Welsh great 'wonders if Wales are ready to face New Zealand'

One of Wales' greatest ever players has issued a dire warning to his old team in the wake of their uninspiring 13-6 win over Georgia.

Barry John, star of the early 1970's Welsh rugby renaissance, wrote in his Wales Online column that "having seen this awful showing against Georgia, I do wonder if Wales are ready to face New Zealand."

"Coach Warren Gatland had made wholesale changes from the team which had been competitive against Australia last weekend but, never mind that, this display was a major let-down.

"The players will have to turn up, so to speak, at the Principality Stadium against the All Blacks because, if they don’t, it won’t be pretty to watch."

Wales' laboured one-try effort may have given hope to Georgian ambitions to be included in the 6 Nations one day, it said a lot more about the malaise of their own team more than anything else.

"Rhys Priestland was competent and went through the patterns and drills," John wrote "which are the norm at international level for a No.10, but the midfield hardly sparkled, compared to that which had faced Australia.

"Georgia’s defence, despite from a lack of pace, managed to deal with the Welsh threat very easily for the most part."

Wales welcome the All Blacks to Principality Stadium this weekend, the last match on the New Zealanders' end of year tour.