Rhys Webb has vowed to haunt England on Sunday over the phantom try he still believes cost Wales the Six Nations title.
The Ospreys scrum-half reckons the Grand Slam chariot would have been derailed if a touch judge had not wrongly flagged George North for a foot over the line.
Webb took North’s pass during the frantic last move of England’s 25-21 victory at Twickenham in March – but was called back and says: “Of course I would have scored in that last play.
“I was in the clear and things would have worked out very differently.
“But it still goes back to the first 40 minutes. We weren’t there mentally or physically. If we had been then we would have won the game.”
Wales had let England build a 19-0 lead and Webb insists there will be no repetition of such a slow start this afternoon.
But the favourite to wear the Lions No.9 shirt next year insists this game is more than a revenge mission with the All Blacks laying in wait for Warren Gatland’s men.
“It’s very important to win this game because it will lead us onto New Zealand with some momentum. We know how competitive it will be down there, but it is all about us this weekend.
“There is no point going on a tour like this thinking you are going to lose three Tests. We are winners, we want to pick up trophies.”
Webb has only played once before against the All Blacks – a losing Test, 34-16, in Cardiff after Wales had led 16-15 after 68 minutes.
He knows that pain, fatigue and mental lapses all have to be overcome if the world champions are to be beaten.
“We got close to them in 2014, but it is that last one per cent when your lungs are burning and your legs are going, when you have to be able to communicate and provide a bit of noise and encouragement to those guys around you.
“When you go down you have to be able to bounce up and make the next tackle. It really is about full concentration from start to finish.”
