It is so long since Wales defeated New Zealand that none of the coaches involved in today's international was alive when it happened, let alone any of the players.
Wales v New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium, Saturday, 2.30 (BBC1)
Wales are looking to scratch a seven-time itch, having last beaten the All Blacks in 1953. Ever since New Zealand gatecrashed the WRU's centenary in 1980 with a 23-3 win, the Welsh game has been one of echoes rather than cheers.
Today appears to hold Wales' best chance of beating New Zealand, World Cup opponents next year, since Andy Haden's lineout deceit in 1978 allowed Brian McKechnie to kick a last-minute penalty for a one-point win.
The All Blacks' side today is so raw in the forwards that their coach, John Mitchell, appears to be looking more at the 2007 World Cup. Mitchell picked 12 uncapped players for the tour and has stuck to his word of giving all 26 in the squad a run by naming five new caps in the starting line-up.
"We always intended to play everyone on tour," Mitchell said of his decision to give debuts to centre Regan King, loose forwards Rodney So'oialo and Daniel Braid, and front row forwards Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock.
"This series of matches is giving immense experience to the individuals involved in the side," he said. "To be playing in such massive venues as Twickenham, the Stade de France and the Millennium Stadium with a lot of pressure on their backs is hugely beneficial to the development of these players' careers."
By leaving 21 players at home to recover from surgery or long-term injuries, Mitchell has now developed a squad of about 50 players who are competing for berths in the World Cup team in 11 months in Australia.
"If you had viewed the National Provincial Championship you would realise why these players had been selected," he said. "We don't like defeat but we are prepared to take risks and . . . the only way we are going to find out about these players is by putting them into the heat of the battle."
Despite the history, Mitchell is not taking the Welshmen lightly. "No All Blacks team takes any opposition lightly. If anyone thinks that, we would find it insulting," Mitchell said. "Wales are a very big challenge, they are at home and they are a proud rugby nation."
He has been consistent in saying performances mattered more on this tour than results, and a narrow defeat by England and a draw in Paris could be claimed as moral victories, but there will be a clamour from Whangerei to Invercargill if Wales prevail.
The last time the Wales coach Steve Hansen and the All Blacks' coaching co-ordinator Robbie Deans were at the Millennium Stadium together was two years ago with a New Zealand A side which easily defeated their Welsh counterparts.
Deans believes the Hansen factor will make it harder for New Zealand, especially as their uncapped players will be known to him, but Wales too are in transition with Scott Quinnell the latest to quit international rugby.
"People back home expect us to win this match," said New Zealand's captain Taine Randell, "and that creates its own pressure."
Welsh captain Colin Charvis, who has led his side to 58-14 and 32-21 victories over Fiji and Canada respectively in recent weeks, also said his side were not taking the inexperienced All Blacks lightly.
"Obviously from watching New Zealand play England ... they're an extremely strong squad," said Charvis. "We know we've got a lot of work to do to try and improve the performance to try and compete with the All Blacks."
Neither side is proficient in set-pieces but the All Blacks look more dangerous behind, though the treacherous surface could be more trouble than Wales' defence.
The tourists are wary of the referee Tappe Henning, who ran the line last week when two All Blacks were sin-binned for retaliation.
Guardian Service
REPLACEMENTS
WALES: M Davies (Pontypridd), G Jenkins (Pontypridd), M Owen (Pontypridd), R Parks (Pontypridd), R Powell (Cardiff), I Harris (Cardiff), D James (Bridgend).
NEW ZEALAND: A Hore (Taranaki), K Meeuws (Auckland), B Mika (Auckland), M Holah (Waikato), D Lee (Otago), P Steinmetz (Wellington), M Robinson (Canterbury).
Referee: T Henning (South Africa).
