What tactics should Wales employ against New Zealand? Coach Warren Gatland has said Wales have to back their skill and ability to score tries.

Rugby Correspondent Andy Howell argues, if they are going to play a wide game, they will need to make some radical changes in personnel.

Here’s five players he would consider picking to face the All Blacks in Auckland a week on Saturday...

Scott Williams for Jamie Roberts

Scott Williams

Jamie Roberts has been a wonderful servant for Wales but, if so-called Warren-ball is to be dispensed with, Gatland and backs guru Rob Howley need to employ a second play maker in midfield.

Williams has the footballing skills – vision and passing ability – to fill what the New Zealander’s call the second five-eighth role at inside-centre.

He can get the ball wider quicker and more accurately and attempt to bring giant wing George North, who hardly had a touch during last weekend’s humbling 27-13 defeat to England at Twickenham, into play more often.

Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies linking up in midfield could give New Zealand more problems than Jamie Roberts smashing it up in midfield

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Jonathan Davies is a certainty to start at outside-centre and him linking up with Williams would be a return to the dangerous partnership they struck up at the Scarlets.

The pair link well together and play off each other so could give New Zealand more problems than Roberts being used as a battering ram to crash into the All Blacks midfield.

Who Gatland and Howley plump for will be a sign of the type of game they intend Wales to play.

Matthew Morgan

Matthew Morgan would add something different

Hallam Amos was Wales’ most dangerous attacker in broken play against England because he looks for work and does things others can feed off.

I’d definitely keep Amos in the team because he’s a game-breaker who can produce the unexpected but I'd consider going a step further by calling up Matthew Morgan somewhere in the back three.

Wales were at their most dangerous under Gatland when a certain Shane Williams was strutting his stuff. The country’s record try-scorer was constantly looking for work and often turned up as first or second receiver.

He made Wales unpredictable and dangerous, with his acceleration, evasive foot-work and ability to spot and exploit weaknesses in opposition defences.

Wales have been lacking something since Shane Williams retired
Wales have been lacking something since Shane Williams retired

Morgan is in the same mould and the question that would have to be addressed, as with every other player, is would he bring more positives than negatives?

‘Nipper’ could start at full-back or on the wing. New Zealand have their own version of him in Damian McKenzie, who roams and the ability to create havoc with his tricky running and astute rugby brain.

Let’s be honest, Wales are rank outsiders to beat the All Blacks so have nothing to lose and may as well find out if Morgan can be another Shane.

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Gareth Anscombe for Dan Biggar

Gareth Anscombe

Nobody can fault the effort, commitment, determination and stability Dan Biggar provides, but he isn’t a flair outside-half who can ignite the back-line with a bit of magic.

Rhys Priestland was Gatland and Howley’s preferred No.10 before being ousted by Biggar and, when he’s on song, does challenge the defence by playing flat.

However, everybody knows what he can do at Test level. The same can’t be said of Anscombe but the Welsh-qualified New Zealander has serious pedigree, being the Baby Blacks No.10 when they lifted the under-20 World Cup in 2011 and having figured in the position on occasions for the Chiefs when they were crowned Super Rugby kings.

Anscombe has quick feet, acceleration, and an accurate long and short passing game. He’s adept at firing the ball into gaps for runners to hit and players like Jonathan Davies, North and Amos may prosper from playing off him.

James King in the second row

James King

Wales have plenty of options at lock with Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies and Jake Ball all specialists but, if they want to take New Zealand on, may need a faster forward who’s comfortable on the ball under-pressure.

The athletic King has played plenty of rugby in the boilerhouse and, although some may consider it another hair-brained idea, his speed around the pitch could be of benefit with New Zealand likely to attempt to run Wales off their feet.

The lineout wouldn’t be weakened by King in the starting line-up and he’s got the muscle to shove at the scrum.

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Ellis Jenkins to start

Blues forward Ellis Jenkins

The unfortunate knock picked up by Dan Lydiate, which has put the chop-tackling blindside flanker out of the tour, opened the door for Jenkins to be summoned as a replacement.

Another promising youngster, Ross Moriarty, is the favourite to take over from Lydiate in the back-row and certainly possesses the size, speed, skill and power to be a threat with ball in hand.

But, as we’re picking a team to combat New Zealand at the breakdown and around the paddock, I would be inclined to pick two openside flankers.

Jenkins is tough, will put his body on the line and is the type of leader – he captained Wales Under-20 to the 2013 World Cup final – Gatland is going to need to stand up against the All Blacks.

There’s no Richie McCaw in the New Zealand back-row and No.8 Kieran Read doesn’t seem to be the force of old so it’s an area where Wales could get an edge if they pick a combination that can get to the breakdown first and be strong enough not to be knocked off the ball.

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