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Wales are ready – Jenkins

Wales are ready – Jenkins

Neil Jenkins summed up perfectly the task that faces the Welsh team at Eden Park this weekend after taking the goalkickers through their final run at the Auckland venue – “there is no bigger test than playing against New Zealand in New Zealand.”

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But while the statistics weight heavily in favour of the All Blacks, Jenkins believes the chance to play against the reigning world champions three times this month is one that the Welsh players will relish.

“The players are excited and hopefully they will put in a big performance. We know just how impressive the New Zealand record is playing at home,” said the former world test points record holder.

“We’ve played here at Eden Park in the past, although the semi-final and third/fourth play-off games didn’t go too well for us in 2011. Hopefully, we can turn that around, play well and come away with something.

“We’ve had a good week of training, but that will be put to the test tomorrow. It has been a long week and a half since we got here and it seems like a long time since the England game.

“But everyone is looking forward to playing again tomorrow. There is no bigger test than playing against New Zealand in New Zealand.”

The last team to beat New Zealand at their Auckland stronghold were the French way back in 1994. They have also won their last 38 games at home stretching back to 2009.

“It is a fantastic stadium and it is somewhere I would have loved to have played at when I was involved with the Welsh team. Getting to Eden Park was always a goal of ours in 2011 and we managed to play here, but not win the games,” added Jenkins.

“It should be a fantastic occasion in their first game at home since winning the World Cup. With the back three the All Blacks have got they will cause damage to most sides so our kicking game needs to be very accurate.

“You have to be accurate in your kicking, in your kick-chase, in making your tackles and in your one-on-ones – it is as simple as that. They have some fantastic players who can beat people in one-on-one situations, so we have to be strong in the tackle and put some pressure on them.

“You hope the game is tight and comes down to the later stages. The last few times we have played them it has come down to the last 15 minutes. The game is never over for them and they keep showing why they are the best team in the world by keep coming and winning in the closing stages. They can score tries quickly as they showed in the last autumn series.

“It is a tough tour after a long year. This time last year we were just starting to prepare for the World Cup, but this is an opportunity to play the best in their own back yard.”
 

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