Wales head coach Warren Gatland wary of New Zealand ahead of Eden Park Test

Wales head coach Warren Gatland insists 'there is never any weak All Black team' as they prepare for the first Test at Eden Park on June 11.

New Zealand begin life without legendary captain Richie McCaw and Dan Carter while centres Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith are also absent after their moves to France.

With head coach Steve Hansen being forced to freshen up his squad Gatland claims the World Cup winners will be just as fearsome despite the loss of their star men.

"You could describe it as being pretty arrogant if I talk about weakness in an All Blacks team," said Gatland, who played 17 non-international matches for the All Blacks.

"Sometimes there are young, exciting, talented players coming through who are a little bit inexperienced.

"What you might say is weakness is players potentially on their way up, not as experienced as some other players who left.

"There is definitely real quality there. There isn't going to be weakness, there are going to be players who haven't had the same time together in the same combinations.

"If that's perceived as weakness take it how you like, but there is never any weak All Black team as far as I'm concerned."

Sonny Bill Williams, who spurned lucrative moves to France to stay with New Zealand rugby until 2019 this week, will also be missing after opting to play sevens at the Olympics.

Crusaders midfielder Ryan Crotty is now their most experienced centre with 15 caps, but Hansen could throw the uncapped Seta Tamanivalu into the back line.

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The All Blacks started slowly against Georgia en route to winning last year's World Cup and Gatland is hoping Wales can catch New Zealand cold in the first Test.

He said: "It's going to be tough, but we're not here just to make up the numbers, and we're not here to start the rebuilding phase of New Zealand rugby either.

We've just got to go out there and make sure we start well and play well and stay in the fight against them.

"We've looked at when the All Blacks have been rusty and I've said to our players to have a look at the Georgia game at the 2015 World Cup in Cardiff.

"There were a lot of mistakes made and they were obviously ring-rusty. They got better as the tournament went along.

"We've just got to go out there and make sure we start well and play well and stay in the fight against them. We know how dangerous they are, but like every team when you put them under pressure hopefully there is some small hint of vulnerability."

Watch Wales take on New Zealand in the opening Test at Eden Park on Saturday, June 11 from 8am on Sky Sports 1 HD.