Wales ends 73-year losing streak against New Zealand

Wales defeated New Zealand 35-28 in a Nations Championship match on Saturday, ending a 73-year losing streak against the All Blacks. The game took place in Cardiff and marked the first time Wales has beaten New Zealand in a test match since 1953. The win stands as the most surprising result in international rugby since Japan defeated South Africa in 2015.

The match saw high intensity throughout, with Wales maintaining a lead for the majority of the second half. The Welsh team recorded 346 defensive tackles, a number that proved decisive in the final minutes. Lock Dafydd Jenkins led the defensive effort with 36 tackles, while Jac Morgan added 31 and James Botham contributed 30. These individual efforts helped the team hold off New Zealand’s late surges.

Coach Steve Tandy praised the squad for their aggressive approach and composure under pressure. He noted that the players were brave in their attacking play, particularly before halftime, and remained focused when New Zealand mounted a comeback attempt. Tandy told broadcaster S4C that the team attacked the game with intent and stayed composed in the closing moments.

New Zealand coach Dave Rennie acknowledged the result, stating that his team had the opportunities to win but lacked clinical execution. He said he had no regrets about the team selection, which included ten changes from the squad that beat Scotland the previous weekend. The All Blacks had won their last 13 matches against Wales by double figures, entering this game as heavy favorites.

The attendance at the stadium was 55,000, which was 20,000 below capacity. This marked the smallest crowd for a Wales-New Zealand match at the venue since it opened in 1999. The result disrupts the standings for the Nations Championship final, as South Africa and New Zealand were the only unbeaten teams before the weekend.

South Africa lost to France 21-19 on Friday, allowing New Zealand to overtake them in the standings by a single point. The All Blacks will face England next weekend, while South Africa plays Ireland. The victory also follows a difficult period for Wales, which had lost 18 consecutive tests until July of last year and finished last in the Six Nations tournament.

The game featured several key turning points, including tries by Tomos Williams and Louis Rees-Zammit for Wales. New Zealand managed to score three times in the final quarter but was stopped each time near the goal line. The final scoreline of 35-28 reflected the persistent pressure applied by both sides throughout the contest.