Wales beats All Blacks 35-28, ending 73-year losing streak
Wales scored five tries to defeat New Zealand 35-28 in a Nations Championship match, breaking a 34-game losing run dating back to 1953.
Reported by BBC NewsAlso reported by Sky Sports.Claims checked against the source, 23 h ago.
ShareWhy it matters
This is one of Welsh rugby's greatest moments and signals the team can rebuild after years of poor results that had left the nation's supporters deflated.
In Australia. Welsh rugby has global reach, and this victory will inspire rugby fans across Australia who follow the Six Nations and international rugby, showing that long losing streaks can be broken.
Key facts
- 34 matches
- Losing streak ended
- 73
- Years since last win
- 35-28
- Final score
- 5
- Wales tries
- Wales ended one of sport's longest droughts on Thursday night at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, beating the All Blacks for the first time in more than seven decades.
- The hosts raced to a 14-0 lead with tries from Tomos Williams and captain Dewi Lake inside six minutes, then fought off a New Zealand comeback to win 35-28.
- Wales added three more tries through Archie Griffin, Eddie James and Louis Rees-Zammit.
- New Zealand replied with four tries but could not close the gap.
- The decisive moment came in the final quarter when Wales's defence held firm, with flankers James Botham and Jac Morgan leading a display that frustrated the All Blacks repeatedly.
- The 34-match losing run between the teams stretched back to 1953, when tries were worth three points and Cardiff was not yet Wales's capital city.
