stadium.

New Zealand edged out Wales 53-37 in arguably the match of the tournament to date and will now play South Africa in a quarter-final at Telstra Dome on Saturday.

But the All Blacks will have to lift a cog to beat the improving Springboks on the basis of tonight's performance while Wales can take great heart going into their quarter-final against England.

In a spectacular game of open, running rugby, New Zealand only managed to seal the result after a try to winger Doug Howlett in the 69th minute.

Before that, Wales pushed the tournament co-favourite to the wire, leading from early in the second half until the 61st minute.

Wales' 37 points was the second-highest conceded by New Zealand in World Cup history while it was easily the Red Dragons' largest ever tally against the Kiwis.

The opening of the match gave little insight as to what was ahead with winger Joe Rokocoko showing he was no longer troubled from a hamstring strain to score on the fly out wide after just two minutes.

But Wales refused to let things slide and was effective early in the match with the ball in hand, making plenty of metres on the left-hand side of the ruck through blindside flanker Jonathan Thomas.

Replacement fullback Gareth Thomas dropped the ball over the line in the ninth minute following 15 phases of play by the Welsh but the Red Dragons were rewarded for their retention just three minutes later.

A neat midfield chip and regather by Welsh five-eighth Stephen Jones and some quick recycling by Gareth Thomas caught the All Blacks napping, centre Mark Taylor scoring a well-deserved try.

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