NEW ZEALAND v WALES
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Date: Sat, 26 June Kick-off: 0835 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales MW & online, with score updates online

Gatland hopes for an enjoyable home-coming in Hamilton

Coach Warren Gatland has demanded his Wales team earn the respect of rugby-obsessed New Zealand in Saturday's second Test in his home town Hamilton.

Gatland insists their 2008 Six Nations Grand Slam "counts for nothing" with the All Blacks and World Cup hosts.

"Unless you can come to New Zealand and perform and at least push a team right to the limits, you don't leave this country with the respect of the people.

"That is important," he said. "We want to leave with our heads held high."

Gatland, who played more than 140 games for the Waikato provincial side based at the Waikato Stadium as a hooker, is a graduate of Hamilton Boys' High School and he took his Welsh team to train at his old school on Tuesday.

The New Zealander also coached the Waikato team to the Air New Zealand Cup in 2006 and was technical advisor to the Waikato Chiefs Super 14 franchise before replacing Gareth Jenkins as Wales coach in December 2007.

Probably why the Welsh are so respected individually here as players is not what the Welsh team achieved in the northern hemisphere in the 1970s but what the 1971 Lions did Wales coach Warren Gatland

He returns to his old stomping ground bidding for revenge and respect after a 42-9 defeat in last Saturday's first Test in Dunedin.

Gatland also hopes his team can woo the locals with Wales playing two of their four 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool games - against Samoa and Fiji - in Hamilton.

"Whatever you have achieved in the northern hemisphere and what you have won as a player or as coach counts for nothing here," he said.

"This team has an opportunity to create a reputation in this country that will last into the Rugby World Cup next year and beyond - and that's one we need to take.

"And probably why the Welsh are so respected individually here as players is not what the Welsh team achieved in the northern hemisphere in the 1970s but what the 1971 Lions did."

Wales won five Five Nations titles, three Grand Slams and five Triple Crowns during their golden era of the 1970s and supplied 13 players to the 1971 British and Irish Lions squad.

Coached by Carwyn James and skippered by fellow Welshman John Dawes, the '71 immortals have gone down in history as being the only Lions team to win a Test series - 2-1 - in New Zealand, arguably the toughest place to tour in world rugby.

Barry John was pivotal to the Lions success and the Wales fly-half legend is still revered in New Zealand while wing Gerald Davies scored twice in the second Test in Christchurch and again in the third Test in Wellington.

Fellow Welsh rugby greats Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams and Mervyn Davies also starred in all four 1971 Lions Tests.

"The fact so many Welsh players came here and were a part of the 1971 Lions success meant they achieved," said Gatland.

"Thing is about New Zealand is whatever you achieve outside this country, unless you perform here you don't earn the respect of the New Zealand public, fans or media - and that is a fact of reality."

New Zealander Gatland not only won a Grand Slam for Wales at the first attempt but also inspired London Wasps to Heineken Cup glory in 2004 and three consecutive Premiership titles from 2003 to 2005.

Wales have not beaten New Zealand since 1953 and have never beaten the mighty All Blacks on their own turf.

Gatland's opposite number Graham Henry, the All Blacks coach, was probably only half-joking when he said he hoped being at home would increase the pressure on the Wales coach.

"A Test match is a Test match and there's pressure for coaches whether you play in your home town or you are playing in Timbuktu," he said.

"I'm sure he would like the Welsh boys to play exceptionally well any time. But maybe playing in Hamilton just adds one or two per cent."

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