A much-depleted Wales side will have it all to do when they host the All Blacks at the Principality Stadium on Saturday. Shaun Goosen previews.
To Win Match
Wales 1/10 | Draw 35/1 | New Zealand 1/33
Handicap
Wales (+25.5) 9/10 | NZ (-25.5) 9/10
The reigning Six Nations champions, currently ranked a lowly ninth, will be without a plethora of first-choice players due to a combination of injuries and club commitments. Because this week’s matches ludicrously fall outside World Rugby’s official Test window, the likes of British & Irish Lions Dan Biggar, Taulupe Faletau and Louis Rees-Zammit are unavailable.
More experienced Lions in Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi, George North, Dan Lydiate and Leigh Halfpenny are all out through injury. Liam Williams is still recovering from an appendix removal.
Skipper Alun Wyn Jones has typically offered no excuses for his side ahead of Saturday, but the fact remains that ending their current 31-Test losing run against the Kiwis seems like a pretty tall order right about now.
On the plus side, former New Zealand U20 player Gareth Anscombe will play his first international for his adopted country since August 2019. He starts at flyhalf ahead of Rhys Priestland.
Wales have beaten the ABs just three times in 35 matches, the last of which came way back in 1953.
Meanwhile, Ian Foster’s men come off the back of a 104-14 mauling of the United States in Washington and will be eager to begin the European leg of their year-end tour on a high. They’ll feel confident they have enough experience and of northern hemisphere conditions to extend their winning run over the Dragons to 32 matches.
The great Beauden Barrett will earn his 100th Test cap if he cracks the nod for this one. Beaudy will become the 11th New Zealander to achieve the feat.
Verdict: Wales (+25.5) 9/10
This is a pretty big handicap and I reckon Wales should be just about good enough for Wales to remain within 26-point mark.
