Wales 35-28 New Zealand: 332 tackles end 73 years of hurt

Wales beat New Zealand 35-28 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 14 November 2026, ending a 34-match losing sequence against the All Blacks that stretched back to 1953. The win was Wales' first over New Zealand in 73 years.

The margin was seven points. Wales made 332 tackles to New Zealand's 122, and New Zealand were held up over the line three times. New Zealand had 65 per cent possession and nearly as much territory, and still could not convert the final quarter into a winning score.

Wales scored five tries through Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake, Archie Griffin, Eddie James and Louis Rees-Zammit, with Costelow kicking five conversions. New Zealand scored four through Ratima, Sititi, Fineanganofo and Lakai, with Mo'unga kicking four. Wales led 14-0, 21-7 and 35-21 before holding off the comeback. Flankers James Botham and Jac Morgan and lock Dafydd Jenkins led the final-quarter defence.

Since the last World Cup, Wales had managed five wins in 31 Tests, all against teams outside the top eight.

New Zealand's selection is part of the picture. Dave Rennie's side made 10 changes to the match-day 23 that played Scotland, eight of them in the starting side. Loose forward Anton Segner and wing Fehi Fineanganofo made their first Test starts.

A crowd of 55,152 watched it. Whether it becomes a turning point for Wales, or a single result inside a poor run, depends on what follows in the tournament. For New Zealand, the loss raises questions about depth and consistency under Rennie, though nothing in the record yet indicates a change in the coaching position.