Wales take on the All Blacks this Saturday at Principality Stadium fully aware they will face the most formidable side in rugby today.
“Let’s be honest, I have got a pretty tough job this week, probably one of the toughest jobs in world sport to be the defence coach against the All Blacks,” said rugby league great Edwards.
“But you know me, I am up for a challenge. Hopefully on Saturday we can put pressure on through our line speed, but there is a lot more to defending than just having line speed. There are a lot of different aspects to it.
“One of them is what Scotland did very well. They held the ball for 60 per cent of the time. They had 60 per cent territory and 60 per cent possession.
“If we can do that, I will be very happy. Even though the All Blacks only had 40 per cent possession, they still scored three tries and were still very dangerous, but obviously starving them of the ball is one way of keeping their attack quiet.”
Two players who Wales will have to contain on Saturday will be star centre Sonny Bill Williams and world player of the year Beauden Barrett.
“The All Blacks have got two very powerful centres and your style of play is generally designed by who your centres are,” said Edwards.
“The fly-half can score tries from 80 metres, he’s that fast, Beauden Barrett. He is a sensational player.
“I’ve known Sonny Bill for many years and since he was coming on the scene as a 19 or 20-year-old. He was destined for greatness and he has achieved everything that we all knew he would do.”
Edwards is nonetheless confident Wales can stop the world champions in their tracks this weekend.
“When I was playing for Wigan I was five foot eight, 12 stone, and I was lucky enough to get in rugby league’s hall of fame,” said Edwards.
“That was against the odds and hopefully in my coaching career I can pass on that sort of determination and attitude. Hopefully we can put our best foot forward on Saturday.”
