Price can't see Wales breaking NZ run

Gatland will take the squad to his native New Zealand for a three-Test tour in June, with Six Nations runners-up Wales looking for their first win over the double defending world champions since 1953.

New Zealand have won 26 Tests in a row against Wales and former prop Price was pessimistic about his country's chances of snapping that sequence .

"The task itself is vast and I have not seen enough in Wales this season to suggest they are going to test the All Blacks," wrote former prop Price in his Wales on Sunday column.

"The playing style has not evolved enough and Wales aren't going to defeat New Zealand by trying to out-muscle them." 

Price, who started all four Tests on three consecutive British and Irish Lions tours in New Zealand in 1977, South Africa in 1980 and New Zealand again in 1983 without once being in a series-winning side, said Wales needed "an extra string to the bow".

"That will be the test for Gatland to ponder over the next few months and what a problem he faces."  

Wales ended their Six Nations campaign with a record 67-14 rout of wooden spoonists Italy in Cardiff on Saturday.

Afterwards Gatland insisted: "We have got to go down to New Zealand believing that on our day and if things go right, that we are good enough to win."

Victory over an Italy side who Price said "didn't have much spine" saw Wales finish second behind Grand Slam champions England.

That led Price's fellow Wales great – and Wales on Sunday columnist – Barry John to say the Italy performance should be a signal to put a greater emphasis on attacking play.

"It did show there is talent out there in the Welsh ranks which should have been used far more often than we have seen during this generally disappointing campaign," said John, one of Rugby Union's greatest flyhalves and a key figure in the Lions' lone series win in New Zealand in 1971.

Overpowering Italy was meagre consolation for Wales after their lacklustre first half at Twickenham the week before left them 0-16 behind at the break.

They fought back commendably before England held out for a 25-21 victory but, with Scotland beating France, the damage to their title hopes had been done.

"I am still mystified how a Welsh side could play with such little energy in an opening half against England at Twickenham," wrote Price.

"Scoring nine tries against a poor Italian side in Cardiff won't erase those memories quickly."

Agence France-Presse