Wales ended a 73-year wait for a victory over New Zealand on Saturday, defeating the All Blacks 35-28 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The win, only the fourth in the fixture's history and the first since 1953, broke a 34-match losing sequence and sparked emotional scenes among players and fans.
The Nations Championship match saw Wales lead 14-0, 21-7 and 35-21 before holding off a New Zealand fightback with a defensive stand in the final quarter. Tries from scrum-half Tomos Williams, captain Dewi Lake and prop Archie Griffin gave Wales a first-half lead, but New Zealand responded through Cortez Ratima, Wallace Sititi and Fehi Fineanganofo to level the scores 21-21 at half-time.
Second-half tries from centre Eddie James and wing Louis Rees-Zammit restored Wales's advantage, and flanker Peter Lakai pulled one back for the All Blacks to keep the contest close. Wales then repelled New Zealand three times over the line in the closing stages, with flankers James Botham and Jac Morgan and lock Dafydd Jenkins leading the defence.
The victory came after sections of the New Zealand media had belittled Welsh rugby before the game and some bookmakers offered odds of 20-1 for a Wales win. The crowd of 55,152 was the lowest in 14 meetings between the sides at the Principality Stadium. Wales made four changes from the side that beat Japan the previous weekend, while New Zealand made eight changes from their win over Scotland.
Wales had won the first three games in the fixture in 1905, 1935 and 1953. Legends including Sir Gareth Edwards, Alun Wyn Jones and Shane Williams had never beaten New Zealand in a Welsh jersey. Welsh rugby will hope the victory can help galvanise the nation after a period of struggle on and off the field.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Wales ends a 73-year drought, potentially revitalising interest in Welsh rugby after a period in the doldrums.
- The result reshuffles the Nations Championship standings, with New Zealand leapfrogging South Africa to top the southern section.
- The performance demonstrates a remarkable turnaround for a side that was written off by media and bookmakers.
Background
Wales had not beaten New Zealand since 1953, a span of 73 years and 34 consecutive losses. The fixture began in 1905, with Wales winning the first three meetings but none since. Welsh rugby has experienced a prolonged decline in form and public interest. The current team, under coach Steve Tandy, had shown improvement with a win against Japan the week before.
What to Watch
- Whether Wales can build on this result in the remaining Nations Championship matches.
- The impact on Welsh rugby's morale and governance amid its off-field challenges.
- New Zealand's response and their position in the southern section with one weekend of regular matches left.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedWales beat New Zealand for the first time in 73 years.BBC Wales: “Wales celebrated a first victory against New Zealand in 73 years”
- SupportedWales defeated New Zealand 35-28 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.BBC Wales: “Wales (21) 35 Tries: T Williams, Lake, Griffin, James, Rees-Zammit Cons: Costelow 5 New Zealand (21) 28”
- Not in the sourcesThe match was played on Saturday.
- SupportedWales ended a 34-match losing sequence against New Zealand that stretched back to 1953.BBC Wales: “they broke a 34-match losing sequence against the All Blacks that stretched back to 1953.”
- SupportedThis was Wales’ fourth win over New Zealand, after wins in 1905, 1935 and 1953.BBC Wales: “Wales had won the first three games in this fixture in 1905, 1935 and 1953 but have had to wait more than seven decades for the next.”
- SupportedThe match was a nine-try Nations Championship game, and Wales led 14-0, 21-7 and 35-21 before holding off New Zealand in the final quarter.BBC Wales: “In a nine-try Nations Championship thriller at the Principality Stadium, Wales led 14-0, 21-7 and 35-21 before they held off New Zealand with a wonderful defensive display in the final quarter”
- SupportedWales’ defence held New Zealand up over the line three times.BBC Wales: “they held up the All Blacks three times over the line to stop New Zealand scoring”
- SupportedThe win sparked emotional scenes among players and fans.BBC Wales: “The final whistle delivered the win this side and nation have deserved for so long, reducing players and fans alike to tears of joy.”
- SupportedSections of New Zealand media had belittled Welsh rugby before the game, and some bookmakers offered odds of 20-1 for a Wales win.BBC Wales: “Sections of the New Zealand media had belittled Welsh rugby before the game, while some bookmakers offered odds of 20-1 for a Wales victory.”
- SupportedThe crowd of 55,152 was the lowest in 14 Wales-New Zealand matches at the Principality Stadium.BBC Wales: “The 55,152 was the lowest crowd in the 14 matches between Wales and New Zealand at the Principality Stadium.”
- SupportedWales made four changes after beating Japan the previous weekend, and New Zealand made eight changes after beating Scotland.BBC Wales: “Wales made four changes to the side that beat Japan”
- SupportedSir Gareth Edwards, Alun Wyn Jones and Shane Williams had never beaten New Zealand in a Welsh jersey.BBC Wales: “Legends such as Sir Gareth Edwards, Alun Wyn Jones, Shane Williams, JPR Williams, Barry John and Phil Bennett had never enjoyed success against New Zealand in a Welsh jersey.”