Warren Gatland thinks exposure to the All Blacks on Lions duty will help Wales

Warren Gatland believes Wales’ players will benefit from regular exposure against New Zealand as they prepare to tackle the world champions on Saturday.

Wales head coach Gatland’s starting line-up contains four players – Alun Wyn Jones, Taulupe Faletau, Rhys Webb and Ken Owens – who helped the British and Irish Lions beat the All Blacks in Wellington five months ago as part of a drawn Test series.

Gatland, Lions mastermind on that occasion, is now tasked with trying to end Wales’ dismal run of results against New Zealand, one that has spanned 29 Tests and stretched back 64 years.

“The reason we are excited is probably the way the players have prepared themselves,” he said. “We have got a group of players in the squad, and some of them have had success, obviously in a different jersey.

“I think in the past, and rightly so, the All Blacks, having been the best team in the world consistently, you kind of have almost that fear factor about playing them.

“The fact that some of these players have played them on a regular basis, it is not kind of that sort of trepidation, I suppose, in terms of familiarity. Having played against a number of those players on a regular basis, you just feel a bit more comfortable.

“These guys have prepared really well this week. They just seem calm and not so nervous and uptight as they may have been in the past. I think that’s the experienced players like Alun Wyn (Jones) or Ken Owens or Taulupe Faletau, just having had that experience of playing against the All Blacks.

“They are still the best team in the world. They could put out a fourth, fifth, sixth-strength team and still beat most teams because of the quality of players that they have.

“They are obviously probably missing seven or eight of their regular starters from 12 months ago, but in saying that, it is an opportunity they get to develop some depth, and we are going through the same process.”

Gatland has made three changes from the side beaten by Australia earlier this month, with Webb, wing Hallam Amos and centre Scott Williams all featuring.

Gatland, though, has named an unchanged pack following the 29-21 Wallabies defeat 19 days ago, with fit-again flanker Justin Tipuric chosen among the replacements, where he is joined by the likes of 93 times-capped centre Jamie Roberts, Bath fly-half Rhys Priestland and Scarlets prop Wyn Jones.

“People are saying things about the All Blacks at the moment – someone asked me the question the other day, looking for a headline, were they vulnerable. I don’t think the All Blacks are ever vulnerable,” Gatland added.

“They are undefeated on this tour. They know how to win, they know how to grind out performances and they know to come back.

“We are excited about Saturday and the opportunity to play the best team in the world. If you can’t get up for that, then you shouldn’t be on the pitch.

“As a group, we haven’t spoken about the summer (Lions) and what happened in New Zealand. It is about Wales and us concentrating ourselves.”