The All Blacks\u2019 2025 Autumn Nations Series campaign will reach its conclusion when they face off against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.<\/b><\/p>\n
If truth be told, head coach Scott Robertson and his troops are stuck between a rock and a hard place as they head into this game. This, after the men in black\u2019s much vaunted Grand Slam hopes imploded courtesy of the 33-19 defeat they suffered against England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham last weekend.<\/p>\n
New Zealand<\/a> started their Grand Slam campaign on a positive note when they clinched a 26-13 triumph over Ireland in Chicago before they had to dig deep before clinching a 25-17 win over Scotland at Murrayfield a week later.<\/p>\n A big talking point and criticism of the All Blacks in recent weeks is their tendency to make a fast start during the first half before fading away as the match progresses.<\/p>\n It first happened against Scotland, where they raced into a 17-0 lead before the Scots fought back to draw level at 17-17, although Robertson<\/a>\u2018s side managed to regain the initiative and close out the game in the end.<\/p>\n It was a similar story against the Red Rose where they held a 12-0 advantage midway through the opening half but England soon took control of proceedings before dominating the rest of the match and eventually claimed a deserved victory.<\/p>\n Robertson has made several alterations to his matchday squad, with 13 changes in his starting line-up, and his charges will be keen to continue the habit of making a fantastic start but, unlike those two previous Tests, they will want to kick on and hold the upper hand for the entire match.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Wales<\/a> had to dig deep before claiming a 24-23 victory over Japan at the Principality Stadium last weekend.<\/p>\n They sealed that win courtesy of a last-gasp penalty from Jarrod Evans but despite that narrow margin, it was a momentous result for them as it was their first victory under the guidance of their new head coach Steve Tandy<\/a>.<\/p>\n That followed a forgetful start to Tandy\u2019s reign as they suffered a record 52-28 defeat to Argentina in Cardiff the previous week.<\/p>\n Although there will be some positivity in Wales\u2019 ranks ahead of Saturday\u2019s clash, a victory for the hosts would be a shock as they last beat the All Blacks in 1953.<\/p>\n These sides have faced each other in 37 Tests since 1905 with the All Blacks victorious on 34 occasions and Wales winning the other three.<\/p>\n The home side suffered a late setback after Aaron Wainwright was a late withdrawal due to a hip injury. His spot in the run-on side has been taken by Taine Plumtree, who will now start at number eight, with the uncapped Morgan Morse drafted on to the bench.<\/p>\n Where the game will be won<\/p>\n This should be an entertaining spectacle and while both Wales and New Zealand possess attacking threats who can change the course of a match in an instant, that can only happen if they play in the right areas of the field. For that to happen, both sides\u2019 tactical kicking will have to be of a high standard. Although the All Blacks probably have an edge in that department with Damian McKenzie being a more experienced fly-half than Wales\u2019 Dan Edwards, the home side should not be underestimated and if Edwards kicks accurately out of hand, and the decision making from him and his half-back partner Tomos Williams is accurate, then they should be competitive against their more fancied visitors.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the forward battle will also be crucial, especially the scrums and lineouts which will provide most of the possession, but what the respective teams do with the ball once they have it will also be vital in the grander scheme of things. Meanwhile, discipline will also be important and whoever concedes the least penalties should also end up on the winning side.<\/p>\n Last time they met<\/p>\n \ufeff<\/p>\n What they said<\/p>\n Although Wales head into this encounter as massive underdogs, Tandy said his side will not be intimidated by the prospect of taking on the All Blacks.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say there\u2019s intimidation, there\u2019s massive respect and understanding what they are going to bring and what we are going to bring,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s always that aura around the All Blacks but ultimately our boys when you look at them they\u2019ve got their own mindset around how they go attack the game.<\/p>\n \u201cI think now with the game there\u2019s massive European Cup games, there\u2019s huge games across the board.<\/p>\n