Wales eyeing history in clash with New Zealand - however long the odds may be

Given their lengthy injury-list and last weekend's display against Georgia, Wales will need a miracle to overturn the visiting All Blacks at the Principality Stadium

Warren Gatland oversaw victory against the All Blacks earlier this year with the Lions (Getty)

It is 64 years since Wales beat New Zealand and we really have no right to expect the history books to be shredded in Cardiff today.

Warren Gatland’s men, bolstered by the return of 12 of their starting line-up following the ever-so-nearly disastrous dalliance with youth against Georgia, are up against an All Black side smarting from an under-par win over Scotland and shorn of their talismanic captain and No 8 Kieran Read through injury.

The Kiwis are notoriously testy with their backs to the wall and given Wales’ familiarity with their opponents, born of frequent encounters between the sides, this has shorn the All Blacks of their fear factor among some of Gatland’s players. Nonetheless, the fact remains that only a small handful of Welsh British Lions have ever experienced victory over the world champions.

Of those Lions, Wales are without flanker Sam Warburton (neck), centre Jonathan Davies (ankle) and winger Liam Williams (abdomen) for today’s encounter at the Principality Stadium.

They are at least boosted by the return of scrum-half Rhys Webb after he was one of only few to impress in Wales’ horribly laboured win over Georgia on his first game back from injury last weekend.

But even the most diehard Wales fan will admit anything below a 10-point defeat today would not be an awful result for a Wales squad stretched to its limit by a combination of relatively thin resources and a relentless playing schedule.

Wales will be looking for guidance from Webb and his half-back partner Dan Biggar while veteran full-back Leigh Halfpenny provides experienced at the back with rookie centre pairing of Owen and Scott Williams charged with neutralising the All Blacks twin midfield threat of Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty.

Scotland exposed some flaws in the All Black defence and Halfpenny believes lessons can be learned from their narrow 22-17 defeat.

Rhys Webb in training ahead of his side's clash with the All Blacks (Getty)

“Scotland really took it to the All Blacks,” he said. “The way they moved the ball around against them. Probably one or two tries went missing. In international rugby, particularly against the All Blacks, you don’t get many opportunities, so you need to take them. We need to be clinical and accurate.”

There were encouraging signs from Wales against Australia a fortnight ago when Williams’ first foray at inside centre on the international stage proved a qualified success while the work of an inexperienced back row was committed and intelligent.

With Aaron Shingler and Josh Navidi once again named on the flanks alongside the imperious Taulupe Faletau at No 8, Wales’ work at the breakdown will once again go a long way towards shaping the outcome of today’s encounter.

But it is at the front of the scrum where Wales’ entire autumn is in danger of being defined, for all the wrong reasons.

The Welsh pack, inexperienced as it was, knew precisely what was coming against Georgia last weekend and yet were utterly powerless to stop their technically immaculate tier-two opponents. Rarely has a tier one-nation been so badly mauled at the set piece.

Wales laboured to victory against Georgia last weekend (Getty)

In truth, they were not much better in the scrum against Australia the week before and they must seriously up their game if they are to avoid fielding the questionable tactics which saw uncontested scrums being called against Georgia – Wales refused to return Leon Brown to the fray on spurious injury grounds after Tomas Francis was sent to the sin bin – thus robbing the underdogs their best hope of victory.

Francis is named again at tight-head prop despite his bone-headed injury-time yellow card while hooker Ken Owens and loose head prop Rob Evans must also have their best games of the autumn to ensure their side avoid a mauling in the All Blacks’ last game of their European tour.

“We know the quality of the All Blacks and how talented they are across the park and how dangerous they are with ball in hand,” Halfpenny added. “They have got players that can create opportunities and they are pretty clinical when they have those opportunities. From a defensive point of view we need to do our homework, getting the details right. You can’t switch off against the All Blacks. If it is for one second, they can hurt you. Defensively we have to be on the money.”

This is the game of the day without question and probably the game of the autumn. History is there to be made, however long the odds may be.