64 years of hurt... canWales find a XV to finally get one over the All Blacks?
WALES’ record against New Zealand is dire with just three victories in 36 attempts and none for 64 years.
Their losing streak against the All Blacks machine will extend to 32 if, as the bookmakers predict is a virtual cert, Warren Gatland’s men are on the end of another drubbing.
They have suffered 10 against the World Cup holders since Gatland was appointed coach ahead of the 2008 Six Nations and they were whitewashed 3-0 on Kiwi soil last year. New Zealand have averaged a 20-point winning margin in their fixtures with Wales during the Gatland era with the narrowest margin being sevens points in a 19-12 score-line in Cardiff in November 9.
Wales had also pushed them the previous year before crumbling lateon to a 29-9 defeat while there was a 37-27 reverse at what is now the Principality Stadium in 2010.
But the gap between the countries had since grown with the All Blacks winning by 23, 18 (twice), 14 and 40 points during their last five meetings.
Gatland’s gang went down 39-21 and 36-22 in New Zealand in 2016 before folding 46-6 at Dunedin in the tour finale.
Interestingly, they only trailed by three points at the interval in the opening rubber in Auckland and were drawing at the same stage in Wellington.
But there were lessons from those encounters and this year’s Lions’ drawn series with the All Blacks which Gatland should take on board as he mulls over his starting line-up to face opponents who were pushed all the way by Scotland during a 22-17 squeak at Murrayfield three days ago.
Here’s ANDY HOWELL’S team to take on and, hopefully, cause the back to back World Cup holders problems... 15 Hallam Amos I had Liam Williams pencilled in but his injury woe prompted a rejig. Williams earned the respect of the Kiwi public from full-back for Wales and the Lions with his courage, daring and determination.
And Amos possesses a similar ability to beat defenders when running the ball back, has vision, skill and is strong on his feet. Wales need some adventure against New Zealand and he certainly fits the bill. 14 Leigh Halfpenny Although he lined up at No.15 against Australia and is perhaps a safer pair of hands than Amos in his positional play and with his tactical kicking, I would pick Halfpenny in the position in which he started out at Test level,
Wales have to score tries to have any hope of producing what would be a stunning upset and Halfpenny is more suited to being a wing finisher than a creator on this occasion. 13 Scott Williams This is the biggest call in my line-up and has been brought on by the dreadful foot injury Jonathan Davies suffered against the Wallabies.
Throwing rookie Owen Watkin into the fold from the off against the most potent attacking team on the planet would, in my opinion, be foolhardy at this stage of his career with Wales requiring the experience of Scarlets star Williams to attempt to shore up midfield. 12 Owen Williams The Gloucester outside-half made a favourable impression during his first Test start, against Australia as a second play-maker and with his appetite for defence.
Wales were taken apart in midfield in New Zealand last year and are expected to be severely tested by Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty on Saturday.
Owen Williams’ speed could come in handy. 11 Steff Evans Evans was the form attacker in Welsh rugby during the second half of last season and so far during this campaign.
He made some mistakes against Australia but produced a determined finish for his try and another start wouldn’t go amiss. 10 Dan Biggar There’s been a clamour from some quarters for Rhys Priestland to start at outside-half after creating a try in the nervous 13-6 win over Georgia last weekend.
But I don’t know what Biggar has done wrong. The ‘Governor’ was arguably the form outside-half for the Lions in New