The Wales coach Steve Hansen regards media conferences as an occupational hazard but he was in an unusually relaxed mood yesterday when he named the side to face his New Zealand compatriots in Cardiff tomorrow.
Hansen even joked about his perceived grumpiness, and the light-hearted tone was echoed by the Wales captain Colin Charvis, who will be winning his 50th cap.
Wales have not defeated the All Blacks for 49 years but, rather than dwell on that, Hansen said his players had to realise they were standing on history's threshold.
"They have an opportunity," he said. "The players have to believe in themselves and they have made huge strides since the start of this month. New Zealand may have some unfamiliar names but there is no such thing as a weak All Blacks team."
Hansen has made one change from the side who defeated Canada last week with Robert Sidoli replacing Vernon Cooper in the second row. Dafydd Jones retains his position in the back row after last week's decision by the No8 Scott Quinnell to retire from international rugby.
The only survivor from the last Wales team to face the All Blacks, at Wembley five years ago, is the wing Gareth Thomas, who will again be marking Jonah Lomu. The second-row Gareth Llewellyn, whose tally of 70 caps is more than the entire New Zealand pack's, made his international debut in the 1989 match between the sides in Cardiff.
"I would not say we have an advantage over the New Zealand pack because we have more than three times as many caps," said Charvis. "Their players appear in the Super 12 and national provincial championship and so play at a higher standard week in, week out than we do."
Wales: R Williams (Cardiff); M Jones (Llanelli), Robinson (Cardiff), Parker (Pontypridd), G Thomas (Bridgend); S Jones (Llanelli), Peel (Llanelli); I Thomas (Llanelli), McBryde (Llanelli), Evans (Swansea), Sidoli (Pontypridd), Llewellyn (Neath), D Jones (Llanelli), M Williams (Cardiff), Charvis (Swansea, capt). Replacements: Davies (Pontypridd), Jenkins (Pontypridd), Owen (Pontypridd), Parks (Pontypridd), Powell (Cardiff), Harris (Cardiff), James (Bridgend).
