Weekend international news: New Zealand winger Joe Rokocoko is looking for a "special result" at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday to mark his country's 100th anniversary game against Wales.
The 22-year-old, one of nine changes from the starting line-up that sealed the Tri-Nations against Australia earlier this year, is looking to kick off the All Blacks' European tour in style and hoping for a different result from the first meeting between the sides in 1905, when Wales won a controversial encounter 3-0 - one of only three Welsh wins in 21 games between the countries.
"It's been 100 years of rugby between the countries, so it will be a special game this weekend," said the Auckland Blues player.
"I think we want to make sure that in another 100 years we are remembered for this game on the weekend. We are looking for a special result, but we know it won't be easy against Wales."
Rokocoko is back in the fold after missing all three Tests against the Lions in the summer.
"To play at the Millennium Stadium - one of the great stadiums in the world - makes it an extra special match," he added.
"The atmosphere that is generated when the roof is closed is amazing. There's noise for the whole 80 minutes.
"It will be tough against Wales as they are Six Nations champions and I'm sure they will want to play like Six Nations champions. And with us being Tri-Nations champions it makes for a great game - an unofficial world championship if you like."
Rokocoko scored his first international try against Wales, the first of 17 he would score in 2003 - a record for a calendar year.
"They gave us a bit of a scare in the first half of the World Cup game in 2003 and they've come close ever since," he added. "Hopefully they won't come too close this weekend, but they are a team who really play for each other."
Meanwhile, Gareth Thomas has played down Wales's crippling injury list and declared: "I believe we can win." The Welsh captain also feels the All Blacks will find a possible Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland much tougher than the Lions series.
Thomas returns to the international arena with Wales eight months after a broken thumb ended his Six Nations tournament halfway through, and coach Mike Ruddock is thrilled to have his 83 times-capped leader back after losing six of Thomas's Lions colleagues - Gavin Henson, Tom Shanklin, Dwayne Peel, Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams and Ryan Jones - through either injury or family reasons.
Wales have not beaten the All Blacks since 1953, losing all 17 subsequent Tests and taking some fearful beatings in the process.
But Thomas oozes a quiet confidence, borne from eight successive Test match victories after the All Blacks won an epic Cardiff encounter 26-25 last November.
"I believe, with the team and players we've got, we can win," he said. "Come four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, it is up to the 22 (Welsh) players involved.
"As long as we back each other, and as long as we believe in each other, then that is all I can ask."
NEW ZEALAND: M Muliaina; R Gear, C Smith, T Umaga (capt), J Rokocoko; D Carter, B Kelleher; N Tialata, A Oliver, C Hayman; C Jack, J Ryan; J Collins, C Masoe, R So'oialo. Replacements: A Hore, T Woodcock, A Macdonald, R McCaw, J Cowan, M Nonu, L MacDonald.
WALES: G Thomas (capt); K Morgan, M Taylor, C Sweeney, S Williams; S Jones, M Phillips; D Jones, M Davies, A Jones; B Cockbain, R Sidoli; J Thomas, C Charvis, M Owen. Replacements: R Thomas, C Horsman, L Charteris, R Sowden-Taylor, G Cooper, N Robinson, L Byrne.
