Under-pressure All Blacks' No-win Situation In Wales

Autumn Nations Series: Wales v New Zealand

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 22 November Kick-off: 15:10 GMT

Coverage: Commentary connected BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and unrecorded matter connected BBC Sport online.

New Zealand person won arsenic galore Tests connected their autumn circuit arsenic Wales person since nan 2023 World Cup, yet nan All Blacks are nan ones nether unit this weekend.

Head coach Scott Robertson has been criticised aft his broadside suffered a 33-19 conclusion by England that ended their hopes of a Great Britain and Ireland Grand Slam tour, arsenic it is regarded successful New Zealand.

The All Blacks are 2nd successful nan world rankings, were pipped to nan Rugby Championship title by South Africa connected points quality and won against Ireland and Scotland earlier conclusion astatine Allianz Stadium.

However, they are struggling to meet awesome expectations and a 3rd nonaccomplishment of 2025 leaves them not only needing to hit Wales - but to do truthful comprehensively and pinch style.

Wales person thing to suffer connected Saturday afternoon, while nan All Blacks look to person thing to gain.

At nan All Blacks' Cardiff Bay hotel, a journalist from New Zealand asked Robertson astir nan unit connected his squad and really he was trying to assistance spirits.

"You are really talking this up," replied nan caput coach pinch a smile. "You're rather dramatic, aren't you?

"We attraction connected what we could person done amended past week and get connected pinch it. There was immoderate really bully worldly successful location and you look astatine that.

"We won each stat, but nan scoreboard is nan astir important one, truthful really tin we get that right?"

If Robertson is nether unit now successful 1 of sport's astir aggravated jobs past a first conclusion by Wales since 1953 would person nan knives out.

That is improbable fixed Steve Tandy's broadside needed a last-gasp footwear to hit Japan 24-23 and extremity a 10-Test losing streak successful Cardiff.

Wales, classed 12th successful nan world, person conceded 50-plus points to some England and Argentina astatine Principality Stadium this year.

Home expectations are highly debased - a plucky nonaccomplishment would beryllium toasted arsenic advancement - but Robertson is wary of a broadside that, dissimilar his own, will play without pressure.

"One point astir nan Welsh is that you put them nether a roof, they singing nan anthem and will excavation deep," he said. "Put a achromatic jersey against them and they will find their best.

"Their backs are against nan wall and they've sewage thing to lose. When you are nan guidance coach that's erstwhile you consciousness you person to beryllium correct connected it. Wales will beryllium spirited."

The All Blacks ringing nan changes from nan broadside that faced England pinch skipper and fastener Scott Barrett and blind-side flanker Simon Parker nan only survivors successful nan XV.

Six players are poised for their first action of nan circuit and only 1 man, injured prop Tevita Mafileo, will not characteristic successful immoderate games.

Big names will watch connected from nan sidelines astatine nan location of Welsh rugby.

"The ones that person been fixed nan opportunity person trained highly difficult and been really focused," said Robertson.

"It's awesome to play nan full squad and fto everyone person a ace astatine it. There's a bully sprinkling of acquisition and immoderate awesome younker and young players coming through, truthful it will beryllium a passionate display."

Robertson knows from acquisition that his broadside cannot footwear loosely to Wales full-back Blair Murray, who will triumph his 13th cap.

The 24-year-old is nether nan microscope for his aerial ability, but remains a superior threat pinch shot successful manus - and 1 nan All Blacks leader saw erstwhile successful complaint of Crusaders.

Murray came done nan ranks astatine Canterbury and was portion of nan Super Rugby club's wider squad.

He moved to Scarlets successful 2023 and, courtesy of his mother from Tonyrefail, enjoyed a accelerated emergence to Test rugby.

"He's nan meaning of a pouch rocket - he's 5ft 7in and tin bounce, rotation and hit," said Robertson. "He's physically tough, and is mentally a reliable kid too.

"We're really pleased for him because he came to nan academy arsenic a 15 and we tried to get him to 10 - it didn't rather activity out, but now he's playing world rugby and that's awesome for his career."