Almost 20,000 seats were empty when New Zealand last visited Wales. Those who stayed away can only hope they had a wedding or funeral to attend, because they missed one of the most extraordinary sporting shocks in years.
How can the magnitude of this Welsh triumph be explained? How do you capture the improbable chain of events that made it possible, or make sense of the sheer absurdity of it all?
Begin with the headline statistic: Wales had not beaten the All Blacks since 1953. Then add the detail that followed — 34 matches, and 34 New Zealand victories, across the intervening 73 years.
There is a wonderful line from tennis that seems fitting here. After Vitas Gerulaitis finally defeated Jimmy Connors in 1980, he declared: ‘Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row!’
This was the Welsh version of that moment, only twice as dramatic. New Zealand arrived as the world’s No 1 team. Steve Tandy’s Wales, meanwhile, had beaten Italy and Fiji since 2023 and laboured past Japan the previous week.
Their supporters, long accustomed to disappointment, had begun to lose interest. The governing union was in turmoil, regional rugby was being cut back and Welsh identity seemed to be fading within the modern game. Then came this: rugby’s most unlikely result since Japan stunned South Africa at the World Cup 11 years ago.
Wales produced a stunning victory over New Zealand, ending a wait that began in 1953
The All Blacks were beaten 35-28 in one of rugby’s biggest shocks in recent memory
Adam Beard was immense at six, Louis Rees-Zammit a devastating presence on the wing and Dewi Lake outstanding throughout. Jac Morgan hit everything in sight, while James Botham — a week away from becoming a father — made a try-saving intervention during a final 20 minutes that will live forever in Welsh sporting memory.
Those closing stages were, naturally, enormous and nerve-racking. Wales had controlled the first half with their attacking ambition, racing into a 14-0 lead after just seven minutes. The second half was a different challenge: a desperate stand with their backs against the wall.
And what a wall it proved to be. This Welsh team was nobody’s obvious choice to create history, yet the photograph taken after the final whistle will be reproduced for years to come.
Had the roof of the Principality Stadium not been so firmly secured, the 55,152 spectators inside might have lifted it away. The atmosphere was electric from the start, even if many had initially expected only a haka followed by a New Zealand rout.
The correction began in the second minute. Rees-Zammit delivered a perfectly weighted chip, and Tomos Williams supplied the finishing touch by hammering down on the bouncing ball. Just 88 seconds had passed when Wales took the lead.
A little premature optimism is understandable in these parts, but Sam Costelow’s conversion quickly made the situation look almost ridiculous. Six minutes in, Wales won a lineout — an area that has been a rare source of consistency for Tandy’s side. They are usually excellent there.
That was not the case against Japan, when the set-piece became a liability. Against the All Blacks, however, it was transformed. Dafydd Jenkins claimed the ball, Gabriel Hamer-Web and Jac Morgan drove forward, and Dewi Lake burst through the defensive line, sending Wallace Sititi to the turf. Costelow converted again, and Wales led 14-0.
New Zealand, who had moved into a strong position in the championship after South Africa’s defeat in France, were suddenly unraveling. They were making handling errors, conceding penalties, losing collisions and coughing up possession.
Eddie James scored Wales’ fourth try as the Principality Stadium erupted
The All Blacks responded when Wales made life easy for them at a lineout, opening a channel for Cortez Ratima to break through. But that score did not become the warning sign it might have been. Nor did it spark the expected collapse, because Archie Griffin, Bath’s tighthead, powered over for his second try in as many matches. Wales were magnificent with the ball, although the expectation remained that New Zealand would eventually find a way back.
The prevailing view was that reality would soon reassert itself. It did, briefly. At 21-7, Wales began to look fatigued. Their chase was less effective, their breakdown work loosened and the spaces they left behind grew larger. More importantly, New Zealand stopped making mistakes. Great teams know how to do that.
Sititi cut into the Welsh advantage before a series of offloads ended with Fehi Fineanganofo crossing in the second minute of stoppage time. Richie Mo’unga added the conversion to make it 21-21.
