Wales have beaten New Zealand's All Blacks for the first time in 73 years, ending a 34-match losing run against the side at a packed Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The victory is widely described as the biggest in the 145-year history of Welsh rugby, a result few had expected from a squad that had only last year celebrated its first win in 18 Tests after its worst ever run.
Wales raced into a 14-0 lead within six minutes, with tries from Rees-Zammit-linked attacks and captain Dewi Lake, and tighthead Archie Griffin crossed for his second try in two starts before the first half ended. New Zealand hit back through Cortez Ratima, but the home side's line-out and attack looked markedly better than in their seven-point win over Japan a week earlier. Coach Dave Rennie's New Zealand side had changed eight of its starting XV, and was sloppy at times.S1
Wales's Jac Morgan, Dafydd Jenkins, Tomos Williams and Eddie James were among the players celebrated, and the match was named after Wales debutant James Botham, grandson of Lord Botham, who was in tears and said it was the best day of his life. Former Wales greats including Sir Gareth Edwards, who never beat the All Blacks as a player, were in the stadium as the 55,152 crowd erupted.S1S2
Politicians and public figures welcomed the result, with Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock saying he had watched the final 20 minutes while speaking at the Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno, and Laura Anne Jones, deputy leader of Reform UK Wales, calling it a victory to be remembered for generations. Fans outside the ground, including Joy Morris, 62, from Ammanford, described tense final minutes as the home side held on.S2
