IN FOCUS: THE WALES TEAM FACING NEW ZEALAND
THE All Blacks have rolled into town and are again firm favourites to maintain their relentless winning run against Wales, a record stretching all the way back to 1953.
Warren Gatland yesterday unveiled a side showing 12 changes from the team that scraped past Georgia last weekend.
Here’s ROB LLOYD’S verdict on the men tasked with toppling the best side on the planet. LEIGH HALFPENNY The Scarlet was scrapping for his place in the side just a couple of weeks before the autumn began, now he is the man Gatland will trust to marshal a back three containing two relatively-rookie wingers.
Halfpenny was solid without being spectacular against Australia, but his positional nous against New Zealand’s smart kicking game could be crucial, as will his defensive bravery. HALLAM AMOS Endured a torrid experience in New Zealand in 2016 when he offered far too much space to the All Blacks’ outside runners ... and there is only one result when that happens.
Both he and Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards believe he has learnt and developed from that experience and the Dragon has looked sharp in both matches, taking his tries well against Australia and Georgia. SCOTT WILLIAMS Things haven’t quite clicked for the Scarlets centre this season, but he gets the nod ahead of Jamie Roberts as the man to replace Lions star Jonathan Davies.
A nuggety competitor, he will relish the challenge of facing Sonny Bill and Co on his 50th cap. OWEN WILLIAMS The general consensus was that the gamble of playing Williams at 12 as a second-playmaker was a success against Australia.
He will need similar powers of resilience against the All Blacks, who are sure to target his channel. STEFF EVANS Emerged from his first home start for Wales in the positive, despite a couple of costly errors.
With three tries in three Tests, Evans has already displayed the try-scoring prowess that has lit up the PRO14. Will face the biggest defensive test of his burgeoning career. DAN BIGGAR Didn’t get the chance to pit himself against Beauden Barrett for the Lions this summer, so the combative Osprey will be itching to prove a point this weekend.
Has held off the challenge of Rhys Priestland, who made an assured return to the international stage against Georgia. RHYS WEBB When Webb was hauled off after an hour against Georgia you felt he had done enough to win back his No.9 jersey from Gareth Davies.
He showed no signs of the knee injury that has troubled him in recent weeks, scything open the Georgia defence with an early break, kicking intelligently and bringing the Welsh runners into play. ROB EVANS At times against Australia, the Scarlets loose-head looked like he was auditioning for a cameo for the Harlem Globetrotters, such was his array of his handling skills.
However, Evans is no mean scrummager either and will be a ball of energy at the Vale this week. KEN OWENS The Scarlets skipper has put clear distance between himself and his rivals for the No.2 shirt, with Kristian Dacey unable to press his claim against Georgia.
Will be keen to lock horns with what is set to be an inexperienced All Blacks front row. TOMAS FRANCIS The Welsh scrum will be in the spotlight after coming under all sorts of pressure from the powerhouse Georgian eight last weekend.
Francis will have to roll his sleeves up again in the continued absence of the injured Samson Lee. JAKE BALL Both Cory Hill and Adam Beard struggled to impose themselves against Georgia, so second-row selection has been an easy one for Gatland this week.
Ball now has 27 caps to his name and has become a workaholic member of the Welsh pack. ALUN WYN JONES Wales’ best player against the Wallabies; arguably Wales’ best player for the last decade. Gatland will be hoping for another towering display from his second row totem. AARON SHINGLER Gatland considered Dan Lydiate following his man-of-the-match display against Georgia, but that would have been harsh on the Scarlet, who did little wrong against Australia. Shingler be a key line-out target. JOSH NAVIDI Many would have expected British Lion Justin Tipuric to return at openside with the Osprey available after overcoming a thigh issue.
However, Navidi is rewarded for his tenacious performance against Australia by being handed his first tilt at the All Blacks. TAULUPE FALETAU The Faletau-Kieran Read duel was one of the highlights of the Lions series, as it was when Wales toured the land of the long white cloud.
But with Read injured, Faletau will come up against once-capped Luke Whitelock and will look to put a rare off-day against the Wallabies behind him. Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Wyn Jones, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, Justin Tipuric, Gareth Davies, Rhys Priestland, Jamie Roberts.