Wynne Gray: Gatts won't go for frothy attack

Wales head coach Warren Gatland raises a smile during a Wales training session at the Vale Hotel. Photo / Stu Forster

Put yourself in Warren Gatland's shoes. Or maybe not after the accident which shortened his stride when he fell cleaning the windows at his Waihi retreat.

You get the drift, though, as Gatland drives Wales' latest attempt to beat the All Blacks. He has tried all sorts of ideas but come up short since he took over as coach in 2008.

He's not the only pigeon on the perch scratching that itch.

Where does "Gatts" go, how does he approach his last chance to knock the All Blacks off before the World Cup?

Does he take a sensible approach and use this as another important stage in Wales' campaign for the Six Nations before the next global tournament or treat this as a one-off special and come up with a range of fancy plays to throw the All Blacks out of kilter?

Versions of up the jumper plays, 14-man lineouts and mauls, three-man scrums, tap kicks in a wall? Gatland and his crew could have all sorts of innovative fun. However, Gatland is cannier than that. He won't be lured into a frothy attack at all costs which would leave Wales vulnerable to the most dangerous counter-attacking side in the world. They have a strong set of forwards who have to cement the basics as the initial phases in mounting pressure on the All Blacks.

This is a test where Wales are matching themselves against the side who have been leading the way since the last World Cup. The gap is closing but Wales have yet to consistently join the chasing group.

Their focus has to be on the All Black midfield and trying to manipulate the space England found with far too much ease a fortnight ago.

Sonny Bill Williams and Conrad Smith have been through fatherhood and emergency long-haul return flight dramas which played out in the latter stages of this tour and both they and the coaches will be confident they are in the right zone for test rugby.

Williams carried the ball strongly at Twickenham but Smith was out of sorts and his lack of pace exposed.

Somehow from set-piece plays, Wales have to create a stutter in the All Blacks' defensive line to expose the lack of time Beauden Barrett, Williams and Smith have played together.

Using the huge Jamie Roberts, George North and Alex Cuthbert running angles around Smith's channel will narrow the All Blacks' defensive line and offer chances to bend the line.

What they manage after that will be the issue.

And if the forwards can't meet their obligations, this Welsh team will go the same way as the rest have in Gatland's stretch.