All Blacks legend

The last game of a trip is hard for any touring team from the southern hemisphere.

You are thinking: "Next week I'll be on the beach, I've got a couple of months' rest, and it's only a few weeks until Christmas."

Traditionally the last game always used to be against the Barbarians, but for the All Blacks it is Wales in Cardiff.

Complacency is an issue for Graham Henry and his coaches in a week like this, and they need to make sure they get the preparations right.

But I don't see it as a problem for this game, such have been New Zealand's performances over the past few weeks.

Wales might be in there with 60 minutes gone, but that won't be good enough

I think Wales will be competitive but I don't think they will have the 80-minute game in them, which is what the All Blacks will have.

Some commentators in New Zealand have slated the Welsh and the expectation is of a comfortable victory.

I think for a while Welsh rugby was in decline but they have turned things around, and in terms of the northern hemsiphere, the Welsh and Irish have made strides forward.

The nucleus of the Wales team is there and they are gaining experience together, which is a good thing.

They are playing an exciting game, but you saw the ease with which Australia scored points against them in the first and last quarters.

The Wallabies just didn't have enough left at the end, which was understandable as they came into these Tests without playing any domestic rugby before they came.

Wales really need to perform because they are going to get it for 80 minutes. They might be in there with 60 minutes gone, but that won't be good enough.

McAlister is a big powerful guy, but with a few more clues about him

I went to both New Zealand games in France, and was gobsmacked with the ease they squeezed the French in the first Test in Lyon, after making 11 changes from the previous week at Twickenham.

The guys who played had a case for staying in the side but true to form, Graham Henry stuck to his guns and changed things again.

At least the French turned up for the second Test. The All Blacks were not quite the polished article but still won comfortably, a nice little indication of where they are going into World Cup year.

They are starting to finalise the nucleus of the team now with the likes of Hayman, Woodcock, Jack, McCaw, Collins, Carter, Muliaina, Gear. There are seven or eight guys there, which is pretty similiar to the hard core of that England team in 2003.

They have gone for Luke McAlister and Conrad Smith in the centre this week, which is a combination I have advocated.

That gives another kicking option with McAlister, but he is also fantastic in attack. He can throw a lovely wide pass off either hand, and he is very strong.

The great thing about Luke is he is a big powerful guy, very similar to Ma'a Nonu in terms of his robustness, but has a few more clues about him. Him and Smith are both thinkers.

NZ need to make sure they keep their foot on the throat and really choke them

As a former number eight, I would feel a lot more at ease having guys like that and Dan Carter to make the decisions behind me.

Wales have gone for a more physical guy in Sonny Parker, who is from our Marist club in New Zealand, and it was Graham Henry who brought him over to Wales way back.

He has been out of the international scene for a while and it is going to be interesting to see how he handles this game.

It is going to be more of a Test match for New Zealand and Wales will fancy their chances, but we will know in the first 20 minutes whether they are going to be in the game or not.

The All Blacks have to be prepared for a bit of a Welsh onslaught for the first 20 or 25 minutes.

But I don't see this as a game New Zealand are likely to lose.

They just need to make sure they keep their foot on the throat and really squeeze and choke them.