Wales beat New Zealand 35-28 at the Principality Stadium on Saturday 14 November in round 5 of the Nations Championship. It was their first win over the All Blacks since 1953 and it ended a run of 34 straight defeats. Wales scored five tries to four and held New Zealand scoreless for the last 27 minutes, in front of 55,152.
Why everyone gets a 9
We usually split hairs in ratings. Not tonight. Wales had 35% of the ball, made 346 tackles to New Zealand’s 136 and won 11 turnovers. Every one of the 23 who took the field played a part in something that hasn’t happened in 73 years, so every one of them gets a 9.
Two players get more. Tomos Williams scored in the first minute and controlled the game from scrum-half. Eddie James scored the try that put Wales back in front after half-time and made 25 tackles. Both get a 9.5.
How Wales won it
Williams scored in the first minute and hooker Dewi Lake added a second try in the fifth, so Wales led 14-0 after six minutes. Cortez Ratima pulled one back for New Zealand, Archie Griffin scored Wales’ third, and tries from Wallace Sititi and Fehi Fineanganofo made it 21-21 at half-time.
Wales hit back straight after the break. Centre Eddie James scored, then Louis Rees-Zammit went over in the 48th minute to make it 35-21. Peter Lakai cut the gap to seven in the 52nd minute. Then Wales defended for the last 27 minutes and held out.
Fly-half Sam Costelow kicked all five conversions.
Wales player ratings
15 Blair Murray – 9
Made 70 metres from eight carries and beat four defenders, the most of any Welsh player. He also made two offloads, seven tackles and won a turnover.
14 Louis Rees-Zammit – 9
Scored the try in the 48th minute that made it 35-21. He made 95 metres, the most of anyone on the pitch, and four line breaks.
13 Eddie James – 9.5
Scored the try that put Wales ahead again after half-time and made 25 tackles, a huge number for a centre. He added two turnovers and a line break.
12 Max Llewellyn – 9
Made 23 tackles in midfield, won a turnover and beat two defenders.
11 Gabriel Hamer-Webb – 9
Made seven tackles in 54 minutes before Louie Hennessey replaced him.
10 Sam Costelow – 9
Kicked five conversions from five attempts for 10 points and made 10 tackles before going off at 64 minutes.
9 Tomos Williams – 9.5 (player of the match)
Scored in the first minute. He made 61 passes and 11 kicks from hand, the most in the match, and added nine tackles. He set the tempo for the whole Welsh performance until he went off at 64 minutes.
1 Nicky Smith – 9
Made nine tackles in 54 minutes.
2 Dewi Lake – 9
Scored Wales’ second try in the fifth minute, made 24 tackles and carried nine times. He had two spells off the field and still finished among Wales’ top tacklers.
3 Archie Griffin – 9
Scored Wales’ third try in the 23rd minute and carried seven times before going off at 54 minutes.
4 Dafydd Jenkins – 9
Made 38 tackles, the most on the pitch, and won four lineouts. He was the centre of the Welsh defensive effort.
5 Adam Beard – 9
Won four lineouts and made 21 tackles in 64 minutes.
6 James Botham – 9
Made 30 tackles, carried 10 times, beat two defenders and won a lineout.
7 Jac Morgan – 9
Made 31 tackles and won four turnovers, the most of anyone in the match. Every one of them came against a side with 65% of the ball.
8 Taine Basham – 9
Carried 13 times, the most of any Welsh player, for 45 metres. He also beat three defenders and made 16 tackles in 54 minutes.
Replacements
16 Ryan Elias – 9 – Made 11 tackles across two spells covering for Lake.
17 Gareth Thomas – 9 – Made 19 tackles in 26 minutes.
18 Dillon Lewis – 9 – Made 14 tackles in 26 minutes.
19 Ben Carter – 9 – Made 13 tackles in 16 minutes.
20 Taine Plumtree – 9 – Won two turnovers and made 12 tackles in 26 minutes.
21 Reuben Morgan-Williams – 9 – Replaced Williams at 64 minutes and made 10 passes and five tackles as Wales saw it out.
22 Dan Edwards – 9 – Replaced Costelow at 64 minutes and made five tackles as Wales held on.
23 Louie Hennessey – 9 – Made three tackles in 26 minutes on the wing.
Wales v New Zealand: key numbers
| Stat | Wales | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 35 | 28 |
| Tries | 5 | 4 |
| Possession | 35.3% | 64.7% |
| Tackles made | 346 | 136 |
| Turnovers won | 11 | 7 |
| Turnovers conceded | 7 | 15 |
| Metres made | 329 | 677 |
| Lineout success | 78.6% | 80% |
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