Wales 35-28 New Zealand: Wales Beat the All Blacks for the First Time Since 1953

Wales have beaten New Zealand for the first time in 73 years. Steve Tandy’s side won 35-28 in a breathless Nations Championship match at the Principality Stadium, ending a run of 34 straight defeats to the All Blacks that stretched back to 1953.

How Wales did it

Wales got off to a dream start when Tomos Williams scored in the second minute, and Dewi Lake added a second try four minutes later. Wales never trailed in the match.

New Zealand hit back through Cortez Ratima and Wallace Sititi, while Archie Griffin crossed for Wales, and the sides went in level at 21-21 at half-time.

Read more: Chelsea 1-0 Man City: Sandy Baltimore Stunner Sends Blues Top of the WSL as City Finish With 10

The second half was just as frantic. Fehi Fineanganofo scored for the All Blacks, but Eddie James and Louis Rees-Zammit went over for Wales within four minutes of each other. Peter Lakai’s try on 53 minutes cut the gap to seven, and Sam Costelow kicked all five conversions for Wales.

A nervous final 27 minutes

New Zealand threw everything at Wales for the last 27 minutes, but the home side held on to protect their seven-point lead and spark wild celebrations in Cardiff.

Why this result is so big

Wales had lost 34 matches in a row against New Zealand since their last win in 1953, and had conceded at least 50 points on each of the All Blacks’ last three visits to Cardiff. They also finished bottom of this year’s Six Nations.

The win is already being called one of the biggest upsets in Test rugby in years. Around 55,000 fans were at the Principality Stadium to see it.

Photo: Peter Evans / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).