Andy Haden's dive, Joe Rokocoko's try double in a tight thriller, Alun Wyn Jones running out of steam after an interception, Andrew Hore getting away with a first-minute punch. What Wales would give for another sob story against New Zealand.

Steve Tandy's side have the latest shot at making history when they welcome the All Blacks to Principality Stadium in the Nations Championship (14:10 GMT).

The odds for a home win are long: 20-1.

That is the same price as Japan at England, while bookies prefer Fiji's chances in Ireland.

The likelihood is a 35th straight loss to New Zealand will be chalked up, with the streak of Welsh misery going into a 74th year since the victory in December 1953.

Tickets are still available for the fixture, which would have been unthinkable in past years when supporters feared missing history being made.

Is it defeatist to consider what would be a successful loss?

After spluttering to a 28-21 victory against Japan, and with morale low in the Welsh game courtesy of constant off-field turmoil, Wales must show something.

A year ago the score in the 48th minute was just 24-21 to New Zealand. Can Tandy's men make it to the hour with the unlikely still possible?

Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 5Live

Head coach Tandy has enjoyed victories against Japan twice, Fiji and Italy since taking the reins in 2025.

Wales' most recent victory of real significance was the 40-6 dismantling of Australia in the group stages of the 2023 World Cup under Warren Gatland.

The Wallabies are in town next Saturday (20:10 GMT) and that appears to present a better chance for a statement win, especially after their shocker against England last weekend.

Number eight Aaron Wainwright, who will be missed against New Zealand due to injury, stressed before the campaign that it is time to start making others sit up and take notice.

"It's about now we need to start putting in those performances that are going to make teams worried about us," he said before Wales failed to do that against Japan.

Wales were ranked eighth in the world when edged out 26-25 by New Zealand in 2004, a defeat that came a fortnight after a 38-36 loss to South Africa.

With 11 months to the start of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, time is running out to earn the respect of the teams that will travel to Australia with hopes of lifting the trophy.

"We want to push up the the rankings table, we want to get back into the top eight," said Wales captain Dewi Lake.

"You're looking at two teams [in New Zealand and Australia] that are sitting in there. It's an opportunity to see how we measure up."

The display against Japan did little to suggest that the gap to the elite is closing.

"We were lucky last week that we were good enough to still win the game off the back of not performing as well as we wanted," admitted Lake.

"We've done a lot of work over the last year and a half on performance and we want to see that come to fruition.

"We know there are more levels in us and need to go there this weekend."

Tandy has tinkered with his team, with Wainwright's injury presenting a big opportunity for Taine Basham to take his Cardiff club form on to the international stage.

The 27-year-old from Talywain was Wales' star man against New Zealand in 2021 and this will be his first Test start since 2022.

The dynamic back-row forward must grasp his opportunity in the most fiercely competitive department of the squad.

The line-out struggled against Japan - who have top operators in Harry Hockings, Warner Dearns and Ben Gunter - but hooker Lake is confident it was just a bad day.

"Go back on our performances over the last 12 to 18 months and we've been one of the top teams in the world in that area," said the Gloucester captain.

"A lot of our tries have come from driving maul or line-out set plays. We have got backs who are dangerous on launch plays.

"When we do secure our set-piece we are a dangerous team. It was a setback last week but we'll put it right."

Montpellier lock Adam Beard, who is 6ft 8ins, returns to the side as line-out caller and Dragons co-captain Ben Carter drops to the bench.

Wales scored four tries in defeat by New Zealand last year when Tom Rogers made history with a hat-trick, with his fellow wing Louis Rees-Zammit getting the other with an acrobatic finish.

Rees-Zammit and full-back Blair Murray will aim to build on bright showings against Japan and have been joined by in-form Leicester wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb in the bid to give New Zealand a bloody nose.

"When you get the ball and get chances, be brave with it, be fearless because we have a strong back line and players who can finish," said Rees-Zammit.

Wales have only finished within a score of the All Blacks twice in 23 games since rugby union went professional in 1995.

In 2004 the defeat was by a point, with poor time management proving costly at the end, while in 2009 a chance to end the losing streak with a draw was lost when lock Jones was reeled in after an interception and then a last-gasp line-out went awry.

Better Wales teams than this one - Grand Slam winners and sides full of Lions - have failed to put the All Blacks under pressure.

New Zealand are hunting their fourth successive half-century in Cardiff after a 54-16 win in 2021, 55-23 in 2022 and 52-26 last year.

The second of those triumphs matched the All Blacks' highest points tally against Wales, a number they first hit in Hamilton in 2003.

It is a very one-sided rivalry but the magic of facing New Zealand, and facing the Haka, remains.

"I remember the 2013 year that they went unbeaten. They were a special team and will probably go down as the greatest ever," said lock Dafydd Jenkins about the double World Cup winning side.

"Everyone loved watching them. Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino and Richie McCaw – that back five will go down in history.

"When I was growing up, they were the South Africa of today and everyone hears stories about the famous black jersey.

"I've played with a few Kiwis at Exeter and they say how important it is to their culture. There's an aura around the All Blacks jersey."

The mood surrounding New Zealand is vastly different to 2025, when they travelled to Wales fresh from defeat by England.

The pressure and scrutiny on then boss Scott Robertson was intense as he twitchily carried out his pre-match media duties in their Cardiff bay hotel.

New Zealand eased to victory at Principality Stadium but it proved to be Robertson's last game in charge.

New Zealand beat South Africa in Johannesburg and took plenty of positives despite being hit by a Springbok response in three defeats that followed.

After two wins against Australia and last week's second-half dominance against Scotland, the All Blacks will expect to ease past Wales before a mouthwatering game against England that is seen as the litmus test of their progress.

Beauden Barrett, who will captain New Zealand in a Test for the first time, warned against complacency.

"Wales are a team that want to play," said the full-back. "They've got plenty of excitement and some really big threats, especially out wide.

"They've certainly got a lot of grit, a lot of skill and X-factor, so we've got to be ready for anything."

New Zealand aim to keep the heat on South Africa for first place in the southern hemisphere table, although the world champions have a healthy points difference advantage.

Wales players will back themselves to reward those who put their money on the 20-1 long shot, but most outside the camp would settle for making the visitors work for victory.

Wales: Murray; Rees-Zammit, E James, Llewellyn, Hamer-Webb; Costelow, Tomos Williams; N Smith, Lake (capt), Griffin, D Jenkins, Beard, Botham, Morgan Basham.

Replacements: Elias, G Thomas, D Lewis, Carter, Plumtree, Morgan-Williams, Edwards, Hennessey.

New Zealand: B Barrett (capt); Fineanganofo, Tupaea, Lienert-Brown, Moorby; Mo'unga, Ratima; Bower, Aumua, Newell, S Barrett, Lord, Segner, Lakai, Sititi.

Replacements: Bell, Numia, Tosi, Hannah, E Blackadder, Fainga'anuku, Preston, R Ioane.

Referee: Pierre Brousset (France).

Assistants referees: Nic Berry (Australia) & Luc Ramos (France)

TMO: Tual Trainini (France).

Wales have two fixtures remaining to decide their placing for finals day at Allianz Stadium.

It is possible that they could learn their Twickenham opponents this weekend with a round to play.

If Italy fail to beat Argentina with a bonus point on Saturday (11:40 GMT) then Wales will be guaranteed to finish at least fifth in the northern hemisphere table.

A Scotland bonus-point win against Australia on Sunday (15:10 GMT) would put fourth out of reach, and the Scots finish against Japan even if they slip up.

Another meeting with Japan looms unless Fiji win in Italy next weekend.