KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks arrived in Wales yesterday to the first decent rain of their tour and a host of locals trumpeting their chances of a first test win against the All Blacks in 53 years.
You might say nothing has changed.
After three weeks of autumn in London,
Marseille, Lyon and Paris, the All Blacks arrived in Cardiff to a wintery chilly, wet evening.
Welsh coach Gareth Jenkins was bullish about his team's chances on Sunday at the Millennium Stadium.
Jenkins had to wait for his coaching opportunity behind the All Blacks' Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, and Australian Scott Johnson.
He said all three had contributed a great deal to the Welsh rugby resurgence, and he was confident he could add to their legacy.
The four regions in Wales allowed a streamlined approach, funnelling into the national side, as the Super 14 did for the All Blacks.
Jenkins was also coach of the midweek Lions who went unbeaten through New Zealand last year.
He said the All Blacks were still leading the way in world rugby, but Wales were closing the gap.
"We'll be up for the game, I have no doubt about that," Jenkins said.
Welsh halfback Dwayne Peel was buoyed by the side's three wins to start this season and memories of their single point loss two years ago.
"We will attack because that is what we are best at, and if we attack well, it will take a good team to stop us," he said.
Loose forward Jonathan Thomas referred to the 53-37 test at the last World Cup when Wales gave the All Blacks a huge jolt.
He thought the side's maturity since that match would put them right in the frame this weekend.
The All Blacks are expecting some real offence from Wales.
"They want to play a 15-man game and they are reasonably good at it," Hansen said.
Their forward pack's skill level was higher than any other in the Six Nations.
But they have anxieties in the back line. Captain Stephen Jones is hoping to be back after a knee injury, Gavin Henson is likely to be fit after missing the last win against Canada and fullback Gareth Thomas is an unlikely starter because of a knee strain.
Hansen said the All Black selection would be governed by form, whether any players needed a break and which players would best counter the Welsh style.
And he warned rugby hopefuls that it would be difficult for new faces to break into the All Blacks World Cup squad.
It was not impossible but with the form the current squad was delivering, opportunities for others were restricted.
But form would be critical when players' performances in the Super 14 were compared with All Black performances in the Tri-Nations.
"We will see what is our best 30 and get on with it. If that means a couple of new faces that will be what happens."
Whether Jason Eaton makes it will be one of the big questions as the All Blacks search for someone to fill the lock/loose forward role.
Other candidates are Reuben Thorne, James Ryan, Angus MacDonald and Troy Flavell.
Eaton said he still had the mentality of a lock, even though he had a couple of runs at blindside from the bench against France.
"I have never spent time at six, so if the coaches want to pick me there that's fine. I have been a lock for many years and still see myself as a lock who could play blindside."
