McCaw: We're ready to get physical

Wales are promising a physical battering at tonight's second rugby test against the All Blacks.

But All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw said they were fully expecting it and ready for it.

Wales' Waikato coach Warren Gatland said yesterday physical commitment had been stressed at a team meeting earlier in the day with assistant coach Robin McBride leading the call for the players to look within themselves.

"The body will go as far as the mind tells it to go in terms of that physical confrontation and there's no tougher place to come and experience that physical confrontation than New Zealand," Gatland said.

The coach has made it clear that commitment last week in Dunedin in the first test was OK for the first 40 minutes when Wales held the All Blacks to 15-9 but it was just not good enough for the whole 80 minutes with the home side blowing the score out to 42-9 by the end as tackles were missed.

"We've got to play longer and consistently longer tomorrow night," Gatland said.

McCaw said the All Blacks were ready for such a physical onslaught from the Welsh.

"As I remember all the games we've played against them have always been physical and last week was no different, especially early in the game.

"They got stuck in and we were perhaps on the back foot so we've got to make sure we match them from the start."

The All Blacks have made seven changes to the team that played the first test at Carisbrook, some forced by injuries.

The Welsh have just two changes to their starting XV with 20-year-old Dan Biggar getting his chance in the No10 jersey while Stephen Jones moves to the bench, and Jonathan Davies replaces injured centre Andrew Bishop.

McCaw said the All Blacks were conscious of not letting their standards drop as a result of the changes to the lineup.

"The way we look at it we've got to have a performance that is at least the same, if not better, and for 80 minutes this time."

However, Gatland sees vulnerability among the All Blacks players who have played little in recent months.

These include fullback Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui, Tony Woodcock and Tom Donnelly but McCaw is confident they will be up to it.

Wales have not scored a try against New Zealand for five years and McCaw said they were proud of their defensive record, particularly on their end-of-year tours to the northern hemisphere.

"Defence often sums up the attitude in your team and it was good to keep them tryless, especially after letting a couple of soft ones in the week before," he said.

The changes to the All Blacks do appear to strengthen the team up front where their premier props are back in the front row, which now lacks only the injured hooker, Andrew Hore.

Donnelly has been reunited with Brad Thorn in the second row to re-form last year's first-choice locking combination.

With Muliaina back at fullback there are still backs such as Sitiveni Sivivatu, Ma'a Nonu and now Conrad Smith missing but there is some exciting talent in their place.

"There was a lot of talk before the team was named a month ago about the lack of depth, but a lot of players have put their hands up, whether it be for the Maori or for this team, so I'm sure that adds a little bit of edge and hopefully lifts the standard."

TEAMS

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Richard Kahui, Benson Stanley, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Rene Ranger, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu, Adam Thomson, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Aled de Malmanche.

Wales: Lee Byrne, Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Tom Prydie, Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips, Ryan Jones (c), Gavin Thomas, Jonathan Thomas, Alun Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Paul James. Reserves: Huw Bennett, Craig Mitchell, Deiniol Jones, Rob McCusker, Richard Rees, Stephen Jones, Will Harries. Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa). Kickoff: 7.35 tonight, Waikato Stadium

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