To win, Wales will need a performance of the ages
WHEN Steve Hansen picked me to face New Zealand at the 2003 World Cup, he told me in no uncertain terms how it was. This was my shot at redemption after he’d dropped me previously.
Steve could be brutal. He said to me before that All Blacks game that if I didn’t perform, I might never play for Wales again. Talk about telling it as it is, but it fired me right up. I was annoyed I’d been dropped in the past anyway, but Steve put it all on the line for me and my attitude going into that game in Sydney was to be the best wing on the pitch.
Our aim, of course, was to win the match, but on a personal level I wanted to outperform Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko. I’m not sure I achieved that, but I had a good game and scored a try while as a team, we played very well before eventually running out of steam to lose 53-37.
It was some game. As a Welsh team we scored some lovely tries but we also conceded a lot of points and the question I always ask myself when I look back on the times I faced the All Blacks is: did we honestly believe we were going to win?
In the teams I played in we’d always have one or two guys beating the drum in the dressing room before the game saying we were going to end the New Zealand curse. But, in our heart of hearts, did we really think we could cause the ultimate shock? I’m not sure we did if I’m being honest and that’s the thing when it comes to Wales and the All Blacks.
They are, for me, the world’s best side and although they are not immortal, it feels like they are to a Welshman because of the long history of defeats. When you haven’t beaten a side since 1953, it’s no surprise you think they’re untouchable. After all, 68 years is a long time without a win!
I would love for that run to end at Principality Stadium on Saturday, but it will take a performance of the ages from Wales for it to happen. It is going to be a huge, huge ask.
The odds are stacked against Wales with injuries and unavailability and, frankly, that makes it a pretty daunting task. That’s why I think Wayne should take a leaf out of Steve’s 2003 playbook. I’m not saying he should be as blunt with his young players as Steve was with me back then, but I think he needs to ram home the message to those selected that they have a priceless opportunity to stake a claim ahead of the next World Cup. There will be players taking to the field against New Zealand who, if we are being brutally honest, wouldn’t be in Wales’ first-choice XV if everyone was available. Players like Johnny McNicholl and Owen Lane would fall into that category. This is a chance they must take. If you perform against New Zealand, it shows you can do it against the best and that gives you priceless confidence.
I hope Wayne is clear in that message this week. He must instill a sense of belief in his players. The 68year hoodoo is a heavy burden for the Welsh squad, but if you carry any seed of doubt in your mind when you face the All Blacks, there is only going to be one result.
Facing the All Blacks is as much a mental challenge as a rugby one. It is about the top two inches. It is a more than daunting start for Wales, especially when you consider the team normally starts autumn campaigns slowly and the amount of players unavailable. Wayne’s strength in depth is really going to be tested.
New Zealand don’t have any such worries. They have an uncanny knack of bringing through players on a regular basis.
If someone is out injured, the next man behind in the queue is often just as good – sometimes, they’re even better. They are a force to be reckoned with and I think their game has started to click now under Ian Foster after a slow start. What sets the team apart from the rest in my view is how they adapt to rugby changes quicker than any other side. South Africa are world champions and top of the rankings currently, but for me New Zealand have always been and will always be the best of the best.
No one expects Wales to win and I don’t think they will, but what I want to see from the side is what we produced back in 2003 – strong individual performances as part of an impressive collective display. It might not be enough to win, but it would stop Wales getting hammered.
The number of players unavailable for this game doesn’t bode well at all and if it goes really badly, New Zealand could put 40 or 50 points on Wales. When you look at the side Wayne could pick, the fact you are scratching around for players tells its own story. I make it more than 15 players out – that’s a whole side!
We have got used to Wales playing matches outside World Rugby’s Test window and the New Zealand match falls into that category. It means English-based players Dan Biggar, Taulupe Faletau, Louis ReesZammit, Callum Sheedy and Nick Tompkins are all unavailable. When you add in injuries to George North, Liam Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi, James Botham, Leon Brown and Josh Macleod, it gets even worse.
It means the side for New Zealand pretty much picks itself. Johnny has to start at full-back with Owen and Josh Adams on the wings, and I would play Jonathan Davies and Uilisi Halaholo at centre. Jon has to start because of the experience he brings and he’s looked more like his old self this season with the Scarlets. I like Halaholo. He is explosive and has great footwork, pace and power. He’ll also be motivated to play the country where he was born and grew up. The same goes for Gareth Anscombe who I’d start at 10 alongside Tomos Williams at scrum-half.
I’ve consistently said Gareth needs to be given time and not rushed, but the brutal truth is I don’t think there is anyone else. I’d expect Rhys Priestland to be on the bench and come on in the second half.
Wales have a strong front row of Wyn Jones, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis available and I’d pair Will Rowlands with captain Alun Wyn Jones at lock. I’ve liked what Rowlands has brought to the Dragons this season, he is a big physical lump who will know Adam Beard is ready in reserve. It’s a big campaign for Rowlands and Beard. They need to be putting pressure on Alun Wyn because at the moment, I feel he has to play in every game for Wales if they are to do well.
In the back row, I’d opt for Ross Moriarty at No.8 with Aaron Wainwright at blindside. At openside, I’m surprised Jac Morgan wasn’t in the squad. Either Ellis Jenkins or Taine Basham will have to play against New Zealand, but Ellis is nursing a rib injury and we don’t know if he will make the match. It would be a big ask for Taine to take on the might of New Zealand, but that’s where Wales are right now.
“When you haven’t beaten a side since 1953 it’s no surprise you think they’re untouchable”
“The number of players unavailable doesn’t bode well - more than 15 out, that’s a whole side”