Llewellyn's law: all in the head

Veteran Wales lock Gareth Llewellyn has called on his team-mates to create the same rugby fervour that nearly drove Neath to upset the 1989 All Blacks, a team he says were the greatest he ever faced.

Llewellyn, whose 70 caps are more than the 61 of the whole New Zealand forward pack combined, played his first test in the 34-9 loss in Cardiff 13 years ago.

Llewellyn earned his selection with a fine display a week earlier as his Neath club came close to upsetting Wayne Shelford's unbeaten tourists before going down 26-15 at The Gnoll.

"At Neath, we did actually run the All Blacks closer than Wales did. At that time we had something we need to take into Saturday's game," Llewellyn said.

He said playing that All Blacks team remained one of his greatest memories.

"Australia have been the world's most successful team in the last decade, but I caught the tailend of what I consider to be one of the best rugby teams that has ever played - the 1989 All Blacks," Llewellyn said.

"Some of the greatest players that ever pulled on a New Zealand shirt played in those games involving Neath and Wales, and playing against them was fantastic."

The present New Zealand tourists were a very good team but beatable, particularly with a host of new names on Sunday, he said.

But Wales needed to improve their mental attitude .

"For me personally, this would be the biggest scalp.

"They have that aura about them with the shirt and the dark side of things, but we have to see through that.

"We have to see them for what they are, which is a rugby team."

Llewellyn, 33, was aware his career was nearing an end but said he would not retire as No 8 Scott Quinnell, three years his junior, did this week.

"My international career will last as long as Wales need me. My body feels relatively okay, apart from on Sunday mornings.

"I'm just going to keep on going and either [coach] Steve Hansen will tell me to get lost or something will fall apart somewhere.

"Steve talks about what price players are prepared to pay to stay and play for Wales.

"For me it doesn't come down to that; it's not a price at all.

"It's not something that's a burden, it's a privilege to be enjoyed and I love every minute of it."

- NZPA