Dan Carter coasts in to score against Wales in 2005 © Getty Images

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Teams: Battle lines draw for Cardiff showdown

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Matches: Wales 25 - 37 New Zealand

Tournaments/Tours: New Zealand tour

Teams: New Zealand | Wales

Wales take on New Zealand in Cardiff this weekend with the weight of history still hanging heavy over the fixture.

The hosts have not beaten the All Blacks since Ken Jones and Sid Judd's 1953 heroics and the vintage of 2010 appear to have little chance of replicating those feats after a difficult few weeks.

An encouraging start against South Africa two weeks ago was wasted in the second-half before last weekend's debacle against Fiji saw the side booed from the field. Those fans who believe Warren Gatland's men to have frozen in the face of their losing run against the Springboks will be hoping that they have discovered some steel in the intervening weeks as their wait for victory over New Zealand has become something of a national crisis.

There have been several close calls for Wales to take heart from along the way, most notably a classic at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, a 26-25 loss back in 2004 and Andy Haden's fabled dive in 1978.

But the fact remains that the All Blacks have also frequently enjoyed themselves, including two wins on their way to Grand Slam tours in the last five years. In 2005 they routed a weakened side 41-3 before Wales' infamous Haka showdown was quelled with a 29-9 victory.

They're in search of another clean sweep this weekend - with a result either way set to go down in the annals of the game.

Wales v New Zealand all-time record: Played 26, Wales won three, New Zealand won 23

Biggest winning margin: Wal: Five points, 13-8 at National Stadium; NZ: 52 points, 55-3 at Waikato Stadium, 2003

Highest score: Wal: 37 points, 37-53 at Stadium Australia, 2003; NZ: 55 points, 55-3 at Waikato Stadium, 2003

Most tries: Wal: Four, 37-53 at Stadium Australia, 2003; NZ: 10, 52-3 at Lancaster Park, 1988

Longest winning sequence: Wal: Two (1935-1953); NZ: 23 (1963-present)

Most points (individual): Wal: Stephen Jones 69; NZ: Dan Carter 150

Most tries (individual): Wal: Two, Geoffrey Jones; NZ: Eight, John Kirwan

Most points in a Test: Wal: 17, Stephen Jones at Stadium Australia, 2003; NZ: 27, Dan Carter at Carisbrook, 2010

• Click here for Wales' full Test record courtesy of Statsguru

• Click here for New Zealand's full Test record courtesy of Statsguru

• Click here for a record of all Wales v New Zealand matches courtesy of Statsguru

• Click here for a record of all of Wales' home matches against New Zealand courtesy of Statsguru