* The countries have met on 24 occasions - New Zealand lead the series 21-3.

* Wales' record win was a 13-8 success at Cardiff Arms Park in 1953, while New Zealand boast a best of 55-3 (Hamilton, 2003).

* Wales have not beaten New Zealand for 56 years, their last victory being the 13-8 success in Cardiff on December 19, 1953.

* New Zealand have met Wales five times at the Millennium Stadium, winning all five Tests and averaging almost 37 points a time.

* All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter has scored 92 points in just five appearances against Wales.

* Carter needs 16 points to overtake Andrew Mehrtens as New Zealand's all-time highest international points scorer. Mehrtens amassed 967 points during his Test career.

* James Hook will make only his second Wales start at full-back on Saturday. It is Hook's 34th Test match appearance.

* Wales prop Paul James wins his second cap this weekend, more than six years after being handed a Test debut against Romania at Wrexham.

* All Blacks wing Zac Guildford will make his Test debut on Saturday at the age of 20.

* Wales field 12 survivors from the side beaten 29-9 by New Zealand last year. The exceptions are Hook, James and lock Luke Charteris.