The Wales coach, Kevin Bowring, believes he has detected weaknesses in the New Zealand game which his side will seek to exploit in the Test against the All Blacks at Wembley tomorrow day week.
Bowring yesterday announced a squad of 26 players to prepare for the match and he will name his side on Tuesday. The Richmond number eight, Scott Quinnell, has been left out because he is not deemed match fit, robbing Wales of badly needed forward presence.
The Bath wing, Ieuan Evans, has been ruled out for the same reason, having played only two matches in four months, but Bowring said he was sure Wales's most capped player and most prolific try scorer would make himself available for the Five Nations' championship.
Wales will stick with the nucleus of the side which defeated Tonga on Sunday, though the full-back, Kevin Morgan, is back in contention after recovering from a knee strain, while the Bridgend second row Chris Stephens has replaced Steve Moore who will be out of action for a month after damaging knee ligaments against Tonga.