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The All Blacks looks dejected after the Nations Championship defeat to Wales at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Photo / Getty Images
All Blacks 28 Wales 35
In an inspired, scarcely believable, courageous performance that defied all odds, Wales summoned an upset of a generation to stun the All Blacks in Cardiff.
As 55,142 emotional fans – many in tears at the finish – witnessed the first Welsh win against the All
Blacks for 73 years, Principality Stadium erupted with passion and pride in a reaction that evoked spine-tingling goosebumps.
The streets of Cardiff will celebrate long through the night to toast a result no one predicted.
Previous Six Nations, Grand Slam winning Wales teams came close to defeating the All Blacks. But given the challenges engulfing the Welsh game, this side was widely written off.
As the clock ticked down and Wales desperately clung to their lead locals, sensing an occasion to savour, sang, chanted and willed their side to hold on.
Every tackle, every kick, every little win was roared like a royal parade.
This gripping contest is another timely reminder of sport’s unpredictability.
In their last three matches against Wales the All Blacks had amassed at least 50 points to comfortably cruise to victory.
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie made 10 changes to his squad after a dominant win against Scotland last week but more of the same was widely expected.
To underline the significance and scale of this result, Wales last beat a top-eight team 33 tests ago at the 2023 World Cup.
Yet today, as frost covered the Cardiff streets, Wales put the All Blacks in the furnace, on the rack, under the roof. And this time, they didn’t let history slip from their grasp.
As they performed their victory lap it was clear these Welsh players have etched their names in folklore.
The Welsh resilience was typified late in the second half while defending their goal-line for what felt like an eternity.
The All Blacks threw ball runner after ball runner at the red wall. Time after time Wales said no to hold up the visitors three times and defiantly hold firm.
The stats tell the stark story with Wales making almost three times as many tackles (318 to 122) as the All Blacks.
Twice Wales led by 14 points to force the All Blacks into survival mode.
Wales scored two tries in the first six minutes to spark the crowd into raptures.
While the All Blacks drew level by halftime, Wales refused to submit.
Two more tries after the break re-established their 14-point buffer to demand the All Blacks summon another comeback.
Somehow, some way, Wales hung on.
A shock loss for the All Blacks is a major setback for Rennie’s men. Their record this year slips to 7-4 – and in the context of the Nations Championship table they failed to take advantage of France upsetting the Springboks in Paris.
Wales, rank outsiders, took the fight to the All Blacks from the outset.
The locals laid on huge hits and savoured success breaking the All Blacks twice down Fehi Fineanganofo’s right-hand edge where Louis Rees-Zammit proved difficult to contain.
After making 10 squad changes the All Blacks were error-riddled and erratic.
Under pressure, discipline again proved problematic, with eight first-half penalties piggybacking Wales downfield. The lineout was wayward at times with Asafo Aumua twice overthrowing to give the ball away.
The backline was clunky and hesitant in the face of the Welsh rush defence, too. Richie Mo’unga struggled for rhythm with one bounce pass to the edge, another offload that resulted in a turnover and an overcooked cross-field kick for Josh Moorby.
Mo’unga improved somewhat in the second spell when he challenged the line and made two breaks.
Collectively, the All Blacks lacked patience on attack. Too often they forced passes that weren’t on instead of resetting to go again.
Wales, to their credit, were highly spirited.
On the back foot against all odds the All Blacks needed two breakdowns, Anton Segner and Wallace Sititi, to stand up to propel them back into the contest. Anton Lienert-Brown also produced a strong return to the midfield.
Panicked decision making was evident in the second half from the All Blacks. Given their overwhelming possession advantage it seemed inevitable they would eventually crack the line and at least snatch a late draw but Wales would not buckle.
The All Blacks will be shellshocked. Rennie’s men have seven days to attempt to regroup for England at Twickenham.
This occasion, though, belongs to Wales.
All Blacks 28 – Cortez Ratima, Wallace Sititi, Fehi Fineanganofo, Peter Lakai tries. Richie Mo’unga 3 cons.
Wales 35 – Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake, Archie Griffin, Eddie James, Louis Rees-Zammit tries. Sam Costelow 5 cons.
HT: 21-21
Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast.
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