Wales make sweeping changes for All Blacks

10.00pm

Wales appeared intent on saving their best for a likely World Cup quarterfinal against England after making 12 changes for their final pool game against New Zealand on Sunday.

The result in Sydney will have no bearing for the knockout phase after tournament favourites New Zealand qualified for the next phase as winners of pool D.

Wales made sure of their progression as runners-up when they beat Italy 27-15 in Canberra on Saturday.

Wales have not beaten New Zealand since 1953 and suffered their worst defeat in 19 tests the last time the teams met, a 55-3 thrashing in Hamilton.

"We have to learn if the gap is a big gap or a small gap," Wales coach Steve Hansen told reporters today.

"We're playing one of top three sides in the world so we must go out there and perform. We don't have to fear anybody."

Hansen has changed his backline radically, with centre Sonny Parker the only player who played against Italy.

Parker, who scored a match-turning try seconds before halftime against the Italians, has been shifted from outside centre to number 12.

Rugby league convert Iestyn Harris, Wales' leading scorer for the tournament with 28 points, did not even make the bench, with Llanelli's Mark Taylor chosen to partner Parker in the centres.

First five-eighth Ceri Sweeney and halfback Dwayne Peel have been dropped to the replacements, their places taken by the experienced Stephen Jones and Gareth Cooper.

Hansen has also made sweeping changes to his pack, with captain Colin Charvis shifting to openside flanker from his customary number eight to allow Alix Popham to make his second World Cup start.

Experienced Neath lock Gareth Llewellyn is replaced by Robert Sidoli, with Australian-born Brent Cockbain retaining his place in the second row.

Openside flanker Martyn Williams, an unlikely hero for Wales after coming off the bench in their scratchy 27-20 win over Tonga, has also been rested. Blindside flanker Dafydd Jones, another try-scorer against Italy, is a replacement with Jonathan Thomas starting.

The only change to the Welsh front row was forced on Hansen after young prop Duncan Jones suffered a broken leg against Italy. His place is taken by Iestyn Thomas.

Wales - 15-Garan Evans; 14-Shane Williams, 13-Mark Taylor, 12-Sonny Parker, 11-Tom Shanklin; 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Gareth Cooper; 8-Alix Popham, 7-Colin Charvis (captain), 6-Jonathan Thomas, 5-Robert Sidoli, 4-Brent Cockbain, 3-Adam Jones, 2-Robin McBryde, 1-Iestyn Thomas.

Replacements: 16-Mefin Davies, 17-Gethin Jenkins, 18-Chris Wyatt, 19-Dafydd Jones, 20-Dwayne Peel, 21-Ceri Sweeney, 22-Gareth Thomas.

- REUTERS

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