New Zealand are strong favourites to beat Wales in Dunedin this weekend and with it a clean sweep of victories from three Tests.
New Zealand and Wales have played each other 32 times and New Zealand have won 29 matches or 91% of the matches.
Wales have not beaten the All Blacks since 1953 and as they are at the end of a long season that includes the world cup it’s unlikely that they will end that run today.
The All Blacks will be without Aaron Cruden this week due to injury but they will have winger Julian Savea back. Cruden has been replaced by Beauden Barrett who has been in top form in recent weeks when coming off the bench.
All Black coach Steve Hansen has named three new All Blacks in the matchday 23 with new cap All Black Elliot Dixon starting at blindside flanker, and two other possible new caps, prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi and loose forward Liam Squire, named on the bench.
Twenty-six-year-old Dixon comes in for Jerome Kaino on the side of the scrum, with Squire coming into the matchday 23 for Ardie Savea as loose forward cover. Prop Charlie Faumuina replaces Owen Franks in the number three jersey, with 24-year-old Tu’ungafasi coming into the 23.
Wales on the other hand have made two changes in the front row for this match. Rob Evans and Tomas Francis come into the starting line up as replacement for Gethin Jenkins at loose-head and Francis coming in for Samson Lee.
Jenkins was ruled out due to a calf injury and has returned to the UK while Samson Lee drops to the replacements bench. Francis has come off the bench in both the first two test matches and starts at tight-head.
Wales have had parity with New Zealand at times in this series but their fitness drops off in the final quarter and the All Blacks use their chances to the fullest. Wales will most likely be level on 50 minutes at which point the All Blacks superior fitness, class and home advantage will kick in and the All Blacks will extend their run to 29 matches.
This Match will be shown on TV in NZ (Sky), Aus (Fox Sports), SA (SuperSport) and in the UK on Sky Sports.
Average score: New Zealand 31 Wales 11
Last five results
Sat, 18 Jun 2016 NZL v WAL 36-22 Westpac Trust, Wellington
Sat, 11 Jun 2016 NZL v WAL 39-21 Eden Park, Auckland
Sat, 22 Nov 2014 NZL v WAL 34-16 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Sat, 24 Nov 2012 NZL v WAL 33-10 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Sat, 27 Nov 2010 NZL v WAL 37-25 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
New Zealand’s overall record against Wales
Played 32, Wins 29, Losses 3, Draws 0
Date : Saturday 25 June 2016
Venue : Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick Off local: 19.35
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant Ref 1:Jaco Peyper (South Africa),
Assistant Ref 2:Andrew Lees (Australia)
TMO : George Ayoub (Australia)
Teams
New Zealand
1. Joe Moody, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Charlie Faumuina , 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. Elliot Dixon 7. Sam Cane , 8. Kieran Read (c), 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Beauden Barrett , 11. Julian Savea , 12. Ryan Crotty , 13. George Moala 14. Ben Smith, 15. Israel Dagg
Replacements : 16. Codie Taylor , 17. Wyatt Crockett , 18. Ofa Tu’ungafasi 19. Luke Romano , 20. Liam Squire, 21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow , 22. Lima Sopoaga , 23. Waisake Naholo
Wales
Rhys Patchell (Cardiff Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), , Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Rob Evans (Scarlets)
Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Scott Williams (Scarlets).
