The All Blacks take on Wales for the third Test of their European tour, starting at 4.15am AEDT this morning. Join us on The Roar for live scores and comments as the game is played from Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
Generations ago, the Welsh famously defeated the mighty All Blacks. The year was 1953, the scene was their National Stadium, and the score was 13-8.
Victory against the Kiwis has eluded the Red Dragons in the 60 years since.
This is not a shameful statistic – throughout this period the All Blacks have only been defeated by five teams: the Wallabies (31), Springboks (25), France (12), British and Irish Lions (5) and England (5).
The historical average score between these two nations is 30-10 overall and 34-20 at Millennium Stadium, both results heavily in favour of the New Zealanders.
For the Welsh however the statistic that must be sitting like a hangover on a weekday is their most recent: zero wins from their last five matches, including losses to Argentina and Samoa.
Adding to the pain, prior to this run of poor form the Welsh had enjoyed domination of the northern hemisphere, with a clean sweep of Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy and France.
It’s evident the Welsh struggle against rugby union’s ‘new world’. Historically they enjoy a 57 percent win record against northern hemisphere teams, while against southern hemisphere nations, including minnows such as Fiji and Samoa, they endure a miserly 27 percent success rate.
A curious stat, given their expansive game play resembles the southern hemisphere’s way of doing things.
On to Sunday and the Welsh will be looking to achieve what no team in the world has been able to do this year: defeat the All Blacks steamroller.
Welsh coach Warren Gatland was moved to comment this week. “This New Zealand team is one of the best rugby sides to have ever played the game, and probably the best All Blacks team ever, so it will be a privilege to be able to test ourselves against them,” Gatland said.
“Memories of the Rugby World Cup last year and touring New Zealand the previous summer are still fresh in the mind of many of the players and staff.
“The hospitality shown and the way we were looked after made the experience especially memorable, and that makes it all the more special that we have the opportunity to face the best side in the world at the moment in Cardiff.”
This is a rare gushing from Gatland, who is normally keen to play down the mythical beast that is the All Blacks.
Changes to his team include a start for centre Jonathan Davies, second rower Luke Charteris, hooker Matthew Rees and flyhalf Rhys Priestland.
Most notably, flanker and captain Sam Warbutron gets a start, and will be looking to put recent poor form behind him for this massive game.
Local reports have it the man wouldn’t be starting if it weren’t for sentiment; such is his lack of influence of late. Yet he’s a big game player and this is a big game.
From the visitor’s camp, Steve Hansen has wheeled in his big guns, with Dan Carter and Richie McCaw both starting.
Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith get the romance back in the midfield and Cory Jane replaces Hosea Gear, who had a fairly average game last week against Italy.
Julian Savea gets another guernsey, and notably Israel Dagg is back, after taking a week off due to a bruising injury against Scotland. He was missed against Italy, with fill-in fullback Beauden Barrett doing enough without being spectacular.
The chat from the Welsh coaching staff has been generous, New Zealand coach Steve Hansen was equally sentimental:
“We have always known this game will be a fiercely contested match,” Hansen said.
“The Welsh team in the last 12 months have been Grand Slam winners and 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-finalists and we have known since the World Cup that this would be the game that they would be targeting in this Autumn Series, so any recent performances or results won’t have any bearing on this match.”
Whichever way you spin it, the All Blacks’ coaching staff will be expecting a massive display from their men after the staccato affair against Italy last week. The cannons are loaded and ready.
If the Welsh pull off an upset for the ages, expect the pubs to run dry.
RebelRanger
Guest
One of those big backs got run over by Luke Romano (if I remember correctly) right on the try line..
Richard Anderson
Guest
No doubt that the ABs are playing at a level that we in the NH cant match( nor the SH) . They took the foot off after half time, prob tired after a long season and had the game won, but they play bad by their standards and STILL WIN. They do this often, god help England if they turn on all the switches. We should learn to play at their level and quit moaning over periphial(?) issues.
Adam Kake
Guest
The drop of wasn't caused by Weepu alone, it was all the changes across the team at same time that lost fluency and having a man in the bin as well, plus Wales figured it had nothing to lose and gave all or nothing. Harsh call on Weepu since Smith was average at best last week against Italy.
Adam Kake
Guest
Lets not forget the All Black Captain Richie McCaw had been head butted, stomped on, kneed in the face, sucker punched twice in the face of which one of those was when he was defenseless sitting on the ground and all in this year alone. Hold on this is rugby not tiddly winks
Tigranes
Guest
Hopefully that is Hore's last game in the Black jersey - that was a gutless act...I guess you cant expect too much from a bloke who shoots seals...
Jerry
Guest
Not really helping himself. While there are things Hansen's side have experienced that might make him feel a bit hard done by (eg Andy Powell and Dylan Hartley's lack of punishment vs Dan Carter's suspension) there are also incidents that they'd benefited from (eg Mealamu's light sentence for a headbutt). Some cognitive dissonance there, I think.
Colin N
Guest
This is apparently a quote said from Steve Hansen today: "I'm resigned to the fact he's probably going to get cited, it happens every time we come up here" Quite extraordinary. At least show a bit of contrition.
Jerry
Guest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=DE7FvrKac10#t= 1 minute in - Phil Waugh with a blindside forearm pretty much like Hore's. And, like Davies, McCaw isn't in a position where he's expecting to get hit and, like Hore, Waugh has no legal reason to be putting a hit on McCaw at all.
Jerry
Guest
See below - people don't have to actually be cheating for the "Well, he shouldn't have been cheating...." line to be pulled out.
Jerry
Guest
The Retallick tackle is a bit of an odd man out there - he barely took him past 90, it looked worse than it was cause of the way Bekker rolled after he landed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1g2r35-aOI
nudge
Guest
Didn't knock him out but left him spinning - and there was inetent for sure with this. What Hore did was inexplicable but EVERY team has an element of filth to it so in reality we should all get down off our soap boxes. The AB's are a common NH media target as they generally never lose. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT2LnhR6mhY&list=FLnvu_x712_vwD9X1LQhrZmA&index=8&feature=plpp_video
Dublin Dave
Guest
I've never seen a concussive hit like that on McCaw, although I will readily admit I don't see too many SH games. I have seen McCaw being kneed by Jamie Heaslip when he got on the wrong side of a ruck in an Ireland New Zealand match. Heaslip got a red card. Justifiably.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
That and when Davies tip tacked Donncha Ryan in the 6N, but then NZ have this incident, Thomson on Strokosch, Retallick's tip tackle on Bekker (?) and Mealamu butting Moody. That's up there with the Boks in terms of cynical play.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Andy Powell on McCaw last year.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Jerry, the NH UK doesn't really cover SH games, so incidents like Greyling on McCaw largely go unnoticed.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I was wondering if there's past history between the pair. Hore's not really the thuggish type, so it's either that or perhaps it was a deliberate ploy. Davies is a big carrier for Wales down the middle of the park, and with no lock reserve on the bench Ryan Jones moving up to lock was always going to be an issue with Wales fielding Jarvis at 3. Whatever the reason it would be an unfortunate end for Hore if it's his last action in a black jersey.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Hmmm... The BBC commentary team is a bit of a joke. Jonathan Davies is literally so off the pace, and so is Guscott. Pair of booze hounds who don't watch rugby anymore but get paid to talk about it. Not sure Wales have any recent history of foul play.
Dean
Guest
That hit reminds me of the one Tim Gavin put on Sean Fitzpatrick many years ago!
Justin2
Guest
Fox don't have rights though do they, Setanta do and they are a separate company on selling to fox
Justin2
Guest
He wasn't offside though - he was retreating and not interfering with the play at all.