Lee Byrne says Wales can stop All Black charge to grand slam

Lee Byrne insists Wales have the ability to tear up Test rugby's formbook today and inflict a rare defeat on current world leaders New Zealand.

It is an interesting theory given that Wales make their Millennium Stadium return just eight days after failing to beat Fiji, while the All Blacks were only a missed Dan Carter conversion away from putting 40 points on Ireland in Dublin.

The fixture's historical imbalance also cannot be discounted. New Zealand have beaten Wales 23 successive times, with 11 of those wins arriving during the professional era, including six in Cardiff.

The All Blacks are also undefeated 2010 Tri-Nations champions and one victory away from completing another successful Grand Slam tour to Britain and Ireland.

Wales, in the starkest of contrasts, have toppled only Scotland and Italy this year. Little wonder, perhaps, that the All Blacks are 33/1-on favourites to leave Wales floundering once again, although not that Byrne, who made his Test debut against New Zealand five years ago, sees it that way.

"We have been written off this week, probably more so than ever before," he admitted. "But I know the strength and character of the boys, and I know we are capable of doing it. Being labelled the underdogs just gives us great motivation to go out, put up a good performance and get the victory. We are capable, it's just believing in ourselves. If you can't get up for playing against the All Blacks, there is no point in playing rugby any more. They are the best team in the world."

Full-back Byrne is one of six survivors in the starting line-up from Wales' Fiji debacle, a list that also includes Ospreys forward Ryan Jones, who many pundits believe was made a scapegoat for that miserable result and performance.

Jones skippered Wales in the Fiji game, conceding an injury-time penalty which cost his team victory.

Despite Welsh optimism, though, it is impossible to ignore the statistics, and they have not beaten Tri Nations opposition since Australia succumbed in Cardiff two years ago. That trend, allied with the presence of so many potential New Zealand matchwinners - Carter, Richie McCaw, Sonny Bill Williams, Hosea Gear and Kieran Read, to name just five - makes it an immense task.

Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); G North (Scarlets), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys), T James (Cardiff Blues); S Jones (Scarlets), M Phillips (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets, capt), A Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys). Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), P James (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), A Powell (Wasps), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Rees (Cardiff Blues), A Bishop (Ospreys).

New Zealand: M Muliaina; I Toeava, C Smith, S B Williams, H Gear; D Carter, J Cowan; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, O Franks, B Thorn, S Whitelock, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read.Replacements: A Hore, J Afoa, A Boric, D Braid, A Ellis, S Donald, M Nonu.

Referee: A Lewis (Ireland).