Tom Willis should have a fair idea of who will win the test on Saturday night.
After all, he has played for the All Blacks and also played professional rugby in Wales, playing alongside current Welsh players Luke Charteris and Taluape Faletau for the Newport Gwent Dragons.
Willis, who is now back in Dunedin and is a practising property solicitor with Gallaway Cook Allan, said the Welsh had played exceptionally well in the two tests in Auckland and Wellington.
"I think the Welsh should be given a lot of credit for the way they have played so far. It has only been a five to 10-minute patch during the game that has been the difference,'' he said.
"In both of the tests the All Blacks have been down or even at halftime and they have been putting a lot of pressure on the All Blacks. That's uncommon at home. Clearly, they have developed their style of game and play with a lot more width and enterprise than previous Welsh teams have demonstrated.
"They would be disappointed with the results of the first two games ... but the way they have played in the first two tests they would take some comfort away from that. Looking to the future they have to be happy with the way they have played.''
The former All Black hooker, who played seven games for the All Blacks, including five tests, in 2001-02, played for Waikato and the Chiefs when Warren Gatland was involved as a coach.
"He [Gatland] is an excellent man manager and motivator of players. What I recall is that he stands behind his players but is not afraid to point the finger and ask hard questions of players. But behind that you know he has got your back. A very loyal sort of guy.
"When I was over there that was pretty much the start of Warren getting involved ... he was looking at the overall conditioning and the fitness of the players and trying to improve that and instilling a winning and mentally tough attitude.
"They may not be winning against the All Blacks but you compare Wales against other teams in Gatland's time and they have done well. They seem to be continuing along the right path towards 2019.''
Willis (37) ended his career in Wales in 2011 after playing four seasons and said rugby was still the No1 sport in the country.
"It's just like here if not even more. Everyone is right into it and it dominates the sports pages. They are a very passionate people.
"Cardiff is a very exciting environment to be in when a test match is played in the city.''
Willis arrived in Wales in 2008 and his team played against most of the major sides in Europe and he regularly played against many of the Welsh players on tour. No8 Taluape Faletau was just coming through the system at Newport as a 17-18-year-old while Willis was there and clearly stood out even at a young age.
"The game over there is just not played at the same pace as here. The job Warren [Gatland] has got is getting the players up to the standard of fitness required to play at that test level set by the New Zealand. I don't think they are too far away from it now.''
The Dragons club is based in Newport and plays in the combined league with Welsh, Scottish, Irish and Italian sides.
Willis enjoyed his time in Wales but said by the time he called it quits the body and mind were waning.
"My knee was shot, I kept breaking my thumb and I had had a fair crack. I knew my time was done and it had come to an end.''
Willis has put his law degree to good use and is a busy father of three with wife Jody finishing off her fulltime studies for a bachelor's degree in oral health. Their children are Lola (5), Charlie (3) and Sadie (6 months).
"Now I'm just a keen supporter of Southern, Otago and the Highlanders. Charlie will decide what he wants to play but I'm pretty sure he will get a pair of rugby boots chucked at him and pointed towards Bathgate Park.
"It's nice to be home. I grew up here and then was lucky enough to play for the Highlanders and then go and play rugby in the North Island and then overseas.''
Willis will be at the test on Saturday and said he was picking an All Black victory.
"I would expect the All Blacks to win by a 10 to 15-point margin. It might blow out a wee bit more. I expected that in the other two but Wales just didn't go away.''
