Saturday 22 November 2014 12:49, UK
Wales will attempt to end a decades-long hoodoo when they take on world champions New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts last beat the All Blacks 61 years ago – in 1953 – and go into the game on the back of a workmanlike 17-13 win over Fiji last time.
Fly-half Dan Biggar admits Warren Gatland’s side must play at their best if they are to prevail.
He said: “We all have to come up with nine out of 10 or 10 out of 10 performances to get a result. That is the reality.
“We have every confidence in ourselves, but we have to make sure we all turn up and play well as individuals and as a team.
"We're fully aware that what we are facing is a huge test, the biggest test you could ever have in rugby, but it's something we are looking forward to. Why wouldn't we be looking forward to it?”
New Zealand captain Richie McCaw will make history when he leads the world champions out at the Millennium Stadium, with the 33-year-old skippering the All Blacks for the 100th time – the first rugby union player ever to lead his country in 100 Tests.
McCaw, who also faced Wales in his first match as captain a decade ago, said: "I always just remind myself it's a privilege every time you get to play for and captain the All Blacks. I enjoy doing it and to do it for as long as I have I guess I have had a huge sense of enjoyment and learnt a lot doing it.
"To get to a hundred caps as captain is something that I'm obviously quite proud of, but you can't do it without a good bunch of people around you, that's something I always bear in mind."
McCaw, Ben Smith and Charles Piutau are the only players to retain their place in the starting XV, with All Blacks coach Steven Hansen making 12 changes to the side that beat Scotland 24-16 at Murrayfield last weekend.
Dan Carter, who made his first Test start of the year against the Scots, is not included in the match-day squad, nor is Aaron Cruden, who started at 10 in the narrow win over England seven days earlier.
Beauden Barrett will start at fly-half, alongside scrum-half Aaron Smith, who was rested for the Scotland clash.
Ben Smith starts a second successive Test at full-back after a Rugby Championship campaign which saw him play in no fewer than three different positions, while Julian Savea and Piutau will play on the wings.
Sonny Bill Williams, who became a father for the first time on Tuesday, partners Conrad Smith in midfield.
In the pack, McCaw is joined in the back row by Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino, while locks Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick return to the second row.
Hooker Dane Coles, who was sin-binned during New Zealand's victory over England, will be flanked by props Wyatt Crockett and Owen Franks in the front row.
Jonathan Davies has been recalled by Wales, with the centre, who missed his country's first two Autumn internationals with injury, included in the only change to the side narrowly beaten by Australia on November 8.
Scott Williams misses out from that original line-up while namesake Liam - man-of-the-match at full-back in Saturday's victory over Fiji - is relegated to the bench.
Leigh Halfpenny, Wales' regular No 15 who missed the Fiji game after taking a knock to the head against the Wallabies, returns to face the All Blacks, while Biggar has recovered from a groin problem to take his place at fly-half.
Prop Gethin Jenkins misses out with a hamstring injury.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Paul James, 2 Richard Hibbard, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Sam Warburton (capt), 8 Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin , 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Luke Charteris , 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 James Hook, 23 Liam Williams.
New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Charles Piutau, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith; 1 Wyatt Crockett, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Sam Whitelock, 6 Jerome Kaino, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 8 Kieran Read.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Liam Messam, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Ryan Crotty.
