Image source, Getty Images

This will be Warren Gatland's final game in charge and captain Alun Wyn Jones is the only member of the squad who was involved in his first match in February 2008.

"He's created expectation that's gone through the roof in the past 12 years over his tenure," said Jones.

"He is fiercely loyal, not only to players but to the country and the job. When the pressure has come on, he has stuck to his guns.

"When you talk about change, he has been reluctant to do that at times, and it has paid off. He's had the Midas touch at times.

"I am fortunate to be involved in his tenure. He is one of, if not the most successful northern hemisphere coaches ever.

"A World Cup final appearance has eluded us and that would have been the jewel in the crown.

"But it's a far cry from where we were in 2007 to where we are now - one quarter-final, two semi-finals, three Grand Slams and a further Six Nations Championship.

"Those markers speak volumes rather than one individual performance."

Image source, Getty Images

It will also be the last game in charge of New Zealand for coach Steve Hansen, who guided the All Blacks to the World Cup in 2015 and was assistant when they won the title in 2011.

"Success creates a lot of perceptions, but it's not always true," he said.

"There is a perception out there that I am a great coach, but that's only because I've won a lot of games, but there are not that many people who know if I'm a great coach or not because they haven't been in our environment.

"I will have plenty of time after Friday night to reflect on all sorts of stuff.

"I am going somewhere else after this (to work in Japan), which we all know, and I will have plenty of time to reflect then with a cold beer in my hand and a hot towel."

• New Zealand’s record 18-game winning run in the World Cup came to an end against England in the semi-final - their third-place play-off defeat by South Africa in 1999 remains the only time they’ve lost consecutive matches in the tournament.
• New Zealand have scored at least one try in each of their last 31 World Cup matches, a record in the tournament - the last time they failed to cross the try line was in the 1999 third-place play-off.

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New Zealand legend Kieran Read wants to sign off with a drop goal when he leads out the All Blacks for the last time, but fears his leg might fall off.

Asked about how he would mark his farewell appearance, the 34-year-old joked: "It's one thing my team-mates have given me an awful lot of grief about, never getting a drop goal.

"I could try but my leg might fall off. Nah, I'll just do my job and that's all I'll focus on."

Read will captain the All Blacks for the 52nd and last time, overtaking former hooker Sean Fitzpatrick in second place on the all-time list behind Richie McCaw.

"It's been a weird few days," he said after New Zealand's first World Cup loss in 12 years.

"It does require a bit of strength, knowing it's the game we didn't want to be in. We're hurting and will be hurting for a long time to come."

Thi-thi Baker: I'm rooting for the All Blacks against Wales today as Hansen and Read take part in their last match. What LEGENDS. Nothing but respect.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Tokyo Stadium

It’s the end of an era in Tokyo as Warren Gatland prepares for the final match of his 12-year reign as Wales coach.

We know about Gatland the coach and all he has achieved, but what about Warren the man?

I asked those who know him best - his wife, his current and former players and coaches, and the man who gave him the Wales job - in a profile piece you can read here.

Wales are aiming to break their 66-year hoodoo against New Zealand with Warren Gatland hoping to complete a clean sweep of victories against tier one nations during his 12-year reign as Wales head coach.

History is not on his side though. Gatland was not even born when Wales last defeated New Zealand in 1953.

Image source, AFP

It is a fitting farewell for Warren Gatland, whose Wales side face his home country in his last match after 12 years in charge.

The New Zealander's tenure began in December 2007, and it's not been a bad run...

Gatland guided Wales to four Six Nations titles in that time, secured the Grand Slam in 2008, 2012 and 2019, two World Cup semi-finals and took his side to the top of the world rankings.

Image source, Getty Images

It is the game no one wants to play in, the battle for the prize nobody really wants... bronze medal in the Rugby World Cup.

But Friday's meeting of beaten semi-finalists New Zealand and Wales is a landmark game as two of the sport's great coaches take charge of their sides for the last time.

Steve Hansen for the All Blacks and Warren Gatland for Wales.