All Blacks in quest for a win against Wales

LONDON – New Zealand is determined to defeat Scotland this weekend at Murrayfield and cap a historic rugby year it might never repeat.

The All Blacks have beaten Wales, Ireland and England this month, and need to take out a rebuilding Scotland in their last match of 2005 to wrap up only their second Grand Slam of the British Isles teams in a century. “To have a record in one year of beating the Lions three-zip, winning the Tri-Nations and holding the Bledisloe Cup, then having a Grand Slam tour of Europe against the four home nations would be astronomical really,” New Zealand coach Graham Henry said.New Zealand swept the British and Irish Lions 3-0 in July, retained the Bledisloe Cup against Australia, won the Tri-Nations with only a loss to South Africa in Cape Town, and stand to achieve its first Grand Slam since 1978.Henry made 13 changes from the team that beat England 23-19 last weekend, and remained steadfast in his goal of developing depth for the All Blacks’ 2007 World Cup squad.Ten of the XV have less than 10 caps, including debut fullback Isaia Toeava, up for the international under-19 player award on Sunday, and who has been compared to New Zealand record test tryscorer Christian Cullen.Among Saturday’s other matches, France will also be going for a sweep of sorts when it plays South Africa at Stade de France.France has accounted for Australia, Tonga, and Fiji this month.Also, there’s Wales vs.Australia in Cardiff, Ireland vs.Romania in Dublin, Italy vs.Fiji in Monza, and England vs.Samoa at Twickenham.France will field most of the side taht ran around Australia 26-16 at the start of the month, and is keen to make up for a poor tour of South Africa in June, when it drew 30-30 in Durban and lost 27-13 in Port Elizabeth.South Africa’s road trip included wins over Argentina and Wales.Coach Jake White was relieved when fullback Percy Montgomery’s red card last weekend was voided by a judiciary, and recalled veteran winger Breyton Paulse and prop Os du Randt to play France.Paulse, with 22 tries in 55 tests, had been unavailable until now because of French club commitments.Australia ended its seven-match losing streak with a 30-14 win over Ireland last Saturday, and the Wallabies always believed once they won it would spark confidence and momentum.They should get another boost at Millennium Stadium against a weakened Wales.George Gregan will mark his 50th game as Wallabies captain after denying an English report that he will retire after Saturday’s game.Wales, with six of their Lions sidelined, wants to finish its gruelling November schedule with a good show before defending its Six Nations title in February.-Nampa-AP”To have a record in one year of beating the Lions three-zip, winning the Tri-Nations and holding the Bledisloe Cup, then having a Grand Slam tour of Europe against the four home nations would be astronomical really,” New Zealand coach Graham Henry said.New Zealand swept the British and Irish Lions 3-0 in July, retained the Bledisloe Cup against Australia, won the Tri-Nations with only a loss to South Africa in Cape Town, and stand to achieve its first Grand Slam since 1978.Henry made 13 changes from the team that beat England 23-19 last weekend, and remained steadfast in his goal of developing depth for the All Blacks’ 2007 World Cup squad.Ten of the XV have less than 10 caps, including debut fullback Isaia Toeava, up for the international under-19 player award on Sunday, and who has been compared to New Zealand record test tryscorer Christian Cullen.Among Saturday’s other matches, France will also be going for a sweep of sorts when it plays South Africa at Stade de France.France has accounted for Australia, Tonga, and Fiji this month.Also, there’s Wales vs.Australia in Cardiff, Ireland vs.Romania in Dublin, Italy vs.Fiji in Monza, and England vs.Samoa at Twickenham.France will field most of the side taht ran around Australia 26-16 at the start of the month, and is keen to make up for a poor tour of South Africa in June, when it drew 30-30 in Durban and lost 27-13 in Port Elizabeth.South Africa’s road trip included wins over Argentina and Wales.Coach Jake White was relieved when fullback Percy Montgomery’s red card last weekend was voided by a judiciary, and recalled veteran winger Breyton Paulse and prop Os du Randt to play France.Paulse, with 22 tries in 55 tests, had been unavailable until now because of French club commitments.Australia ended its seven-match losing streak with a 30-14 win over Ireland last Saturday, and the Wallabies always believed once they won it would spark confidence and momentum.They should get another boost at Millennium Stadium against a weakened Wales.George Gregan will mark his 50th game as Wallabies captain after denying an English report that he will retire after Saturday’s game.Wales, with six of their Lions sidelined, wants to finish its gruelling November schedule with a good show before defending its Six Nations title in February.-Nampa-AP