Sky Live: New Zealand v Wales
Last Updated: 18/06/16 9:07am
Former All Blacks fly-half Nick Evans expects Wales to give it their all against New Zealand on Saturday at Wellington's Westpac Stadium - live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 8am - but says their efforts will prove in vain.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has made just two changes from the team that beat Wales 39-21 in last weekend's opening Test match.
Ben Smith, who played at full-back, moves onto the wing to replace Julian Savea with Israel Dagg coming in at full-back. Lock Sam Whitelock also returns to the side, replacing Luke Romano.
"I am trying to think of another country in the world that would drop Julian Savea," said Evans who won 16 caps for New Zealand.
"It just shows the riches that the All Blacks have to be able to bring back someone like Israel Dagg who has got back to form with the Crusaders.
"Savea has not been in the best form - I think George North certainly exposed him defensively on a couple of occasions and is not at his devastating best like we saw him during the World Cup.
"I don't think Wales can play any better than they did in that first Test. They were outstanding but still not good enough to push New Zealand all the way.
"I think it will be tough - especially after the battering they had by the Chiefs during the week which would have put another dent in their confidence.
"It is going to be a big test for Wales - they will be up for it as they are a proud nation and a proud team, but I still think the All Blacks will have too much for them.
"Wales were competitive for 60 minutes in Auckland but a midweek drumming by the Chiefs would have not have done their preparation or their confidence any good."
It was a rude awakening for Wales' fringe players who had hoped to challenge incumbent players for their places but were found wanting against the heavily-depleted Chiefs.
The Welsh team for the match was heavy with experience, including test captain Sam Warburton, and dominated possession through their strong set-pieces. But the Chiefs, who were without eight current All Blacks and as many as 10 other players who were injured or unavailable, crushed them 40-7.
Despite the victory in the first Test and the Chiefs hammering the visitors, New Zealand will not be lulled into thinking that the second Test is already won.
Hansen believes those setbacks will serve only to inspire Wales, who led their hosts after an hour last weekend before being overrun by three tries in the last 18 minutes.
"They're hurting right now and that makes them dangerous," Hansen said.
"They've worked out that to play us they can't just go from penalties to scrum penalties, kick to the corners and go for lineouts," he said.
"They're going to have to try and play a brand of rugby which they're actually quite good at playing.
"They've got good ball skills, hand-eye coordination's good, and even on Saturday night when they did do it they looked good. So they'll be encouraged by that and will want to come out and have a real crack at us."
Wales' performance in Auckland did not catch the All Blacks by surprise. They promised to be bold in their approach and they were, scoring two brilliant first-half tries after trailing 15-5 to take an unexpected half-time lead, which they held until the All Blacks' superior depth off the bench finally told.
"I thought we played some good rugby for 60 minutes but you have to play for 80," said Wales coach Warren Gatland.
"New Zealand just keep coming at you, they're relentless. We've looked at ourselves and perhaps there were a couple of opportunities just before half-time where potentially we should have scored."
The failure of the midweek team to impress against the Chiefs means that Gatland has made just two changes to his starting line-up for the second Test.
One of those changes was forced by the tour-ending torn hamstring to North. Liam Williams moves to the wing to replace him, giving Rhys Patchell a start at full-back.
Lock Luke Charteris, who led Wales against the Chiefs, is preferred to Bradley Davies who drops to the replacements.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty,11 Waisake Naholo; 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith; 1 Joe Moody, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Owen Franks; 4 Sam Whitelock, 5 Brodie Retallick; 6 Jerome Kaino, 7 Sam Cane, 8 Kieran Read (c).
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Seta Tamanivalu.
Wales: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Luke Charteris, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 6 Ross Moriarty, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 8 Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Scott Williams.
Watch New Zealand v Wales live on Saturday on Sky Sports 1 HD from 8am - or watch without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV.