Gatland waiting on Hook

Gatland made 12 changes to that side in last weekend's comfortable 34-13 win over Canada but now reverts back to his strongest side for the visit of the All Blacks.

Gatland still hopes Ospreys fly-half James Hook (pictured) will recover in time from a knee injury to line up among the replacements on Saturday.

Hook limped off during the victory over Canada but has been bracketed alongside his Ospreys colleague Dan Biggar on the Wales bench.

Gloucester scrum-half Gareth Cooper has seen off the challenge of Dwayne Peel, while 19-year-old Cardiff Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny keeps out experienced Scarlets speedster Mark Jones.

Wales captain Ryan Jones again features at blindside flanker, with the Blues' Andy Powell - man of the match in the 20-15 defeat against South Africa 10 days ago - keeping number eight duties.

"James Hook has shown signs of improvement in the knee injury that forced his withdrawal against Canada," Gatland said.

"Although he will not train today, we will be looking for him to run out later in the week to prove his fitness.

"If he is not available to us, his Ospreys colleague Dan Biggar will provide fly-half cover from the bench."

Despite losing to the Springboks, Wales created enough opportunities for a win that Gatland was furious his Six Nations champions did not record.

But that complete starting line-up now has another chance, Wales having gone 55 years and 19 Tests without beating the All Blacks.

Two confirmed changes on the bench see Blues prop John Yapp in for an injured Duncan Jones and Newport Gwent Dragons lock Luke Charteris replacing Ian Gough. Biggar, 19, would be a third switch.

Cooper, meanwhile, has been retained - despite Gloucester selecting him in their match-day 22 for Guinness Premiership duty on Sunday after the International Rugby Board ruled that Wales did not have to release him.

"The coaches, the fans, the players and everyone involved in rugby in Wales knows exactly how big a game this is for us," Gatland said.

"The All Blacks are the team to beat in the world game. They are the yardstick by which every nation measures themselves - and we are no different - but we are relishing the opportunity presented to us.

"I've often said that it is only by playing the best teams in the world that we can improve ourselves, and we have a chance to show some big improvements on Saturday.

"In selection, we have said 'same again' to the side which took on South Africa in our opening match of the autumn series.

"We were critical in-house of aspects of that performance, and that side has a chance to respond to that criticism.

"For the likes of Andy Powell and Leigh Halfpenny, who both had impressive debuts, our message is also the same - both players need to simply enjoy the experience and have nothing to fear.

"For some of the more senior heads in the side, we know we are looking for outstanding performances from each and every one of them if we are to be able to match the opposition."

Wales team: 15-Lee Byrne, 14-Leigh Halfpenny, 13-Tom Shanklin, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-Shane Williams, 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Gareth Cooper, 1-Gethin Jenkins, 2-Matthew Rees, 3-Adam Jones, 4-Alun Wyn Jones, 5-Ian Evans, 6-Ryan Jones, 7-Martyn Williams, 8-Andy Powell

Replacements: 16-Richard Hibbard, 17-John Yapp, 18-Luke Charteris, 19-Dafydd Jones, 20-Dwayne Peel, 21-James Hook/Dan Biggar, 22-Andrew Bishop.