Wales
New Zealand
T. Williams (1'), D. Lake (5'), A. Griffin (23'), E. James (43'), L. Rees-Zammit (47')
Tries
C. Ratima (9'), W. Sititi (30'), F. Fineanganofo (40+2'), P. Lakai (52')
S. Costelow (2', 6', 24', 44', 48')
Conversions
R. Mo'unga (9', 31', 40+3', 53')
Wales beat New Zealand 35–28 at Principality Stadium on Saturday 14 November, ending a 73-year wait for a victory over the All Blacks. Five converted tries and a determined defensive finish delivered a landmark Nations Championship win in Cardiff.
Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake, Archie Griffin, Eddie James and Louis Rees-Zammit scored for Wales, with Sam Costelow converting all five. The teams were level at 21–21 at half-time before James and Rees-Zammit struck early in the second half to establish the decisive advantage.
Wales turn a fast start into a historic result
Williams and captain Lake gave Wales an early 14–0 lead, immediately forcing New Zealand to chase the game. Cortez Ratima replied for the visitors, but Griffin’s converted try restored the two-score gap.
The All Blacks answered through Wallace Sititi and Fehi Fineanganofo, whose score in first-half stoppage time helped bring them level. Richie Mo’unga converted all three New Zealand tries before the interval. A strong Welsh opening had become a completely open contest.
The response after the restart was the turning point. James crossed first, followed by Rees-Zammit, and Costelow’s accurate kicking took Wales to 35–21. It was the second time they had built a 14-point cushion, and this time they protected enough of it to win.
Defence finishes the job in Cardiff
Peter Lakai’s try and Mo’unga’s fourth conversion brought New Zealand back within seven points. There was still more than a quarter of the match to play, leaving Wales with a prolonged test of concentration and organisation.
They met it. New Zealand did not score again, and the home side’s final defensive effort gave the early attacking work its full value. A converted try would have levelled the match, but Wales kept the All Blacks short of that opportunity on the scoreboard.
The result rested on both parts of the performance. Wales created and finished five tries, then defended a narrow lead when another score proved beyond them. Costelow’s five successful conversions also ensured that none of their tries left points behind.
A breakthrough against the All Blacks
For Wales, this was a first victory over New Zealand since 1953. The significance stretched well beyond one afternoon’s Nations Championship points: a fixture that had repeatedly ended in disappointment finally produced a Welsh win.
New Zealand scored four converted tries and twice worked back into contention, but could not complete the final recovery. Wales’ answer to the half-time setback, followed by their resistance after Lakai scored, decided an absorbing contest.
Final score: Wales 35–28 New Zealand. Half-time: 21–21.
Featured photograph: Louis Rees-Zammit runs in Wales’ fifth try against New Zealand. Alex Livesey – Nations Championship/Nations Championship via Getty Images.