MATCH DETAILS: All Blacks v Wales, Saturday 30 October, 5.15pm BST, (Sunday 5.15am NZT), Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales.
Played: 35
Won: All Blacks 32, Wales 3
Last time: All Blacks 40, Wales 17 (1 November 2019)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
BEAUDIE’S 100th Test
It will be a day to remember for Beauden Barrett as he becomes the All Blacks’ 11th centurion. Barrett has notched many milestones since his debut against Ireland in 2012, including a Rugby World Cup crown in 2015 and two World Rugby Player of the Year awards (2016 and 2017). As well as playing his 100th Test, Beauden Barrett could surpass 700 Test points on Saturday. He is currently sitting on 693 points (37 tries, 164 conversions, 58 penalties and two dropped goals) and is third on the All Blacks’ all-time scoring list, behind Dan Carter and Andrew Mehrtens. All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said: “It’s a very special time for Beauden and his family and it’s also a special time for this team and its legacy. He’s a big part of this team, he’s a key leader, he’s captained the All Blacks, he’s vice captain on this tour and he’s an influencer on and off the park. I can’t speak more highly about his contribution as a person to the black jersey.”
SOLD OUT PRINCIPALITY STADIUM
The sold-out sign has gone up at Principality Stadium (formerly Cardiff Arms Park) for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began. A capacity crowd of 74,500 will be on hand to witness the 36th clash between the two historic rivals, and the first in Cardiff since the All Blacks 33-18 win in 2017. Lock Brodie Retallick said the team was excited to play on one of rugby’s grandest stages. "To play here is special enough, but with what is going on in the world, for them to be able to open up and have a full crowd is going to be cool. I know a lot of the boys haven't played here before, or it's been a while, so we're pretty excited to get in there.”
EXPERIENCED TIGHT FIVE
There is no shortage of experience in the All Blacks tight five with props Joe Moody and Nepo Laulala and hooker Codie Taylor back in the starting line-up together after last running out in the second Test against South Africa earlier this month. In the second row, the old firm of Samuel Whitelock and Brodie Retallick are back, bringing with them a combined 217 Test caps. Wales are not short on experience in their tight five either with skipper and lock Alun Wyn Jones playing his 150th Test (141 for Wales, 9 for the British and Irish Lions).
WORD FROM THE WELSH CAMP
Wales coach Wayne Pivac said his side had come together strongly during the past two week and were ready for the challenge of facing the All Blacks. “The guys are really excited but they know it’s a big task at hand. The reality is we’re two years away from a Rugby World Cup and we’re building towards that. We’ve got a Six Nations around the corner to defend, and try to win that tournament again,” Pivac said. “They know it’s a massive challenge ahead. Every young Welsh player when they’re growing up want to play at the Principality in front of 75,000, and if you ask them who they want to play against New Zealand would be one of the top couple of sides they’d choose.”
TEAMS
Wales
1. Wyn Jones 2. Ryan Elias 3. Tomas Francis 4. Adam Beard 5. Alun Wyn Jones – captain 6. Ross Moriaty 7. Taine Basham 8. Aaron Wainwright 9. Tomos Williams 10. Gareth Anscombe 11. Josh Adams 12. Johnny Williams 13. Jonathan Davies 14. Owen Lane 15. Johnny McNicholl
Reserves: 16. Kirby Myhill 17. Rhys Carre 18. Dillon Lewis 19. Will Rowlands 20. Seb Davies 21. Gareth Davies 22. Rhys Priestland 23. Ben Thomas
All Blacks (caps in brackets)
1. Joe Moody (54) 2. Codie Taylor (64) 3. Nepo Laulala (37) 4. Brodie Retallick (89) 5. Samuel Whitelock (128) – captain 6. Ethan Blackadder (7) 7. Dalton Papalii (10) 8. Ardie Savea (56) 9. TJ Perenara (76) 10. Beauden Barrett (99) 11. Rieko Ioane (44) 12. David Havili (11) 13. Anton Lienert-Brown (54) 14. Will Jordan (10) 15. Jordie Barrett (32)
Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (7) 17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (23) 18. Tyrel Lomax (11) 19. Tupou Vaa’i (8) 20. Akira Ioane (10) 21. Brad Weber (14) 22. Richie Mo’unga (28) 23. Sevu Reece (14)