New Zealand full-back Mils Muliaina has shrugged off suggestions from Wales coach Warren Gatland that the All Blacks are vulnerable and that their aura of invincibility is not what it was.

New Zealand-born Gatland, who coached the Waikato provincial team that included Muliaina, made the comments when he named his Welsh team to take on his countrymen in Cardiff on Saturday.

"Regardless of what happens during the week and who says what, at the end of the day it just comes down to the game," Muliaina told Radio Sport. "I have known Gats for a while and I know he likes that sort of stuff. He is entitled to his opinions and the way we have gone this year as well has been disappointing for us. But with the All Blacks jersey there is an expectation to win every time you put it on, which is probably something they haven't experienced."

Wales have not won a Test against New Zealand since 1953 - a run that stretches back 20 Tests - but Muliaina is expecting a tough challenge.

"We know how tough it is to win here. If you look back to a few years ago we only won by one point," he added. "We know we are in for a big one."