A FAMILIAR foe from a Rodney Parade showdown will line up against wing Leigh Halfpenny when Wales lock horns with New Zealand tomorrow evening.

The Cardiff Blues flyer wore the number 14 jersey when Wales Under-20s went up against the Kiwis in last year’s Junior World Cup semi-final.

On the opposition’s right flank was Zac Guildford – the Crusaders speedster who will make his Test debut at the Millennium Stadium.

New Zealand were comfortable 31-6 winners in Newport that June evening and right wing Halfpenny will be seeking revenge when he goes up in direct opposition against Guildford, who will be on the left.

The 20-year-old is adopting a slightly more cautious approach than his bullish head coach when it comes to Wales’ chances against the All Blacks.

Warren Gatland didn’t just kick the hornets’ nest, he trampled all over it as well when he suggested New Zealand had lost their aura of invincibility.

The media in his homeland picked up on his comment while the All Blacks camp have chosen not to rise to the bait.

Halfpenny did not go as far as his boss but was keen to emphasise the confidence in the Welsh squad.

“New Zealand are a superb team and everyone wants to play against them,” he said.

“The Haka is pretty special and it was great seeing that up close for the first time last season.

“But, saying that, I think the time where players were in awe of them has gone and it’s definitely about us and not them this year.

“We are quietly confident that it could be a good time to get a win after a long 50 years. We have moved on as a team.

“When we got back together as a group last week, it was like we’d never been away.

“We came straight into training and it was like we gelled straight away. Everyone was clear with the calls and the plays we’ve got.

“Before, we would be playing the All Blacks trying to keep the score down. Last year we got confidence out of it that we had them on the ropes until half-time.

“We didn’t manage to play in the second half then but we’ve learned from that and we are confident.

“We are training well and know if we play like we can we will be in with a good chance. Anything other than a win will be a disappointment.”

Halfpenny had a remarkable first international campaign that led to him winning a place with the British and Irish Lions.

Injury curtailed his time in South Africa and he made a slow start to the season with Cardiff Blues.

“At the start of this season, I probably felt I had to try and get back to where I was straight away and live up to the expectations on me,” he admitted.

“I was thinking I needed to impress and I probably wasn’t enjoying the game as I was last season.”