Key events
Yellow-card! Wales (Plumtree, 68)
TRY! Wales 21-38 New Zealand (Reece, 60)
Yellow-card! Wales (G Thomas, 58)
TRY! Wales 21-31 New Zealand (Ione, 52)
NO TRY! Wales 21-24 New Zealand
TRIES!! Rogers hat-trick, but then Clarke strikes
Half-time: Wales 14-22 New Zealand
TRY! Wales 14-24 New Zealand (Williams, 38)
TRY! Wales 12-17 New Zealand (Rogers, 33)
TRY! Wales 7-17 New Zealand (Love, 29)
Penalty! Wales 7-10 New Zealand (McKenzie, 13)
TRY! Wales 7-7 New Zealand (Rogers, 10)
TRY! Wales 0-7 New Zealand (Clarke, 5)
New Zealand team news
Wales team news
Preamble
Yellow-card! Wales (Plumtree, 68)
Just as Thomas returns, Plumtree has to go. This will go to a bunker. It was high but I’d be shocked if this is upgraded. First contact was with Jordan’s chest as far as I could tell.
68 min: Wales stray offside so McKenzie has a chance to try something funky. He goes searching for open space behind Edwards but there’s nothin’ doin’ so we’ll come back for the pen. The TMO wants a look at a possible high shot from Plumtree on Jordan.
67 min: It’s all coming undone for Wales now. After spilling the line-out they then concede a penalty at the scrum. McKenzie, who has not put a foot wrong all day, nudges it upfield for a line-out.
64 min: They call those coach killers. Beard is lifted at the line-out but spills it as he tries to haul it down with one hand. How frustrating!
62 min: Wales get a line-out inside NZ’s patch. They simply have. to score from here. Hawkins floats one over the top for LRZ. He makes good ground with a slick step around Clarke on the right wing. Needs more of the ball does the former NFL rookie. Deaves does likewise and Wales eke out a penalty. Edwards kicks it out inside NZ’s 22.
TRY! Wales 21-38 New Zealand (Reece, 60)
Is that the killer blow? From the line-out off the penalty, New Zealand stayed patient. They snaked to the left with Taukei’aho coming close. Christie and McKenzie then shifted and went back down the right. They simply had to keep the ball alive and they did that to perfection. Reece, on for Love, was waiting patiently and had a simple run-in. McKenzie slots another brilliant conversion. He has been magnificent off the tee.
Yellow-card! Wales (G Thomas, 58)
Can’t argue with that. Just too high and no wrapped arms. Next infringement was going to see yellow and Wales’ job just got more difficult.
58 min: The NZ maul can’t work the ground required but they keep the ball. Left and then they come back right with a McKenzie cross-kick. Wales holding on. twelve phases. They’ve been pushed back. Christie, on for Ratima, is keeping things ticking. Still they come. 17 phases and finally a penalty for an illegal tackle.
55 min: NZ are back inside Wales’ 22 and are starting to turn the screw. Wales infringe at the breakdown twce and Lake once again gets a talking to. McKenzie nudges it out for a line-out within five metres of the Welsh line.
TRY! Wales 21-31 New Zealand (Ione, 52)
After two chalked-off tries, New Zealand finally have the ball down! McKenzie’s cross-field kick from left to right was meant for Jordan, but the ball bounced and landed in Ione’s bread basket. He had to turn his back and show great strength to power over the tackle of Edwards. He did just that, grounding the ball to stretch the All Blacks’ lead. McKenzie adds two more with another superb conversion from the right tram.
51 min: New Zealand are pressing inside Wales’ 22. McKenzie hoists a high cross kick from left to right for Jordan. The ball bounces but Ione gathers and forces his way over in the corner. Did he get it down? Looks like it but they want another glance. Did Edwards force the knock-on?
No they don’t! Jordan was adjusged to have grounded it by Davidson but the ball was held up! All going on! This game has become absolutely mad! Wales hold on. Three point game.
49 min: Now they have their try! Or do they? Jordan is over the line but they’re looking again. Was the ball grounded? The try was awarded on the field but the TMO wants another look. It’s all happening.
NO TRY! Wales 21-24 New Zealand
48 min: The ball is spilled forward on the ground as Kirifi tried to place it backwards. But Plumtree was in an off-side position as he made things awkward a the back of that breakdown so NZ have the penalty. Wales not off the hook as McKenzie kicks it out for a line-out within range.
HANG ON! Was there a knock-on in the build up? Oh there might be. They’re having a look.
TRIES!! Rogers hat-trick, but then Clarke strikes
TRY! Wales 21-24 New Zealand (Rogers, 42)
Rogers has a hat-trick against the All Blacks! It’s Jenkins who charges down a kick to win possession. The big lock then wins a ball in the air to give his team front-foot ball. From there it’s slick hands with hawkins unfurling a brilliant pass that took out two NZ defenders. A simple final shovel to Rogers finds the winger along down the left. A step off his left foot and he’s over the line to become the first Welshman to bag three tries against the mighty All Blacks!
TRY! Wales 21-29 New Zealand (Clarke, 47)
New Zealand hit back again! These two teams are trading tries. After hammering the line and stacking up more than a dozen phases, New Zealand go left down the line. A great pass finds Clarke waiting patiently on the left wing and he easily – far too easily – brushes off three Welsh defenders as he scores.
The players are back out there.
Wales had a lot of joy when they launched contestable kicks into New Zealand’s back-field. And the All Blacks were clinical when they were able to keep hold of the ball.
That surely means we’ll see Wales try and pin the Kiwis down in their own patch. How long can they sustain that? They’re also on thin ice at the breakdown. Davidson is close to showing someone in red a yellow card.
