McCaw says All Blacks must plug defensive gaps

IT APPEARS that conceding four tries to an under-manned Ireland team last weekend still rankles with New Zealand, despite hammering the tourists 66-28.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said on the eve of the first Test against Wales that tightening up their defence had been a key area of focus ahead of the Carisbrook showdown.

While there were some mitigating circumstances in New Plymouth – namely coach Graham Henry emptying his bench and the All Blacks taking their foot off the gas at 52-7 up – McCaw was still unimpressed.

"A couple of the tries were a bit soft and you wouldn't want them to happen too regularly," he said. "That's one area we've put a bit of work into this week."

Although the All Blacks have kept Wales try-less on the previous two occasions the teams have met in Cardiff, McCaw said they remained wary of Wales' attacking ability – particularly with full-back Lee Byrne and wingers Leigh Halfpenny and Tom Prydie not afraid to counter-attack.

"I think (Wales] have led the way, especially among the home nations, with their ability to use the ball," the New Zealand openside flanker said.

"That's obviously been how they've wanted to play the game. It's up to us to limit their opportunities and create our own. They always play with a fair bit of passion and it's always a physical challenge against them.

"I've always enjoyed the matches we've had and they've never been easy. The last couple of years they've been tight games which have been good to play in."

Saturday's match brings down the curtain on 102 years of international rugby at Carisbrook, and McCaw said the significance of the ground and its history and tradition in New Zealand rugby had been used to motivate the team, particularly as the All Blacks have lost their past two Tests there – against South Africa in 2008 and France last year.

"Guys all realise it's probably the last time they'll get to play here," he said. "There's a bit of significance and history that's gone on and that's been mentioned. But you can't make a huge deal of it. It's a game we've got to go out and perform in. But it will be pretty cool to be involved in the last game here."

New Zealand (v Wales, today in Dunedin, kick-off 8.35am BST): I Dagg; C Jane, C Smith, B Stanley, J Rokocoko; D Carter, J Cowan; B Franks, K Mealamu, O Franks, B Thorn, A Boric, V Vito, R McCaw (captain), K Read. Substitutes: A de Malmanche, T Woodcock, S Whitelock, A Thomson, P Weepu, A Cruden, R Kahui.

Wales: L Byrne; L Halfpenny, A Bishop, J Roberts, T Prydie; S Jones, M Phillips; P James, M Rees, A Jones, B Davies, A Wyn Jones, J Thomas, G Thomas, R Jones (captain). Substitutes: H Bennett, J Yapp, D Jones, R McCusker, T Knoyle, D Biggar, J Davies.