All or nothing for Wales

Wales insist they won’t go down wondering when they take on the All Blacks in a one-off Test at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

The Welsh face the daunting task of playing a dominant New Zealand side on a 19-match winning run and attack coach Rob Howley knows the hosts will have to be on the top of their game if they are to record their first win over thee All Blacks since 1953.  

Head coach Warren Gatland is back at the helm for the final two autumn series matches against the All Blacks and Australia, on December 1, with Howley saying the players were using the two recent losses as "intrinsic motivation".

"When you're playing against the world's best side, every minute counts," said Howley, who was the caretaker coach of the team who succumbed to Argentina and Samoa in their last two outings.

"It's important to dominate territory and possession early on. That's what international rugby's all about. When you're playing against the world's best, what you don't want is to give them an early opportunity to get up on the scoreboard.

"So it's absolutely vital that we start well, get momentum, confidence and positive mind-set."

Howley promised that the Six Nations Grand Slam champions will take the fight to the world champions and try to run them ragged.

"We've spoken many times this week about our confidence, our ability to play with the ball and put New Zealand under pressure with a passing game," he said.

"The one thing which you have to do in international rugby is be accurate whether you kick the ball, pass the ball and make decisions, and that's what we have to do for 80 one-minute spells on Saturday.

“There's something when you play New Zealand, you have to ask questions with the ball in hand, throw them something out of the box. High risk, high reward."

Howley added that the return of coach Warren Gatland, who scouted talent in his capacity of British and Irish Lions mentor over the past two weekends, was a massive boost ahead of the Cardiff clash.

"To have one of the best head coaches in world rugby back gives huge confidence to both players and coaches," he said.

"That's why he's been selected as the British Lions coach. He's tactical, very astute, a very honest coach."