Wales v New Zealand Preview

After a less than convincing win over Fiji last weekend Wales have the daunting task of coming up against The All Blacks this weekend. New Zealand made it two wins from two this November defeating a Scotland side who gave them a real scare with Steve Hansen’s side securing the win in the end. Wales did get back to winning ways following their defeat to Australia, in what a less than impressive performance with Warren Gatland looking for an improvement from his side when they take on New Zealand on Saturday.

Like many other sides Wales record against New Zealand is very poor. These sides have met 29 times with New Zealand winning 26 of them. You have to go all the way back to 1953 the last time Wales beat the All Blacks in a 13-8 win in Cardiff.  A lot has changed since then with New Zealand winning on their last 8 visits to the Millennium Stadium. The most recent game between these sides was in 2012 when The All Blacks defeated the Welsh 33-10 thanks to tries from Liam Messam, Luke Romano and Tony Woodcock.

In team news Wales are able to pick their strongest side available to them in what is near enough to the same XV that played against the Wallabies two weeks ago. The one change from that game sees Jonathan Davies start alongside Roberts in the centre with Liam Williams dropping out of the side with Leigh Halfpenny starting at Full-back after missing the Fiji game through injury. Captain Sam Warburton also returns to the side after missing the win over Fiji and will  hope to inspire his team to a long awaited win over the All Blacks.

As for New Zealand they make 12 changes from the side that defeated Scotland in Murrayfield last Saturday. In the backline, Julien Savea, Conrad Smith and Sonny Bill Williams return to the side with Charles Piutau and Beauden Barrett getting their first start of the November series with Dan Carter once again left out of the matchday squad. As for the forwards we will see the return of Jerome Kaino, Brodie Retallick and Kieran Read in what is an impressive All Blacks XV.

Wales have under performed so far this November and defeating this All Blacks side will be no easy task. As for the All Blacks their record at the Millennium Stadium is quite impressive and will hope to finish their November series by defeating the Welsh.