THE ultimate test - that is what key Wales flanker Martyn Williams calls playing against the All Blacks.

He captained the Welsh team which got thumped by a record 55-3 against New Zealand in June in Hamilton.

Now he gets another chance - if he's in the side - against them in Sunday's final group match in Sydney.

"To play against New Zealand is the ultimate test," admitted Williams,

"Everyone wants to play to see where we are. They are probably the best team in the world and everybody wants to get out there."

But Williams refuses to believe that the All Blacks can rattle up a similar score again on Sunday.

"They outplayed us in the second half and we couldn't live with them," he admitted.

"They had lost to England the week before and they went on to put 50 points on Australia and South Africa.

"They are a top side, but we are confident of putting in a much better performance and of giving them their toughest game so far.

"We worked so hard in the summer that I can't see it happening this time.

"The 174 tackles we made against Italy shows not just our fitness, but the spirit in the camp. We have taken a lot of flak during eleven successive defeats, but it has brought us together a lot.

"I know there is a lot of aura about the All Blacks, but Samoa just went out and played against them. They can be rattled and we have got to do the same. If you go out and just try to keep the score down you are in for a hiding.

"We are not getting carried away, we haven't beaten a big side, but winning five games in a row helps. When we lost 11 on the trot we were stuck in a rut, but the confidence is better now.

"There is a sense of relief that we have got through, but we can't sit back or we'll get embarrassed. We have got to be on top of our game, we can't afford a hiding before the quarter-final."

Williams believes he is still not at his peak, but he is aware many more Welsh fans are out here now willing them on.

"I'm happy with the way I,ve been playing, but I played a lot better in the Six Nations," he said.

"I'm still not up to match speed and could be making a lot more tackles.

"We know there's a lot more Welsh people coming out here now, so Sunday and the following Sunday we realise everyone will be behind us."

Meanwhile, brilliant New Zealand centre Aaron Mauger hopes to start his first game in the World Cup against Wales after recovering from a badly bruised knee.

Leon McDonald, normally a full back, is set to be retained at outside centre after playing well there in the rout of Tonga, kicking 12 conversions in addition.