A rugby scribe at one of the major Welsh newspapers thinks Gatland will come out ahead on Saturday. This is what the journo said. (For the sake of brevity, this is an edited version.)
“I’d say New Zealand have fallen from the previous height of jaw-droppingly awesome and have ended up as plain old formidable. There may not be such a thing as a poor New Zealand side but no-one would argue that this is one of their finest.
“However, the question remains: are Wales good enough to record a memorable victory?
“Injuries to key players have eroded some of that belief. Gatland has always placed a large emphasis on a solid scrum from which to launch his ball-carriers and Paul James’ ability to provide that platform will be tested.
“I think he’ll fare well enough despite the attention he’ll attract from Graham Henry’s side.
“But if things do go a bit “Vickery”, then Wales must learn the lessons of the Lions this summer and make changes quickly. It’s clear Gatland still likes Andy Powell. Powell has speed, quick feet and an ability to offload which distinguishes him from most back-row men and makes him capable of breaching defences.
“However, he’s no stranger to the occasional howler and is rarely a presence at the tackle area. It’s normally the No 8 who is afforded these freedoms and so it will require a share of responsibilities between Powell and Ryan Jones to ensure Martyn Williams is not left isolated.
“Wales’ style hasn’t changed for two years and it needs to be refreshed somewhat. I’m sure Jamie Roberts will be used creatively and Shane Williams will be given licence to roam the pitch. I’m very comfortable with James Hook at full-back. He’s a fine runner with a powerful boot.
“Wales want to keep the ball in hand and have a high tempo game with lots of recycling so they can create the important mismatches.
“With a little luck from the referee and the bounce of the ball, I think Wales can win. ”
So is he right or is he wrong?
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