Wales end 73-year wait to beat New Zealand in Cardiff
Wales beat New Zealand in Cardiff on Saturday, ending a 73-year wait to defeat the All Blacks in a Test match. The result provoked scenes of celebration inside the Principality Stadium and saw second-row Dafydd Jenkins equal the world record for tackles in a single Test.
At the time of the kick-off the All Blacks were effectively the top-ranked side in the world following South Africa's tension-filled loss to France on Friday night, and some bookmakers had offered odds of 30-1 on Wales during the week. The Welsh victory ended a run of 34 matches without a win over New Zealand that stretched back to 1953, a period that included narrow one-point defeats in 1978 and 2004. Even Wales' highly regarded teams of past eras failed to break the streak, and the long-running search for a win has been accompanied by episodes of controversy and drama.
Wales have previously employed four coaches with New Zealand links — Sir Graham Henry, Steve Hansen, Warren Gatland and Wayne Pivac — without securing a Test victory over the All Blacks. The Principality Stadium crowd included Sir Gareth Edwards, who had been part of Wales' celebrated 1970s side, and the question was raised whether any members of the 2026 team will receive honours comparable to Wales' 1953 match-winner Ken Jones, who is commemorated with a statue in Blaenavon. Huw Llywelyn Davies, who attended the 1953 game as an eight-year-old with his father, said: "I never thought I would see it happen again, not unless I lived to 100," as he stepped away from the media seats inside the Principality Stadium.
The Welsh defence stood out repeatedly in the second half, including three occasions when they held New Zealand players up over the try-line. Initial statistics showed Jenkins equalled Thierry Dusautoir's world record of 38 tackles in a single match — a mark Dusautoir also set against New Zealand in 2007. Jac Morgan and man of the match James Botham also topped 30 tackles, while centre Eddie James and captain Dewi Lake were described as not far behind.
Former captain Sam Warburton offered a broad assessment of the result, saying: "When you think what the fans and this team has been through, from the highs of a Grand Slam seven years ago, down to 12th in the world rankings and a record losing run of any tier one nation, we've been down in the pits. "No-one gave Wales a chance, that's why this is one of the greatest Welsh wins of all time. "Yes, New Zealand had made changes but that was one of the most heroic defensive performances I have ever seen." Dan Biggar, speaking for ITV, added: "This is not a day for analysis, it's just to celebrate being Welsh," and: "That was probably the biggest shock in world rugby since Japan beat South Africa in the 2015 World Cup."
Former New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick, who has connections to the earlier era through his father Brian's debut, praised Wales and said: "New Zealand played well in patches and terrible in others but this is all about Wales. "They way they started the game and took their tries showed the amazing belief they had. But the defensive effort was out of this world." Observers also noted that a New Zealand player was adjudged to have been tackled just short of the line and was unlucky not to be awarded a try.
The result, secured in the Barrett Nations Championship, ended Wales' 73-year drought against New Zealand and left the Principality Stadium echoing to the strains of Yma O Hyd as few supporters departed immediately after the final whistle.
