For Wales, Sir Gareth Edwards, Barry John, JPR Williams, Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones and Shane Williams are among the legends who have never won All black people.
On 14 November 2026, after 34 consecutive defeats by the All Blacks since 1953 and just five wins in 31 Tests since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, all against teams outside the top 10, Wales stunned the All Blacks 35-28 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Wales were priced at 16/1 before kick-off. The All Blacks were only 1/200 to win in Cardiff.
It’s hard to believe that, regardless of what else they achieve, the likes of Dafydd Jenkins (38 tries), Jac Morgan (31 tries, 4 turnovers) and Eddie James will become part of Welsh rugby folklore.
Interestingly, however, Wales won New Zealand 8-7 in heavy rain on June 19 at the 2019 Rugby World Cup Under-20 in Rosario, Argentina. The win secured Wales a play-off for fifth place after both countries exited the semi-final round.
Wales’ captain that day was their captain today, whore Dewi Lake. It’s a modern day Sid Judd. In 1953, the winger and school teacher scored for Cardiff in their 8-3 win against the All Blacks in November 1953 and backed it up with a try three weeks later in Wales’ 13-8 win over the All Blacks. Interestingly, no Cardiff forwards were initially selected for the Test, with Judd only coming on as an injury replacement for Glyn Davies.
Rosario’s quick progress and Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler’s kick-and-run try gave Wales a lead that lasted from 17 to 70 minutes.
The match lasted more than two hours. An approaching storm forced the game to be stopped for more than an hour in the 30th minute.
When play resumed, New Zealand lock replacement Samipeni Finau was penalized for a high tackle. Despite this, New Zealand controlled possession and territory.
With ten minutes remaining, lock Tupou Vaa’i scored and Fergus Burke converted to give New Zealand a 7-5 lead. After missing four early kicks, Burke’s rival 10 Cai Evans kicked the decisive penalty in the dying moments.
New Zealand included Locke Taine Plumtree, born in Swansea in 2000. His father, John, was an assistant coach of the All Blacks. Taine came off the bench for Wales in the All Blacks’ 35-28 win, making 12 tackles and two turnovers.
Wales’ under-20 win in 2019 was their second at under-20 level against New Zealand. In 2012, Wales ended New Zealand’s 21-game winning streak at the tournament in the South Africa with a shock 9-6 victory, after a 92-0 humiliation the previous year.
The Wales Under-20 and New Zealand Under-20 2019 squads were. Please mark in bold those who have played senior internationals for the All Blacks and Wales.
Wales U20 (15-1): Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues); Deon Smith (Dragons), Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Blues), Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Ospreys), Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets); Cai Evans (Ospreys), Dafydd Buckland (Dragons); Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Dewi Lake (cap, Ospreys), Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), Morgan Jones (Scarlets), Jac Price (Scarlets), Lennon Greggains (Dragons), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Jac Morgan (Aberavon/Scarlets).
Subs: Garin Lloyd (Ospreys), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Nick English (Bristol Bears), Ed Scragg (Dragons), Iestyn Rees (Scarlets), Harri Morgan (Ospreys), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), Teddy Williams (Cardiff Blues), Tom Devine (Dragons), Ioan R Davies (Cardiff Blues), Will Griffiths (Wild)
New Zealand U20 (15-1): Scott Gregory; Lalomilo Lalomilo, Quinn Tupaea, Dallas McLeod, Leicester Fainga’anuku; Fergus Burke, Major Gift; Ollie Norris, Keanu Kereru Symes (cap), Taine Plumtree, Tupou Vaa’i, Kaylum Boshier, Kohan Herbert, Devan Flanders.
Subs: Shilo Klein, George Dyer, Fletcher Newell, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Cullen Grace, Samipeni Finau, Jeriah Mua, Simon Parker, Leroy Carter, Rivez Reihana, Billy Proctor, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Cole Forbes.
Note: Tomi Lewis, Scott Gregory and Etene Nanai-Seturo were Internationals of the Week for their adopted countries. Fergus Burke played for Scotland and Lalomilo Lalomilo against Samoa.
All Black captains do not win Tests
Beaduen Barrett is the longest-serving All Black by number of days in the jersey ever, but unless he is re-appointed captain in victory, he will join the short and unfortunate list of All Black test captains who have never won an international.
Ted Roberts
0-0 v South Africa, 17 September 1921, Wellington
Herbie Lilburne
8-9 in Australia, July 6, 1929, Sydney
Rusty Page
11-25 in Australia, 11 August 1934, Sydney
Johnny Smith
6-11 v Australia, 6 September 1949, Wellington
9-16 v Australia, 24 September 1949, Auckland
Stu Wilson
25-25 v Scotland, 12 November 1983, Edinburgh
9-15 v England, 19 November 1983, London
Note: At 21 years and 112 days, five-eighth and fullback Lilburn remains the All Blacks’ youngest Test captain. Smith was the first player to win the Tom French Cup as Maori Player of the Year in 1949.
He served as alternate captain while the primary All Blacks toured South Africa, where they lost the series 4–0. Wilson was the first All Black to captain his country in a Test from the wing.
