Wales coach Warren Gatland has recalled his entire starting XV from the opening Invesco Perpetual Series clash with South Africa a fortnight ago for the visit of New Zealand to the Millennium Stadium this Saturday.
Gatlands Wales went down 20-15 to the World Champions but after making 12 changes before disposing of Canada last weekend he has now said same again to the side which faced the Springboks meaning debutants Leigh Halfpenny and Andy Powell are set to win their third successive caps.
Captain Ryan Jones again features at blindside flanker, switching from No 8 to accommodate the in-form Powell and Halfpenny fends of the challenge of fit again wing Mark Jones to keep his place in a back three alongside Lee Byrne and Shane Williams.
Tom Shanklin, who was a late call-up for the injured Gavin Henson against the Springboks, partners his Blues colleague Jamie Roberts in the midfield and half-backs Stephen Jones and Gareth Cooper retain their starting spots to complete the backline.
Up front Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones pack down either side of hooker Matthew Rees and Ospreys pair Alun-Wyn Jones and Ian Evans form the second row, with Martyn Williams providing the missing link in the back row.
On the bench Gatland has made three confirmed changes from the squad who faced South Africa. Blues prop John Yapp is rewarded for his man-of-the-match showing against Canada and Dragons second row Luke Charteris is also selected on form along with Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop. A knee injury means James Hook is named alongside Dan Biggar with one of them to be named on the bench following medical advice nearer to matchday.
The coaches, the fans, the players and everyone involved in the game in Wales knows exactly how big a game this is for us, said Gatland. The All Blacks are the team to beat in the world game, they are the yardstick by which every nation measures themselves and we are no different, but we are relishing the opportunity presented to us.
Ive often said that it is only by playing the best teams in the world that we can improve ourselves and we have a chance to show some big improvements on Saturday. In selection we have said same again to the side which took on South Africa in our opening match of the series. We were critical in-house of aspects of that performance a fortnight ago and that side now has a chance to respond to that criticism.
For the likes of Andy Powell and Leigh Halfpenny who both had impressive debuts our message is the also the same both players need to simply enjoy the experience and have nothing to fear. For some of the more senior heads in the side we know we are looking for stand-out performances from each and everyone of them if we are to be able to match the opposition.
Whilst we have shown loyalty to some in the starting line-up there are three changes on the bench with Andrew Bishop, Luke Charteris and in particular John Yapp who put in a man-of the-match performance all impressing against Canada last time out.
James Hook has shown signs of improvement in the knee injury that forced his withdrawal against Canada and, although he will not train today, we will be looking for him to run out later in the week to prove his fitness. If he is not available on Saturday his Ospreys colleague Dan Biggar will provide the fly-half cover from the bench.
WALES: Lee Byrne; Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Stephen Jones, Gareth Cooper; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Ryan Jones (capt), Martyn Williams, Andy Powell
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, John Yapp, Luke Charteris, Dafydd Jones, Dwayne Peel, James Hook/Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop
WALES
15 Lee BYRNE (OSPREYS Cap No 1,041)
DoB: 01.06.80. 6'3" / 1.91m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 20 caps (W 8, L 11, D 1; 25 pts 5T)
14 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES Cap No 1,060)
DoB: 22.12.88. 510 / 1.77m. 13st 1lb / 83kgs
International record: 2 caps (W 1, L 1; 13 pts 2T, 1PG)
13 Tom SHANKLIN (CARDIFF BLUES Cap No 993)
DoB: 24.11.79. 62 / 1.88m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 56 caps (W 26, L 29, D 1; 90 pts 18T)
12 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES Cap No 1,057)
DoB: 08.11.86. 64 / 1.93m. 16st 10lbs / 107kgs
International record: 5 caps (W 2, L 3; 5 pts 1T)
11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS Cap No 976)
DoB: 26.02.77. 57 / 1.71m. 12st 13lbs / 82kgs
International record: 59 caps (W 29, L 28, D 2; 215 pts 43T)
10 Stephen JONES (SCARLETS Cap No 966)
DoB: 08.12.77. 6'1 / 1.86m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 73 caps (W32, L39, D2; 629 pts - 6T,115C,120PG,3DG)
9 Gareth COOPER (GLOUCESTER RUGBY Cap No 985)
DoB: 07.05.79. 57 / 1.71m. 13st 6lbs / 85kgs
International record: 38 caps (W 17, L 21; 40 pts 8T)
1 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES Cap No 1,006)
DoB: 17.11.80. 62 / 1.88m. 18st 13lbs / 120kgs
International record: 61 caps (W 25, L 34, D 2; 15 pts 3T)
2 Matthew REES (SCARLETS Cap No 1,033)
DoB: 09.12.80. 60 / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs
International record: 23 caps (W 10, L 12, D 1; 10 pts 2T)
3 Adam Rhys JONES (OSPREYS Cap No 1,018)
DoB: 08.03.81. 60 / 1.83m. 19st 10lb / 125kgs
International record: 50 caps (W 26, L 22, D 2; 5 pts 1T)
4 Alun-Wyn JONES (OSPREYS Cap No 1,046)
DoB: 19.09.85. 65 / 1.96m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs
International record: 24 caps (W 9, L 15; 15 pts 3T)
5 Ian EVANS (OSPREYS Cap No 1,045)
DoB: 04.10.84. 68 / 2.04m. 18st 3lbs / 116kgs
International record: 15 caps (W 6, L 8, D 1; 5 pts 1T)
6 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS, CAPTAIN Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 65 / 1.96m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs
International record: 25 caps (W 14, L 10, D 1; 5 pts 1T)
7 Martyn WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES Cap No 944)
DoB: 01.09.75. 6'0" / 1.83m. 15st 11lbs / 100kgs
International record: 82 caps (W 38, L 41, D 3; 73 pts 14T, 1DG)
8 Andy POWELL (CARDIFF BLUES Cap No 1,061)
DoB: 23.08.81. 64 / 1.94m. 17st 6lbs / 111kgs
International record: 2 caps (W 1, L 1)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Richard HIBBARD (OSPREYS Cap No 1,048)
DoB: 13.12.83. 60 / 1.83m. 17st 7lbs / 111kgs
International record: 7 caps (W 1, L 6)
17 John YAPP (CARDIFF BLUES Cap No 1,031)
DoB: 09.04.83. 62 / 1.88m. 18st 8lbs / 118kgs
International record: 10 caps (W 8, L 2)
18 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS Cap No 1,030)
DoB: 09.03.83. 69 / 2.06m. 19st 9lbs / 125kgs
International record: 8 caps (W 5, L 3)
19 Dafydd JONES (SCARLETS Cap No 1,008)
DoB: 24.06.79. 63 / 1.90m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 32 caps (W 13; L 19; 10 pts 2T)
20 Dwayne PEEL (SALE SHARKS Cap No 994)
DoB: 31.08.81. 59 / 1.76m. 13st 8lbs / 86kgs
International record: 63 caps (W 28, L 33, D 2; 25 pts 5T)
21 James HOOK (OSPREYS Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 60 / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 29 caps (W 12, L 16, D 1; 196 pts 6T,32C,32PG,2DG)
OR Dan BIGGAR (OSPREYS Cap No 1,063)
DoB: 16.10.89. 62 / 1.88m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: 1 cap (W 1; 9 pts 3C, 1PG)
22 Andrew BISHOP (OSPREYS Cap No 1,059)
DoB: 07.08.85. 60 / 1.83m. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 2 caps (W 1, L 1)