Ospreys back-row Ryan Jones was Wales' major injury doubt for the match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Wales captain Ryan Jones made ground down the left and New Zealand conceded a penalty.
Then from the resulting five-metre scrum, Ryan Jones performed similar heroics on opposite number eight Kieran Read.
Ospreys number eight Ryan Jones will take the captain's armband when Wales start their campaign on 2 February.
The Ospreys then threw on captain Ryan Jones and lock Alun Wyn Jones as they looked for some urgency.
Skipper Ryan Jones, Leigh Halfpenny and Tom Shanklin are the three retained after the 20-15 loss to South Africa.
"We have gone for Ryan Jones as captain and he is back, fit again and playing well, " Gatland added.
Another man excluded from Ian McGeechan's British and Irish picks was Ryan Jones.
Delve will start at number eight, captain Ryan Jones switching to six with Jonathan Thomas moving across to the open-side.
Skipper Ryan Jones could also miss out due to the back injury that ruled him out of Wales' Wallabies humbling.
Lee Byrne returns to replace Hook at full-back while Ryan Jones comes in at number eight for injured Andy Powell.
Wales captain Ryan Jones was injured in the Six Nations match against Ireland last season following reckless play by Bernard Jackman.
Gareth Thomas, Dwayne Peel, Brent Cockbain and Ryan Jones are out injured.
Like his coach, Wales skipper Ryan Jones has enjoyed a winning start to his reign, but hopes to finish the job they have started.
The ball-carrying 6ft 3in, 18st 2lb back-rower is a valuable addition to the squad, especially with number eight Ryan Jones suffering with a calf injury.
Jones takes over the leadership of the side from official Wales skipper Ryan Jones for the Six Nations clash against Italy in Rome on Saturday.
Ryan Jones, wing Williams, Bowe and Collins all did their utmost to make further inroads into the Blues lead, prompting and probing at every opportunity.
Rees, 29, was named as his country's 128th captain when last season's leader Ryan Jones was ruled out of the 6 November Test against Australia.
BBC: Neil Jenkins hails 'awesome' Wales captain Matthew Rees
Captain Ryan Jones was critical of the tactics employed by Canada.
Wales have also lost Grand Slam winners Ryan Jones, Tom Shanklin and Kevin Morgan for the season with injury, along with influential tight-head prop Chris Horsman.
BBC: SPORT | Rugby Union | Six Nations | Lock Thomas to miss Wales games
But other leaders will be crucial and that's why I would include the likes of former England captain Phil Vickery and current Wales skipper Ryan Jones.
Gatland took the bold decision to make wholesale substitutions, taking off both half-backs along with his loose-head, his hooker and captain and number eight Ryan Jones.
Tommy Bowe, Ryan Jones and Lee Byrne scored tries in the first half hour as the Ospreys scorched into a 24-3 lead against a weakened Edinburgh outfit.
But long-term injury will continue to keep Gareth Cooper, Tom Shanklin, Brent Cockbain, Kevin Morgan, Iestyn Thomas, Ryan Jones and Chris Horsman out of the Wales squad.
BBC: Jones will be available for the Scarlets' game in Connacht
The 34-year-old replaces calf injury victim Ryan Jones as Wales skipper when he wins his 95th cap in their RBS Six Nations showdown in Dublin on Saturday.
Michael McGrade's point nudged St Pat's two ahead again but Ryan Jones' score in the fourth minute of injury-time had the Donagh team living on their nerves again.
Gatland has chosen Jones to play in an unfamiliar openside role alongside blindside Jonathan Thomas and number 8 Ryan Jones in the back row for the first test.
Last weekend, they were held to a 16-16 draw by Fiji which drew much criticism and saw Ryan Jones replaced by Scarlets hooker Rees as captain after the match.
The Lions have also seen Ryan Jones come and go after the Wales captain was diagnosed with concussion on arrival in South Africa to replace Irishman Stephen Ferris (knee).
Jones has been given the chance to lead the side at the Stadio Flaminio by coach Warren Gatland, with Ryan Jones named among the replacements for the Italy clash.
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