Highlights: Wales beat New Zealand for first time in 73 years
Nations Championship
Wales (21) 35
Tries: T Williams, Lake, Griffin, James, Rees-Zammit Cons: Costelow 5
New Zealand (21) 28
Tries: Ratima, Sititi, Fineanganofo, Lakai Cons: Mo’unga 4.
Wales celebrated a first victory against New Zealand in 73 years with a brilliant performance to spark astonishing scenes in Cardiff.
Steve Tandy’s unfancied side lifted a nation as they broke a 34-match losing sequence against the All Blacks that stretched back to 1953.
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, led by flankers James Botham and Jac Morgan and lock Dafydd Jenkins.
The home side produced a stunning start with tries from inspirational scrum-half Tomos Williams and captain Dewi Lake inside the first six minutes.
Prop Archie Griffin also added a first-half try, but New Zealand responded with scores from scrum-half Cortez Ratima, number eight Wallace Sititi and wing Fehi Fineanganofo to level the score 21-21 at half-time.
Wales centre Eddie James and wing Louis Rees-Zammit scored early second-half tries before New Zealand flanker Peter Lakai pulled one back.
The remarkable Wales defence followed as they held up the All Blacks three times over the line to stop New Zealand scoring, to evoke wild celebrations.
Good things come to those who wait
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.
In 1953 the New Zealand dollar did not exist, Cardiff was not the capital city of Wales and tries were only worth three points.
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.
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.
Now Tandy’s class of 2026 have written their own chapter in Welsh rugby’s history.
The 55,152 was the lowest crowd in the 14 matches between Wales and New Zealand at the Principality Stadium. The fans who stayed away will regret it because it was a day to say “I was there”.
Welsh rugby has been in the doldrums for so long, on and off the field, but will hope this famous victory can help galvanise the nation.
This was one of the finest performances in Welsh rugby history and a world apart from the display in the 28-21 win against Japan last weekend.
New Zealand might regret failing to take advantage of France’s victory against South Africa on Friday night but they still leapfrog the Springboks to top the southern section with one weekend of regular matches remaining.
Wales beat New Zealand for the first time in 35 attempts