For Tandy, the sequence was painful for two reasons. Wales had conceded with the final move of the half, and shortly before that try they had kicked for territory instead of taking three points to extend their cushion. There were plenty of possible regrets, although their ambition could not be questioned.
At half-time, it was easy to remember how closely these teams had been matched the previous year before New Zealand pulled away. One statistical model had placed the All Blacks’ chances of victory at 96 per cent. Its calculator deserved to be thrown out.
That prediction began to look absurd in the 43rd minute. After 16 phases, Wales moved the ball left, then right and back left again, creating the smallest opening in the corner for Eddie James. He took it and scored.
Louis Rees-Zammit was outstanding as Wales seized a desperately needed boost
The predicted rout became a miracle on a day Welsh supporters will remember for years
The bonus point was secured, and then Wales added another piece of history. Their driving maul overwhelmed New Zealand, allowing Rees-Zammit to cross. It was the first time Wales had scored five tries against the All Blacks — another moment that left everyone wondering where this performance had come from.
Still, New Zealand refused to surrender. Peter Lakai, outstanding in recent weeks while filling the considerable void left by Ardie Savea, found a gap to reduce the deficit to 35-26.
Mo’unga converted and suddenly the pressure was immense. Wales were fighting for survival. Taine Plumtree produced a crucial turnover, Gareth Thomas and Louie Hennessey made their own vital contributions, and then Botham delivered the defining moment, getting his hand beneath the ball as a New Zealand player attempted to ground it. The defence was exceptional.
It had to be. Wave after wave of All Blacks attacks followed, but none broke through. Eventually, the referee’s whistle confirmed a magnificent piece of sporting drama.
‘This group deserved the result and the performance’
Wales captain Dewi Lake said his team had been driven by a frank behind-closed-doors review after finally ending 73 years of frustration against New Zealand on Saturday.
In a remarkable upset, Wales scored five tries and produced a defensive masterclass during the final 20 minutes to secure a 35-28 victory in Cardiff — their first over the All Blacks since 1953.
The display was a dramatic improvement on the laboured victory against Japan the previous weekend. It also followed three years of wider struggles for Wales, who had beaten only Italy and Fiji, in addition to Japan, since the 2023 World Cup.
‘It’s nice to sit in this room and not be disappointed for once,’ Lake said. ‘We were asked a lot of questions about our performance last week. We had some difficult conversations. This is something the group deserves.’
Lake, who scored Wales’ second try as they surged 14-0 ahead inside six minutes, added: ‘The bad times make you want more. They also taught us that we can compete in a match in many different ways.
‘The scrutiny last week was deserved. We had some hard conversations during the week and needed to put things right. I’m incredibly proud of how the boys responded.’
‘I’m always proud of this group. It isn’t just because we have beaten New Zealand. I’m proud of what they have endured through the difficult times and the good times.’
James Botham, the man of the match and grandson of England cricket legend Ian Botham, was overcome with emotion at the final whistle.
The 28-year-old Cardiff flanker, who is due to become a father next week, said: ‘I can’t describe how I feel. The crowd stood behind us, and the energy they created helped us enormously. It shows how closely we have come together as a team.’
By sending a shockwave through rugby, Wales also rewarded the patient work of head coach Steve Tandy. Appointed 14 months ago to oversee a rebuilding project, Tandy has worked amid growing apathy around the side, reflected by a Principality Stadium attendance of barely 55,000.
Tandy said: ‘This isn’t about me. It’s about the players and the supporters.
‘The effort these boys have given over the past 15 months or so earned them what they deserved: an unbelievable performance.’
Reflecting on New Zealand’s comeback, which brought the teams level at 21-21 by half-time, Tandy added: ‘We set out to attack the game. When New Zealand came back after the break, it would have been easy for the players to lose belief.
‘What impressed me was that, at half-time, they still wanted to go after the match. In the final minutes, they showed tremendous composure.’
