Wales will host New Zealand at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, 14 November, in a Nations Championship match kicking off at 14:10 GMT. The home side aims to draw the world's attention to them in a contest against the All Blacks, who are in good form.
However, bookmakers do not expect an upset. The odds for a Wales victory stand at 20 to 1, with the more likely outcome being a 35th consecutive defeat to New Zealand. Welsh woes thus enter their 74th year since the last win in December 1953. Tickets for this match are still available.
Wales narrowly beat Japan 28-21 before this fixture. A year ago, the score was only 24-21 in the 48th minute against New Zealand, and Wales scored four tries in the defeat — Tom Rogers then entered history with a hat-trick, while Louis Rees-Zammit added a try with an acrobatic finish. Rees-Zammit and full-back Blair Murray will seek to build on good performances against Japan, and they have been joined by Gabriel Hamer-Webb, a Leicester City winger in form.
Coach Steve Tandy has secured wins against Japan twice, Fiji and Italy since taking charge in 2025. But he will not be able to count on injured number eight Aaron Wainwright against New Zealand. The heavy centre partnership of Max Llewellyn and Eddie James remains in the side, while Adam Beard, the 6ft 8in lock for Montpellier, returns to the team as a kick-chaser. Ben Carter, co-captain of the Dragons, moves to the bench. Taine Basham, the 27-year-old from Talywain, was a Welsh star against New Zealand in 2021, and this will be his first start in a test match since 2022. Kicking was weak against Japan, which is an additional reason for Beard's return.
In the professional era, since 1995, Wales have finished within one point of the All Blacks only twice in 23 matches. In 2004, the defeat was by one point, with poor time management at the end, and Wales were then eighth in the world rankings. That 26-25 loss followed a 38-36 defeat to South Africa two weeks earlier. In 2009, a chance to break the streak with a draw was missed — lock Jones was caught after an interception, and a last-minute kick also failed. The last Welsh win of real significance was 40-6 against Australia in the group stage of the 2023 World Cup under Warren Gatland. The Wallabies arrive in Cardiff next Saturday at 20:10 GMT.
Wales captain Dewi Lake said: "We want to climb the rankings, we want to get back into the top eight." With 11 months remaining until the 2027 World Cup in Australia, time is running out for the team travelling there with hopes of a trophy to earn respect.
