Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Sunday November 23, 4.15am (AEDT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa). Touch judges: Dave Pearson (England) , Cobus Wessels (South Africa). Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa). Assessor: Paul Bridgman (England).
TV coverage: FoxSports 3 from 4.09am
New Zealand play Six Nations champions Wales here on Saturday seeking a 20th consecutive victory over the home side and conscious that a win would edge them closer to a grand slam over all the four Home Nations on the one tour.
The All Blacks have already beaten Scotland 32-6 and Ireland 22-3, and finish their European tour with a game against England at Twickenham on November 29.
But coach Graham Henry, once in charge of Wales, expects the Welsh to provide a "tough contest" at a Millennium Stadium venue where New Zealand have not played since their shock World Cup quarter-final loss against France just over 12 months ago.
"I am expecting the kitchen sink from Wales," Henry said. "They are a proven side, Six Nations champions this year. Wales have got good players across the pitch.
"They play with wonderful attitude. Their forwards are good ball players and they also defend pretty well. They are a pretty complete package really."
Henry dismissed talk of a grand slam, preferring to focus on the "one game at a time" approach, and has made just one change to the side that beat Scotland, the injured Conrad Smith dropping out of the match-day 22 for Richard Kahui.
Wales have this month lost 20-15 to South Africa and laboured to a 34-13 win over Canada.
Worringly, they have not beaten the All Blacks since a 13-8 victory in Cardiff in 1953.
Wales coach Warren Gatland, himself a Kiwi, has retained the same starting side as the one beaten by world champions South Africa.
Gatland still hopes to have the gifted James Hook among his replacements after the outside-half sustained a knee injury during the unconvincing win over minnows Canada.
However, Hook was named in an 'either or' pairing on the bench alongside Ospreys team-mate Dan Biggar.
Wales captain Ryan Jones again features at blindside flanker, with the Blues' Andy Powell staying in the captain's usual No 8 berth.
Gloucester scrum-half Gareth Cooper has kept Dwayne Peel on the bench while teenage wing Leigh Halfpenny has been selected ahead of experienced Scarlets flyer Mark Jones.
"The All Blacks are the team to beat in the world game. They are the yardstick by which every nation measures themselves - and we are no different - but we are relishing the opportunity presented to us," Gatland said.
Blues centre Jamie Roberts compared taking on the All Blacks as a boxer competing against Muhammad Ali in his prime, but also struck a confident note in his own side's ability.
"Probably for a lot of players when they play the All Blacks it's like when people were fighting Muhammad Ali," said Roberts.
"They'd lost the fight before that'd even fought. But it's a game of rugby at the end of the day. It's 15 on 15 on a patch of grass. It's whoever performs on the day and we believe we have a team to do that."
One player wearing black who will not be changing his style of play is New Zealand captain and arch-poacher Richie McCaw despite claims he spends too much time trying to influence officials.
Bob Dwyer, Australia's 1991 World Cup-winning coach, has accused McCaw of effectively refereeing Test matches he played in and insisted there is one law for New Zealand's openside flanker and one for every other player.
But McCaw said: "I don't even worry about it any more. I go into games believing I am doing what is the right thing. You do what you are allowed to.
"The breakdown is really simple when you look at the laws. But because it happens all at once, the referee is only able to look at one guy - he can't see everything."
He added: "Wales have always had the ability. They can counter-attack pretty well, if you give them space, and score tries. I think they have shown that."
Wales: Lee Byrne; Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Gareth Cooper; Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones (capt); Ian Evans, Alun-Wyn Jones; Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins. Res: Richard Hibbard, John Yapp, Luke Charteris, Dafyyd Jones, Dwayne Peel, James Hook/Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Joe Rokocoko, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino; Ali Williams, Brad Thorn; Neemia Tialata/John Afoa; Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Res: Hikawera Elliot, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Kieran Read, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava.
Past five encounters:
Wales 10 New Zealand 45, Cardiff, 2006
Wales 3 New Zealand 41, Cardiff, 2005
Wales 25 New Zealand 26, Cardiff, 2004
New Zealand 53 Wales 37, Sydney, 2003
New Zealand 55 Wales 3, Hamilton, 2003
AFP
