Butch is without Sundance but he is still winning the shoot-out.
All Black centre Conrad Smith is without his regular partner in the midfield but says it is not having a huge impact on his game.
Smith (28), fresh off a two-try effort against Ireland, yesterday said not playing with Ma'a Nonu did not cause him too many moments of unease against the plucky but out-gunned Irish.
"It wasn't something I thought of during the game but I think it was during the build-up that I thought `Man, I haven't played with anyone else for a while'," he said.
"But in terms of the game we'd had 10 days of build-up ... and I had my mind on the job so was not really thinking about that."
Smith said he has to change his game a little without the bruising Nonu inside him, although his replacement, Benson Stanley, had proved himself.
"I think with the build-up of about a week and a-half, you can gauge how a guy plays, how he is with the ball and adjust accordingly .
It is probably done subconsciously more than anything."
Smith, one of the more experienced players in the All Black backline these days, said a more senior role did not lead to him yelling endlessly.
"There was not a whole lot of talk required.
We've had a bit of a seamless transition.
We had a good build-up, the team played well and we were getting a lot of good pill."
Smith said the three early tests were a good building block for the Tri-Nations, then the World Cup next year and he was glad he stayed in New Zealand to finally cement his place in the national team.
He felt too many players were heading overseas early before they had fully developed.
"I think it is a real issue in New Zealand.
I think players, the public and the media expect players to be playing their best rugby when they are too young.
"At my first World Cup [in 2007] people wanted me to be the centre, and I wanted to be the centre, but I think I was a couple of years off. You don't hear that enough from players and they get despondent about it and then play their best footy at 27 or 28, for another country or in another country.
"And they can't come back. There are dozen of examples of that. It is nobody's fault. But guys have got realise that and stick around. I wanted to wait around and play my best and that is the way it has worked out for me."
Smith was looking forward to playing the last All Black test at Carisbrook, and had good memories of the ground.
"I have a fondness for it, and I have enjoyed playing down here. But it is an awesome move for the region with the new stadium. It may inspire rugby down here and inspire the Highlanders, the way this new ground is shaping up.
"It will be sad to see the 'Brook go but I was sad to see Athletic Park go and I don't think anyone regrets that now."
Smith will line up against a Welsh team seeking to end a 57-year winless streak against the All Blacks but the Wellington centre said maintaining the unbeaten run was not a great motivation for the side.
"I don't think it is something you study. When you grow up in New Zealand you are aware of the history. Most of the guys know the history of the All Blacks and are aware of it, and who we are playing.
"But you ask most guys and this is the special thing about this team, it doesn't matter who you play against but it is a chance to play in the All Black jersey. It gets the best out of you."
