All Blacks-Wales: By the numbers

Dan Carter is set to become test rugby's highest points scorer. Photo / Getty Images

Tracey Nelson is the stats guru at haka.co.nz and will provide statistical analysis of the All Blacks' matches during their end of year tour.

The All Blacks are poised to win the Grand Slam if they beat Wales at the Millenium Stadium this weekend.

They will equal South Africa's record of four Grand Slam tours should they do so - although South Africa's last Grand Slam win was back in 1960/61.

South Africa failed in their current Grand Slam bid when they were beaten by Scotland last weekend.

The All Blacks won their first Grand Slam in 1978, and Graham Henry has twice coached the All Blacks to winning tours against all four home unions in 2005 and 2008.

This is no mean feat, given that in a total of 26 Grand Slam tours undertaken by New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, the Grand Slam has only been achieved 8 times.

All sensible money is on the All Blacks - of the 27 test matches played between the two sides the All Blacks have won 24 and Wales only 3.

The Welsh have never beaten the All Blacks outside of Wales, and their last win was on December 19, 1953.

A dismal draw against Fiji last weekend has hardly raised the hopes of Welsh fans that their fortunes are about to change.

Wales have only managed to score 256 points to the All Blacks' 812 in all 27 tests, and have conceded almost 4 tries per game whilst averaging less than one try themselves.

The All Blacks have so far scored 13 tries in their three test wins on this Grand Slam tour, so that average looks likely to continue.

Topping the numbers going into this game are the core members of the pack. Richie McCaw has made 49 tackles, 21 ball carries and has been in the first three to the breakdown on 82 occasions.

Despite his involvement in nearly every second play on the field, McCaw has only conceded 6 penalties at a rate of two per game.

Kieran Read is the top ball carrier with 31, and second in the tackle count with 43. He is also top equal try scorer with Hosea Gear, having scored three tries in the three tests he has played.

Tony Woodcock has done his share of the workload arriving in the first three at the breakdown 62 times, making 32 tackles and 13 ball carries.

Brad Thorn and Jerome Kaino have only played two games each on tour, but are 2nd and 3rd behind McCaw for ruck arrivals. Thorn will play his 50th test this weekend.

Sam Whitelock has made two starts and had one game off the bench but his tackle count of 38 puts him firmly in third spot behind McCaw and Read. The Mr Reliable of the backline, Conrad Smith, has made 25 tackles in his two appearances on tour.

Dan Carter is set to become test rugby's highest points scorer, and it seems fitting that record will come against the team he played in his international debut back in 2003.

Carter needs just three points to eclipse Jonny Wilkinson's tally of 1178, so a penalty kick early in the game could well give him the record.

* The All Blacks will wear white arm bands as a mark of respect for the 29 miners presumed perished in the Pike River Mine disaster on the West Coast this week. A minute's silence will be observed before the test - both countries share a history of coal mining, with Wales being all too familiar with mining disasters over the years.

WHAT: All Blacks vs Wales
WHERE: Millenium Stadium, Cardiff
WHEN: 6am Sunday (NZT)
TV: Sky Sport 1