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CARDIFF- The All Blacks have sought experts on Warren Gatland's coaching philosophy as they seek to prevent the New Zealander ending more than a half century of rugby anguish for Wales here on Saturday.
While New Zealand are overwhelming favourites to edge closer to a third Grand Slam
at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (6.15am Sunday NZT), the All Blacks coaching staff are taking no shortcuts in terms of preparing for a fixture Wales have not won since 1953.
For Graham Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen there is also the added pressure of not coming unstuck against one of their own - Welsh coach Gatland.
Denying Robbie Deans and Australia the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations was the primary goal this season but losing to Gatland, who also headed offshore when his All Blacks aspirations were stymied, would take the gloss off a season of redemption for the incumbents.
Like Deans, Gatland has an intimate knowledge of the All Blacks' personnel though that perceived benefit is also a weakness given the former Waikato mentor's strategies are well-known.
New Zealand are yet to concede a try on the test segment of their tour of the UK and Ireland but it is Wales' defensive system that has demanded attention this week and before the team left Auckland last month.
Assistant coach Smith said he had sought advice on how to circumvent the rush style of defence Gatland brought to New Zealand from English club Wasps before taking it to Wales.
The All Blacks have already experienced a suffocating defensive alignment at international level, where line speed is designed to cut down the ball carriers' option.
South Africa employed the style under Jake White, the number of intercept tries snared by Bryan Habana and especially second five-eighth Jean de Villers was a testament to its effectiveness.
While conceding tries is a risk, constructing them is also problematic.
"We always managed to get a lot of line breaks against the Boks but we could never finish them off enough," Smith admitted.
"They had a good scrambling D, we've never really been that successful against it.
"We've put a lot of work into it this week - it's good having Stephen Donald and Richard Kahui who have played under Gats and that defensive system.
"You get a feel for what might work but you have to execute that against what's quite a pressing D."
While the team's Waikato backs have been a source of knowledge - Smith also sought advice from Chiefs coach Ian Foster and former Auckland, and now Blues assistant coach, Shane Howarth.
"I talked to Fozzie (Foster) in terms of what stresses him when he's coaching that defence - and to Howie (Howarth) about how you stress it.
"I noticed Auckland had some good moves against Waikato when Gats was there," Smith said.
Kahui, who takes over from an injured Conrad Smith at centre, felt he had a useful insight into how Wales will play during his first visit to Cardiff.
"It looks as if they're using the blitz defence, I know what that's about," he said.
"We called it risk verses reward. You can put the attacking team under so much pressure with your line speed and getting up - you can hit them behind the gain line, as a defence it can get you in the game - but if it's not done properly it can be a weakness."
The grubber kick, which Kahui employed to great effect in his last test against Scotland, is one option he suggested.
"We know what things work better than others, we've worked through a few things at training," he said.
Meanwhile, the Wales players have followed the example of the Scots and Irish preceeding them, speaking optimistically about breaking their particular losing streak - 19 tests since the 13-8 win at Cardiff Arms Park in 1953.
"There's definitely a genuine belief we can beat them. Since the new coaches took over they have made us feel like we can compete with these teams," said fullback Lee Byrne.
- NZPA