Friday 21 November 2014 15:30, UK
Robin McBryde says Wales will be inspired by the presence of Owen Williams when they face world champions New Zealand on Saturday.
Williams suffered what was described as a ‘significant spinal cord injury’ playing for Cardiff Blues at the World 10s tournament in Singapore five months ago.
The 23-year-old, who won four caps for Wales last year, is being treated in Cardiff's Rockwood Hospital and shows continued signs of progress.
Having Owen here watching the game will be inspiring. It's good to see Owen... and hopefully we can give him something to cheer about on Saturday.
He is set to be among a capacity 74,500 crowd for the All Blacks' visit, and Wales forwards coach McBryde said: "It's quite inspiring when you talk to Owen, how positive he is.
"He hopes for the best, he keeps on working with the physios, and that in itself is quite inspiring. When you meet Owen, he doesn't hold a grudge against anybody.
"He is making small gains. He is working hard with the physios, and everyone hopes he is going to make a full recovery.
"Having him here watching the game on Saturday, that will be inspiring. It's good to see Owen and the support he has had, and hopefully we can give him something to cheer about tomorrow."
Wales have lost 25 consecutive Tests against the All Blacks and have not beaten them since 1953.
The bookmakers make New Zealand overwhelming favourites to continue that run in their final game on European soil before next season’s World Cup.
"There are going to be some critical moments in the game, and we have to make sure that we come out on top during those critical moments," McBryde added.
"There will be no quarter asked, no quarter given. We are going to have to be at our best, and we know if we can do that we are not going to be too far away.
"I don't think there is any secret. It is about hard work and not making any mistakes, taking all the opportunities when they come along.
"In the past when we have come up against New Zealand, sometimes we have been awestruck.
"We have been on this stage quite a bit now, there has been good consistency within the squad and the players have been around a fair bit and come through quite a bit together.
"At some stage, we are going to come out on top. I would like to think that we will be sooner, rather than later. You just have to keep on hammering away."
