Perhaps it was the slight upturn in form for the All Blacks at the end of a tough summer, perhaps it was the nightmarish memory of that defeat to Italy at the end of the Six Nations still looming large.
More than likely, it was the 69-year wait for a victory over New Zealand that had the most influence.
But, for whatever reason, despite Wales beating the Springboks on South African soil for the first time and the All Blacks having an 'annus horribilis', few have really dared to call this Wales' best chance to beat the All Blacks since 1953.
