New Zealand vs Wales
2019 Rugby World Cup third place play-off
Venue: Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo
Date: Friday, 1 November, 2019
Kick-off: 9.00am BST
Wales and New Zealand must dust themselves down after Rugby World Cup semi-final heartbreak and prepare for one final test in Japan in Friday’s third place play-off.
Defending champions New Zealand were outfought and outplayed as England put on a performance for the ages to end the All Blacks’ reign of dominance and reach their first final since 2007.
A Wales side dealt bad luck with injuries throughout the competition failed in their bid to join them, falling short against South Africa to ensure there will be no fairy-tale ending for Warren Gatland.
Like the Wales boss, New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen will also step down after this competition.
While it is a fixture no wants to be playing in, there will be plenty on the line with both teams out to pay one last tribute to their departing coaches.
Team news
Gatland is due to announce his team for the All Blacks clash on Wednesday, and changes seem certain.
Wing George North and prop Tomas Francis both went off injured during the first-half against South Africa.
If they are ruled out, then there are likely to be starts for Owen Lane - he only joined the squad last week as an injury replacement - and Dillon Lewis, while the likes of centre Owen Watkin, scrum-half Tomos Williams and lock Adam Beard could make strong claims to begin the match on the turf.
Prediction: New Zealand 28-16 Wales
How New Zealand react to the most humbling of defeats will decide how this pans out - but it is hard to imagine anything but a positive one.
While both sides will enter determined to salvage some pride - the All Blacks might just have that little bit more left in the tank.
Betting tips via Betfair Exchange | UK users only | Subject to change
Match odds
- New Zealand to win: 1/8
- Draw: 69/1
- Wales to win: 9/1
Click here to find the latest match odds and place a bet.
TV channel and live stream, and online coverage
The match will be televised live on ITV and ITV HD with build-up starting at 7:30am.
TV license payers can also stream the match online via the ITV website and the ITV Hub.
You can also follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog with Will Macpherson in Tokyo.
Head to Head record and history (h2h)
There have been 35 meetings between these two sides over the years in a fixture dominated by the All Blacks who have won 31 of those.
Wales have scraped three wins for themselves - the last of whoch came all the way back in 1953.
