Opinion was split over the haka standoff but the British press were united in their gushing praise of the All Blacks following their crushing 45-10 win over Wales here yesterday.
New Zealand's decision to perform the haka in the dressing room was commended in some quarters and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) slammed for an obdurate attitude that it be sandwiched between the two national anthems.
However, others believed the All Blacks took their protest too far and should not have hidden away when the haka was a tradition to be appreciated by all.
"Their insistence on putting the haka on such a lofty pedestal is unlikely to win them many friends," Nick Cain wrote in The Sunday Times newspaper.
Former Welsh international Eddie Butler agreed in The Observer.
"The only thing they got wrong was not doing the haka in public before the game, a prickliness over protocol that revealed a certain pomposity. But for the rest of the day they were utterly sublime."
The Independent on Sunday said the WRU had no problem with the All Blacks' action, opining that the WRU's bluff had failed abysmally.
"The WRU got a response all right -- although it was perhaps not the one they were expecting. It was less `Ka Mate' and more `ta-ta mate'," the paper said.
"They (crowd) felt short changed, like a fan who goes to see Tom Jones and he neglects to do "Delilah"."
Not surprisingly, The Wales on Sunday newspaper devoted plenty of space to the test, including the haka controversy.
A front page photo of the All Blacks performing Ka Mate under the grandstand ran under the headline "Haka-ed Off".
Former Wales and British Lions great Barry John wrote a column delivering perhaps the ultimate praise to coach Graham Henry's men.
"New Zealand proved they are an exceptional side and the class of 2006 will probably go down as the greatest of the great teams in the history of world rugby."
Former Welsh No 8 Scott Quinnell said the World Cup loomed as a one-horse race next year.
"You saw the future world champions in Cardiff yesterday ... they are truly a class apart from every other side in the rugby world."
British papers continued to fawn over the All Blacks, as they have done throughout their month in Europe.
The Sunday Telegraph said New Zealand delivered Welsh rugby the ultimate reality check.
"Scary. No other word describes how extraordinarily good this All Blacks side were last night," Steve James wrote.
"This was men against boys, sorcerers against apprentices -- call it what you will -- but it was so one-sided as to be embarrassing for a side with pretensions as lofty as Wales."
The Observer waxed: "Artistry, power, ruthless finishing and allround genius -- the unstoppable All Blacks have it all on an afternoon to remember at Millennium Stadium."
"After the (cricket) Ashes were reduced to ashes in Brisbane, Wales were roasted in their own home by a formidable set of tourists."
NZPA