S4C pundit Gwyn Jones looks ahead to the daunting encounter against New Zealand after the disappointing performance against Japan
09:55, 21 Nov 2025Updated 12:03, 21 Nov 2025
Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard need to provide more, according to Gwyn Jones(Image: Pro Sports Images)
As if it wasn’t hard enough, Wales face the daunting prospect of a fired up All Black team in Cardiff this weekend. No one is expecting Wales to win, escaping without humiliation would be very acceptable.
This is not dissimilar to my experience of playing against New Zealand 20-odd years ago. We faced a team of legends in Wembley that included Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen and Zinzan Brooke to name but a few.
I found myself holding two beliefs at the same time. I knew they were miles better than us and going to win comfortably, yet I also held on to the idea that there is always a chance that a miracle could happen.
It didn’t take long for reality to bite. The All Blacks exploded into the game and racked up a 14 point lead in no time. Dreams of a heroic afternoon were dashed within minutes.
The New Zealand of today are not the world beaters we are used to seeing, but like their predecessors they have the ability to score points quickly. Tries come in bursts and before you know it they are out of sight.
They shocked the Springboks at Eden Park this summer, racing to a 14-0 lead within 15 minutes. A margin the Boks could never claw back.
The attribute I admire the most about the All Blacks is their attacking mindset. They are the most attacking side in tier one rugby. When an All Black gains possession, his first thought is “is it on?”.
If the answer is yes, the team switch in unison into attack mode. It doesn’t matter where they are on the pitch, it doesn’t matter what the score is, if it’s on, it’s on. That’s why they rack up huge scores against lesser teams. It’s not so much a ruthless attitude to drive home an advantage, it’s simply the way they approach the game.
For decades that attitude has made them impossible to contain. You thought you had a grip on them, and yet one moment’s hesitation is all they need to spring into life.
That positivity has been successful because the players had both the physicality and the skills needed to explode into action. However, this All Black vintage is missing a fraction of the power that it used to have. And against the big boys of world rugby, South Africa, England, Argentina and France they can’t quite achieve parity in the collisions that allow them to play with pace.
Unfortunately, Wales are not in a position to be able to stop them on the gain line, slow down their recycling and prevent them from creating chance after chance.
Wales did show bags of character in the final few minutes against Japan to secure an undeserved win. What disappointed me most was that the attacking shape we saw glimpses of against Argentina was nowhere to be seen. Wales scored four tries against the Pumas and despite the comprehensive defeat we clung on to the hope that at least we have an attacking game that’s emerging.
Wales were poor against Japan(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
I am not surprised therefore that Joe Hawkins has been brought in. Wales lack a punch in midfield and it looks more balanced with him there. Wales need to have a gainline threat in the front line to hold the defence and give the second line more room.
Alex Mann has been a revelation in the first two matches. He starts on the blindside this weekend which I think is his best position. He looks a fine prospect at 23 years old but to be the long term answer in that position on the world stage he will have to gain power and weight. That is not a criticism, this is something that he can do given the right support.
One area where I was expecting to see more from was Wales’ second rows. They both work hard, hit rucks and put in the tackles but I was hoping that they would be able to impact the game every now and again. What you need to see from the biggest men in the team is big carries, dominant tackles and generally being aggressive. They have both been a little subdued and passive.
You can’t expect them to be Alun Wyn Jones but you’d like to see the grunt that players like Jake Ball and Will Rowlands often provided. It will be a challenge for them against the All Blacks but they need to show a spark.
It feels like Wales rugby fans will be putting their tin hats on for the next two matches. Hoping to emerge on the other side not too damaged. The All Blacks always bring a show to Cardiff and I am willing Wales to get stuck into them and make them fight for everything. We can ask no more.
Gwyn Jones is part of S4C’s live coverage of Wales v New Zealand on Saturday. Coverage starts at 2.30pm