KEY POINTS:
CARDIFF - Expats Xavier Rush and Jason Spice did not share some of the stunned reaction in Wales when New Zealand-born midfielder Sonny Parker was preferred to glamour boy Gavin Henson.
Both said the selection gave Wales a much more combative midfield defence and reflected the no-nonsense approach
of new coach Gareth Jenkins.
The 29-year-old Parker had retired but answered an SOS this season. He played last week only because Henson had an infected toe but has kept his place for Sunday's test against the All Blacks.
"Sonny very much played himself into the selection debate with two solid performances since coming out of retirement, against Canada and the Pacific Islanders," coach Jenkins said.
"He comes into an exciting back line with the kind of pace and power which can hopefully match New Zealand and enable us to take our game-plan to them."
However, Rush was shocked that British Lions prop Gethin Jenkins had been ignored on the loosehead side of the scrum. "To me, that is a massive surprise," Rush said about the omission of his Cardiff club team-mate.
"Obviously Wales have gone for the very best scrum they can produce. Duncan Jones may be a slightly better scrummager but around the field Gethin is one of the best props running around."
Spice plays for the Ospreys, where Henson often plays first five-eighths with Parker outside him.
He said Henson had a kick like a mule - "the biggest boot I have seen on anyone" - and was a ball-player but was not as reliable as Parker in all areas of the game.
"He is strong on defence, he is big, he gets his hands through the gap well and there is no question he will stiffen up the midfield. He has been playing well for some time," Spice said of Parker.
Both Spice and Rush played with and against Parker when he was growing up in Putaruru before he shifted to Auckland and the Sacred Heart 1st XV.
After school Parker was encouraged by then Auckland and Blues coach Graham Henry to try his rugby luck in Italy. From there Parker shifted to Wales and played against the All Blacks two years ago when they lost by a solitary point.
Rush said the absence of injured fullback Gareth Thomas would be a significant loss for Wales.
"They will miss his experience, size, pace and organisation.
"But the All Black tight five will know they are in for a big match and Wales have three very good loosies. Ryan Jones carries the ball well, Martin Williams is a strong link player and Jonathan Thomas travels well in the lineout."
Tack on an adventurous spirit in the backline and the All Blacks would be in for a huge examination.
Hooker Anton Oliver was taking a similar stance.
"This is just sort of gamesmanship but I think they are going to offer the All Blacks the toughest test on tour, primarily because - and this is where they differ from the English and French - they have a go," said Oliver.
"They use the ball, they play with width and they have an attacking attitude."
Oliver was convinced the Welsh would stay true to that philosophy, unlike the French, whose unwillingness or inability to attack with the ball still astounded him.
"When you play professional sport, there is an area, there is this psychological space, and generally the team that can take up that psychological space and dominate it will win - if they are comparatively good physically, tactically."
Wales were a team with self-belief and were prepared to be expansive.
