Kieran: We’re ready for All Blacks
KIERAN Hardy says Wales are prepared for the threat of New Zealand as Wayne Pivac’s side attempt to end 69 years of hurt this weekend.
Wales haven’t beaten the All Blacks since 1953, a losing streak that now sits at 32 games. Despite a shaky start to this summer,
New Zealand are still well placed to extend that winning run for at least another year when the two sides meet in Cardiff next week.
The Scarlets scrum-half (inset) says that talk of making history hasn’t been mentioned too much in camp. However, having had a first Test win over the Springboks on South African soil this summer, another piece of history wouldn’t go amiss for Wales.
“It would be great to be a part of that,” said Hardy. “We made a bit of history in the summer, winning in South Africa for the first time.
“Nothing really changes for us. We are here to build week on week, get the performances and the results we are after.”
The challenges posed by the All Blacks will differ to those offered up by South Africa, but Hardy believes Wales are prepared for what Ian Foster’s side will throw at them.
“The way they play the game is completely different. You have to expect anything from them. They’re not afraid to take risks and play a bit more of an expansive game than the Boks maybe did in the summer. We’ll be prepared for that and we’ve got to be switched on at all times.”
Having reached a world ranking nadir with six defeats in eight matches earlier this year, New Zealand appeared to turn something of a corner with three straight victories.
That became four by the time they arrived in Wales as they beat Japan last Saturday.
And Hardy, who has yet to face the All Blacks in his Test career, is expecting the resurgent New Zealand who finished the Rugby Championship, rather than the struggling side that began the campaign.
“I think they looked a bit more like themselves towards the end of the Rugby Championship and the way they wanted to play the game,” said Hardy. “It’s always a test playing against the best team in the world.
“It’ll be a big challenge for us. We’ve had a good week’s prep and hopefully we can do the same next week.”