VENUE & TIME: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Sunday November 8, 06:15 NZT.
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 24 - New Zealand 21, Wales 3.
LAST TIME: November 22, 2008 (Cardiff) - New Zealand 29-9 Wales.
WALKING WOUNDED: Wales has been hard hit by injuries. Fullback Lee Byrne is out with a foot injury, halfback Mike Phillips is crocked while props Adam Jones and John Yapp are others who are out. Mark Jones is out with a knee injury while Dwayne Peel is unavailable from Sale due to the game being outside the window. Main concern with the All Blacks has centred on Dan Carter's calf haematoma but he has been cleared to play.
FORM: With the benefit of recent match play in the Tri Nations and in last weekend's Bledisloe Cup match it would have to be said that New Zealand at least has the benefit of form in the toughest environment. Wales' players have had tough Celtic League and Heineken Cup play but the game is their first outing of the international season which creates its own pressure.
WHO'S HOT: Clearly Richie McCaw has been outstanding again in the breakdown phase of the game and his sidekick in arms first five-eighths Dan Carter was deadly with his goal-kicking boot in Tokyo and able to perform consistently with his tactical kicking. Second five-eighths Ma'a Nonu continues to be a powerhouse in midfield while the three-quarters combination of Cory Jane and Conrad Smith can be dynamic and both players are in good touch. Hooker Andrew Hore doesn't often get plaudits but he is a manful performer at the breakdown. Wales will be looking to skipper Ryan Jones to try to over-shadow Kieran Read at No.8 while the Welsh rearguard of wings Shane Williams and Leigh Halfpenny, centre Tom Shanklin and fullback James Hook is capable of testing the All Blacks' defences. Flanker Marty Williams is another consistent performer in the loose.
WE THINK: The injury toll experienced by Wales has detracted from its strength and this will be a significant hurdle for the side to overcome. Talk earlier in the week that the All Blacks had lost their aura will have only served as useful fodder for the side in its preparation. Wales will play with spirit, and its newcomers will make the most of their chances but the feeling is that with all their recent match play the All Blacks won't be providing Wales with an end to 56 years of misery this year.
TEAMS:
Wales 1 – Gethin Jenkins, 2 – Matthew Rees, 3 – Paul James, 4 – Alun Wyn Jones, 5 – Luke Charteris, 6 – Andy Powell, 7 – Martyn Williams, 8 – Ryan Jones (captain), 9 – Gareth Cooper, 10 – Stephen Jones, 11 – Shane Williams, 12 – Jamie Roberts, 13 – Tom Shanklin, 14 – Leigh Halfpenny, 15 – James Hook.
Reserves: 16 – Huw Bennett, 17 – Duncan Jones, 18 – Bradley Davies, 19 – Dafydd Jones, 20 – Martin Roberts, 21 – Jonathan Davies, 22 – Tom James.
New Zealand 1 – Wyatt Crockett, 2 – Andrew Hore, 3 – Neemia Tialata, 4 – Brad Thorn, 5 – Jason Eaton, 6 – Jerome Kaino, 7 – Richie McCaw (captain), 8 – Kieran Read, 9 – Brendon Leonard, 10 – Dan Carter, 11 – Zac Guildford, 12 – Ma'a Nonu, 13 – Conrad Smith, 14 – Cory Jane, 15 - Mils Muliaina.
Replacements: 16 - Corey Flynn, 17 - Owen Franks, 18 - Tom Donnelly, 19 - Adam Thomson, 20 - Jimmy Cowan, 21 - Stephen Donald, 22 - Ben Smith.
REFEREE: Craig Joubert