New Zealand have won their last 19 Tests against Wales but the captain, Richie McCaw, is expecting the men in red to provide the greatest threat to his hopes of a grand slam tour. The All Blacks return to the Millennium Stadium, scene of their World Cup exit last year, on Saturday.
The All Blacks have so far beaten Scotland (32-6) and Ireland (22-3) without conceding a try - Munster scored one in the tourists' 18-16 win in Limerick on Tuesday - but McCaw believes Wales will be a step up and New Zealand have chosen their strongest available side.
"Wales will pose the biggest challenge to us physically and, if their front five performs, they have the ability behind to run amok," said McCaw. "We had a classic game against them four years ago when we won by a point, and the likes of Shane Williams and Lee Byrne are dangerous when given space. If you get things wrong against them, you are in for a long day."
McCaw was this week accused by the former Australia coach Bob Dwyer of serial cheating at the breakdown and profiting from the failure of referees to penalise him. But he has been shown a yellow card against Wales before and was penalised a number of times during the World Cup quarter-final defeat by France in Cardiff.
"I am not worried about what people say," said McCaw. "It is a simple area of the game but because things happen so fast and referees have so little time to decide who is doing what, confusion sometimes arises. The bottom line is that the further you get across the advantage line, the simpler it becomes."
Graham Henry is back in the country where he was head coach for four years from 1998. He admitted that he had feared the World Cup would mark his last experience of the Millennium Stadium. "I did not think I would be coming back as the All Blacks' coach immediately after that game," he said. "What has happened since is a long story which has been told a million times and I do not intend to make it a million and one. I have had some positive times in Cardiff and some disappointments."
Henry's sole certain change from the victory over Ireland is enforced: the centre Conrad Smith has a groin injury and is replaced by Richard Kahui. The front row was left undecided, pending the outcome of Tony Woodcock's disciplinary hearing yesterday evening. The prop escaped further punishment for his yellow card against the Irish and is likely to play.
The Welsh Rugby Union yesterday appointed the 44-year-old former England attack coach Joe Lydon as head of rugby development and performance. Wigan's chairman and owner, Ian Lenagan, voiced his regret at losing his performance director. "We are disappointed that Joe is leaving but take it as a compliment that the Welsh Rugby Union have taken note of the innovative performance development work being done in rugby league at Wigan and the quality of our people," he said.
Bristol are looking for investors to stem losses of £1m a year. "We are talking to several groups," said Steve Gorvett, the chief executive. "We are feeling the pinch but we are not alone - industry estimates of the combined losses for this year range between £12m and £20m."
Ireland's Alan Quinlan has been ruled out of Saturday's Test with Argentina after receiving a three-week ban for stamping. The Munster back-row was cited for a stamp on Rodney So'oialo in last Saturday's defeat and is likely to be replaced by Ulster's Stephen Ferris.
New Zealand Muliaina; Rokocoko, Kahui, Nonu, Sivivatu; Carter, Cowan; Woodcock or Tialata or Afoa, Mealamu, Woodcock or Tialata or Afoa, Thorn, Williams, Kaino, McCaw (capt), So'oialo.
Replacements Flynn, tbc, Boric, Read, Weepu, Donald, Toeava.
Update:
Flynn has been ruled out of New Zealand's remaining Test matches against Wales and England following a broken arm suffered during the All Blacks' victory over Munster on Tuesday. He will be replaced on the bench against Wales this weekend by Hikawera Elliott.
