Inspired Wales end 73-year wait by beating All Blacks

Sat, Nov 14, 2026, 9:36 PM
AFP
by AFP
Wales celebrates a stunning upset of New Zealand. Photo: Getty Images
Wales celebrates a stunning upset of New Zealand. Photo: Getty Images

Wales pulled off one of rugby's biggest ‌upsets, ending a 73-year winless sequence ‌against New Zealand to beat the ‌All Blacks 35-28 in the Nations Championship in Cardiff.

They outscored the visitors by five tries to four on Saturday to end ‌a 34-match ‌winning ⁠streak for New Zealand, who missed the chance to overtake South Africa at the top of the Southern Hemisphere standings.

Wales last won against the All Blacks in 1953 and have slumped to some of their ⁠worst ‌results in ​recent years but produced a defensive ​performance for ‌the ages to shade the Kiwis.

They ​caught the visitors cold with two early tries and two ​more ​at the ​start of the second ‌half, and heroic Welsh defence resisted waves of New Zealand attacks in the closing stages to hold ​on for a famous victory.

The Wales players team were in tears at the end amid raucous celebrations at the Principality Stadium after Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake, ‌Archie Griffin, Eddie ‌James and Louis Rees-Zammit ⁠scored tries while Sam Costelow was immaculate with the boot.

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New Zealand's tries were scored by Cortez ​Ratima, Wallace Sititi, Fehi Fineanganofo and Peter Lakai, all converted by Richie Mo'unga.

Home supporters were pinching themselves as Wales took less than 90 seconds to open the scoring and crossed the All Blacks' line for a second try five minutes later to move 14-0 ahead.

Williams' long pass to Rees-Zammit set up the first try, the winger kicking the ball ahead and the scrumhalf following up and being first to dive on the ⁠loose ball.

Captain Lake scored the second try as he powered over from ‌close range after ​Jac Morgan's burst set up the opportunity.

Although New Zealand got their first try when scrumhalf Ratima easily broke through the home defence in ​the 10th minute, ‌the Welsh were in dreamland when they had a third try after battering away at the Kiwi line with tighthead prop Archie Griffin ​powering over.

At halftime, however, the scores were level at 21-21 as New Zealand fought back,  Sititi grabbing a try in the 32nd minute and winger Fineanganofo dotting down after a move started in his own half by Mo'unga and relentlessly driven ​forward ​with successive half breaks to exhaust the Welsh defence.

The All ​Blacks were then expected to romp away in the second half but ‌Wales scored two quick tries to again catch their visitors cold.

After a series of carries through the middle, Williams' long pass found James in the corner to score.

Five minutes later a drive from a lineout put Rees-Zammit over and gave Wales a 35-21 lead.

Lakai reduced the deficit with a try to make 35-28, after which the All Blacks camped on the Welsh line but ​were denied by stoic and lung-busting defence.

Wales head coach Steve Tandy hailed his "phenomenal" players after a heroic defensive performance.

"The players were phenomenal. New Zealand threw everything at us, and it is just an amazing feeling. We have got to savour moments like this," he said.

Three Wales players – Dafydd Jenkins, Morgan and James Botham – each made more than 30 tackles, and New Zealand skipper Beauden Barrett conceded how tough it had been to break Wales down in the second half.

"It felt like a brick wall at times, so you have to give Wales credit. We were a little bit indecisive, we had three hold-ups over the line, and we have got be better at converting those opportunities."

It was only the fourth time Wales had beaten New Zealand in 39 meetings.

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