Wales ended a 73-year wait and 34 consecutive defeats by beating New Zealand at the Principality Stadium, recording one of the greatest victories in Welsh sporting history. The last time Wales beat the All Blacks was the same year Queen Elizabeth II was crowned, when Cardiff was not even the capital city of Wales.
The venue has hosted four Wales Six Nations Grand Slam wins, but this was arguably a greater achievement. Wales had been given little hope of troubling the All Blacks and had even been labelled the "Dickensian Orphan" of world rugby by a prominent New Zealand Herald journalist, underlining how far their standing had fallen.
Record-breaking performance
Wales scored a record five tries against New Zealand, but the game was won by a miraculous defensive performance that saw them make a sensational 305 tackles while holding the All Blacks over the line five times. Players such as James Botham, Gareth Thomas, Jac Morgan, Dafydd Jenkins and Eddie James were herculean in defence.
Centre Eddie James produced one of the finest individual performances ever seen from a Welsh midfielder, a towering presence in both attack and defence. His midfield partner Max Llewellyn was not far behind, with the pair forming an outstanding partnership and giving Wales a physical and creative edge.
Encouraging signs under Tandy
The first half was the most encouraging 40 minutes of rugby yet under head coach Steve Tandy, with Wales' attack showing fluency and ambition. Sam Costelow impressed at outside-half with his long passing game, bringing Louis Rees-Zammit and Blair Murray into play, while Blair Murray cemented his status as a high-class international full-back.
Wales also made an early impression at the breakdown, disrupting New Zealand's ability to generate quick ball while securing possession at a healthier tempo. Adam Beard was recalled to shore up the lineout, and although there was greater accuracy in that area during the opening exchanges, consistency remains an issue.
Resilience and belief restored
Tandy will take enormous satisfaction from the character his side displayed. Wales were put under sustained pressure for long periods, with the All Blacks laying siege to their try line, yet they refused to buckle. Wales held the All Blacks up over the line four times, and defence coach Peter Murchie more than earned his salary.
When the final whistle sounded, the Principality Stadium erupted. With Australia arriving next Saturday and the Six Nations on the horizon, this was evidence of a Wales side capable of asking serious questions of the strongest defences in the game. It was a significant step forward for Tandy, even if the challenge now is to make that level of performance the norm rather than the exception.
