mens
nations-championship
Wales ended 73 years of wounding New Zealand and destroyed the form book of world rugby with an epic victory Nations Championship 35-28 encounter at the Principality Stadium.
The All black people have made it 34 consecutive wins at Wales’ expense since beating them in 1953, but Steve Tandy’s side magnificently achieved the improbable mission after the Cardiff classic.
Three times Wales led by 14 points, and for the first time in history they scored five tries against New Zealand, but in the end heroic defensive work denied the visitors.
First-half tries from Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake and Archie Griffin – all converted by Sam Costelow – put Wales ahead, although New Zealand pulled it back to 21-21 as Cortez Ratima, Wallace Sititi and Fehi Fineanganofo all touched and Richie Mo’unga scored three conversions.
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie made eight changes from the side that went through Scotland in their previous Nations Championship game, and that approach backfired spectacularly in the end, with Eddie James and Louis Rees-Zammit adding Wales’ extra scores which Costelow converted.