International Rugby preview: Welsh fire is unlikely to match All Black magic
A less-than-confident Welsh team will be up against it, as they aim to stop an All Black Grand Slam at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday 27 November.
New Zealand have made six changes to their match-day squad. Rugby League convert Sonny Bill Williams returns to the All Blacks midfield, after his impressive showing against England and Scotland. Ma’a Nonu drops to the bench to accommodate Williams who will
play alongside Conrad Smith in the midfield.
Scrum-half Jimmy Cowan returns to the team at the expense of Andy Ellis, while Isaia Toeava replaces Cory Jane on the wing.
Brad Thorn returns to the second-row and the physical lock will cause Wales serious problems up front after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Hooker Keven Mealamu will start his first match after returning from a suspension for head-butting England captain Lewis Moody in their 26-16 Test victory over the English at Twickenham.
New Zealand’s Daniel Braid is called into the replacements and the player will receive his 50th cap if he comes on as a substitute.
Influential out-half Dan Carter is expected to become the world’s leading Test scorer. Carter is only two points shy of England out-half Jonny Wilkinson who is the current record holder.
Wales faces a daunting test ahead of the match with the All Blacks. The Welsh side has made sweeping changes to their team, after their disappointing 16-16 draw with Fiji.
Teenage winger George North and the British and Irish Lions full-back Lee Byrne and prop Adam Jones keep their places in the team.
Ryan Jones is also a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up, after coach Warren Gatland publicly criticised the forward and stripped him of the Welsh captaincy, following the Fiji result.
Matthew Rees will return to captain the team and the experienced half-back pairing of Mike Philips and Stephen Jones replaces the ineffective Richie Rees and Dan Biggar.
Flanker Sam Warburton, prop Gethin Jenkins and influential locks Alun Wyn Jones and Bradley Davies return to bolster the forward pack. The talented James Hook returns to the midfield to partner Tom Shanklin.
Gatland’s most surprising decision is to recall wing Tom James. The player has not played for Wales since walking out on the team after he was not selected to face Italy in the Six Nations. However, the Welsh coach appears to have given the player a second
chance ahead of this Test.
New Zealand will be huge favourites to record a Grand Slam over the home nations with a win over Wales.
Wales has failed to win a Test match in the Autumn Internationals. They came close against Australia, losing 25-16, and failed to finish off South Africa, after the Springboks produced a stunning come back, 29-25.
However, the draw with Fiji was a serious blow to Wales and they will be keen to produce a good performance in their final Test.
Wales will target the scrum, but the All Blacks have shown how formidable they are. They comprehensibly beat Ireland 38-18 after Ireland played their best rugby of the Autumn International Series.
New Zealand are so far ahead of the opposition in every facet of the game, that Wales will have little hope of overcoming the All Black challenge.
Wales will hope to produce their best performance of the season, but it is still unlikely to be good enough.
Prediction: Wales 15 New Zealand 36
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