Fear factor has gone says Gats
WARREN GATLAND insists the inferiority complex which has held Wales back against New Zealand for so long has evaporated on the back of the Lions tour.
Wales may have waited 64 years for a win over the All Blacks but the fact that a sprinkling of the side which will face them tomorrow in Cardiff experienced that emotion in Wellington as recently as four months ago has changed the equation, according to Gatland.
After flying home as equals following the series in the summer, the Wales coach senses a different mood among his Lions in the build-up to this game – and one that has spread across his team.
“In the past, and rightly so with the All Blacks having been the best team in the world consistently, you almost have that fear factor about playing them,” said Gatland.
“The fact that some of these players have played them on a regular basis, there is not that trepidation. There is that familiarity. You just feel a bit more comfortable.
“The guys have prepared really well. They seem calm and not so nervous and uptight as they may have been in the past. That’s the experienced players like Alun Wyn or Ken Owens or Taulupe Faletau just having had that experience of playing against the All Blacks. The players realise what a big game it is and they are really looking forward to it.”
Wales are without three of the Lions who featured in Wellington in captain Sam Warburton, Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams but name a side which includes Alun Wyn Jones and Faletau, who started the second Test, as well as Rhys Webb and Ken Owens, who were on the bench. Gatland makes 12 changes from the experimental team NEW ZEALAND will be without captain Kieran Read for the first time in 12 Tests when they take on Wales tomorrow after the All Blacks skipper was ruled out by a back injury.
Read, who has 109 caps, had been struggling with a hip problem all week but in attempting to prove his fitness yesterday in Cardiff, suffered the back problem.
“Reado is in his bed. He’s not very mobile at the moment,” said coach Steve Hansen. “If he’s not available it’s a big opportunity for everyone else to step up to the plate and do the job.”
Luke Whitelock deputises at No 8 with brother Sam taking over that beat Georgia last weekend for the visit of the world champions. The pack which faced Australia a fortnight ago is back en bloc and Webb and Dan Biggar are reunited at half-back. To combat Sonny Bill Williams, there is also a pair of Williams in the Wales midfield where the Scarlet, Scott, will win his 50th cap.
The presence of Gloucester’s Owen alongside shows Wales’ keenness to persist with the twin playmaker approach. They saw how close Scotland pushed the All Blacks last week – eventually going down 22-17 – by playing with ambition and have similar thoughts in mind. Gatland said: “Scotland put them under pressure. They were bold in the way they played and seemed to play with a free spirit. We thought 10 and 12 went pretty well against Australia and some of the attacking options were good. We are excited about those guys playing in the centre against a huge All Blacks backline.
“We used to be criticised for having one of the biggest backlines in the world; now we have one of the smallest. It’s just about picking the best players at your disposal.”
Hallam Amos and Steff Evans, who have scored three tries between them in Wales’ first two Tests in the Under as skipper. Their grandfather was in the All Blacks side beaten by Wales in 1953.
“He’s a huge loss but Luke is a quality player who has played well all year and there are leaders within the group so not a lot changes,” said stand-off Beauden Barrett. “We are all aware of the occasion and how awesome it is to play at the stadium down the road.”
There are two other changes from the side which beat Scotland 22-17 with Patrick Tuipulotu replacing Luke Romano in the second row and Liam Squire coming into the back row. But wing Rieko Ioane, who was expected to Armour Series, are on the wings, although Amos is out of position on the right.
The All Blacks are much changed from the summer but have huge depth. “They are still the best in the world. They could put out a fifth or sixthstrength team and still beat most teams,” said Gatland.
“They are missing seven or eight regular starters from 12 months ago but it is an opportunity to develop depth and we’re going through the same process.”
The guys seem calm and not so nervous
WALES:
miss out with a shoulder injury, has recovered sufficiently to play.
New Zealand, who left Brodie Retallick and Ben Smith at home, are also deprived of Israel Dagg, Jodie Barrett, Nehe MilnerSkudder and Owen Franks.
Hansen and Read met up with Wales coach Warren Gatland on Wednesday at the Principality Stadium at a testimonial event for Alun Wyn Jones. “It wasn’t a big knees-up but we’ll have a beer after the game. That’s part of rugby,” said Hansen.
Replacements: