'Wales will have to be at their best in New Zealand'

Cape Town - Wales centre Scott Williams believes that his team will have to find form quickly and raise their game to a higher level if they are to be competitive against the All Blacks who they face in a three-match Test series starting on June 11.

Wales departed for New Zealand shores on Monday and after losing 27-13 to an under strength England side at Twickenham on Saturday they are being written off before they even take to the field.

History is not on their side either having lost 26 successive Tests to New Zealand since 1953 and to top that all off they will have to do battle without 57 times-capped flanker Dan Lydiate, who sustained a shoulder injury during Sunday's match at Twickenham, uncapped Cardiff Blues flanker Ellis Jenkins has replaced him in the touring squad.

Williams told PA Sport that Wales will have to pull together and get themselves mentally prepared to put their bodies on the line and go to war.

"We have to think positively," said Williams.

"There is no point in us going to New Zealand with negative thoughts, otherwise it's going to be a long couple of weeks."

Williams added that they will need a team effort in order to trouble the three time world champions and every player will be required to raise their game.

"We've got to take the positives and a couple of work-ons into the next two weeks," Williams added.

"I think everyone is going to have to play one of their best games to be able to beat New Zealand. That's what it is going to take, and that's what we have been training for in the last couple of weeks.

"It's trying to lift the standards up. Every pass, everything you do is on the money, because when we play New Zealand, it's going to have to be."