Let’s see how it plays out.
Away we go!
Half-time: Wales 14-22 New Zealand
A weird half. Mostly it was pretty average but we’ve had five tries, including four really good ones. A handful of standout performers, including Rogers on the Welsh left wing who bagged a brace, made up for the rest of them.
Wales have hung in there and perhaps should have added one more given the number of times they entered the NZ red zone. The All Blacks weren’t at their best but were good enough.
We’ll be back soon.
40 min: Wales give away possession as Lake doesn’t throw straight at the line-out. NZ have a scrum and then a free-kick. Rather than kick it out they run from their own half. Ratima knocks on so that’ll be that.
TRY! Wales 14-24 New Zealand (Williams, 38)
The big fella is over! NZ go short at the line-out. Wales sack the maul legally but there is no stopping the mighty Williams from close range. He was aided as Plumtree shot out a little early and had to backtrack as he would have been off-side. That meant that there was a slight imbalance in the defensive line and with two teammates behind him, Williams monstered over. McKenzie’s radar remains accurate and he bags another two points from close to the left touchline.
37 min: Lienert-Brown runs hard off the scrum. Wales give away a penalty so NZ have free ball inside the 22. They don’t do much with it. The Welsh line holds. Three times Sititi carries and goes nowhere. The ball is eventually spilled so NZ will have the ball but that should be considered a moral win for Wales. They stood their ground against multiple black waves.
35 min: Plumtree spills the restart, handing NZ a scrum inside the Welsh 22.
TRY! Wales 12-17 New Zealand (Rogers, 33)
They hit back again! Wow, Rogers has a double! Persistent kicks into the backfield are causing NZ all sorts of problems. Williams with a delightful dink puts the Kiwis under pressure. Murray gathered, they kept it alive and Rogers was waiting on the left wing to strike. Edwards slots a tricky conversion and they’re back to within three.
32 min: Wales are sticking with high kicks. Love spills it and suddenly the Welsh have a sniff. Under pressure, NZ clear from close to their own line. Wales get the line-out and now have a penalty. Murray is close….
TRY! Wales 7-17 New Zealand (Love, 29)
Like a bolt from the blue! Where did that come from? It felt too easy. After the goal-line drop-out, Sitit charged forward and won the collision, giving NZ front-foot ball. Still, Love’s xT (is expected tries a thing?) would have been very low when he received a pass flat-footed on Wales’ 22. He shimmied, side-stepped and then bolted ahead, sliding under the poles before anyone could stop him. McKenzie’s easy conversion opens up a 10 point lead.
28 min: Wales get a free-kick from the scrum but don’t do much with it. Murray lifts a high kick that tests Clarke. The Kiwi winger does brilliantly in the air. A long kick goes a little too long so Wales get a goal-line drop put. Sititi gathers the restart and charges into contact, winning the collision.
25 min: New Zealand have been far from their best. They win a line-out through Holland after a penalty, and inch forward. But soon after they spill the ball in contact.
Hate to say it but beyond two flashes for the two early tries, this has been a pretty stodgy game. Very end of season feel to it.
23 min: Taukei’aho runs over Rees-Zammit on the left wing, leaving the Welsh flyer on his backside. NZ come forward, McKenzie finds Jordan with a delicious short pass but the Kiwi winger is flattened in the tackle. They’ll come back for a penalty so the All Blacks will build again in midfield. Another penalty. That’s four in a row against Wales. Davidson wants a word with Lake after blowing her whistle. A team warning. Next one will go to the bin.
21 min: AAAAAH! Oh man, they were so close. The line-out didn’t go according to plan but Rees-Zammit made some yards from broken play. Then Carre found a short pass around a corner and came within metres of the line. But he was isolated and easily picked off on the ground under the shade of the NZ poles. Penalty to the All Blacks and Wales once again leave the red zone with no points to show.
19 min: Penalty for Wales as Barrett is pinged for illegally infringing at the line-out. A brilliant kick from Edwards will give his team the throw inside NZ’s 22. Can Wales do something with their opportunity this time?
17 min: Some kick tennis ends with McKenzie winning that particular rally, finding touch inside Wales’ half. This time the line-out is long and finds Plumtree on the gallop. A high kick causes chaos, and a NZ knock-on, so Wales are on the ball. Not for long. They kick away possession and now have to throw to the line back inside their own half after a long touch-finder from Ratima. Seems every time Wales get a chance to do something they’re blowing it. New Zealand aren’t bossing it. They’ve not left second gear to be honest. But Wales aren’t making them pay.
15 min: Now a penalty for Wales after NZ failed to let go of the tackled player on the floor. It’s on halfway so Edwards hoofs it out inside the AB’s 22. Can they work something from this line-out?
No! Barrett climbs highest and pinches the ball. The long raking kick puts Rees-Zammit inside his 22 and he has no choice but to go to the boot. A wasted opportunity for Wales.
Penalty! Wales 7-10 New Zealand (McKenzie, 13)
New Zealand nudge in front thanks to a gimme penalty from D-Mac.
12 min: Plumtree loses his feet at the breakdown following a strong carry from Deaves after the restart. It’s bang in front of the poles. That’s soft from the Welsh after drawing level.
TRY! Wales 7-7 New Zealand (Rogers, 10)
Wales hit back! It started with a brilliant catch of a high ball by. Rees-Zammit who beat McKenzie in the air. That got Wales on the front foot and they just needed to show composure. Didn’t they just?! Edwards produced a stiff arm to fend off a tackler and the unfurled a little off-load that found Rogers on the left wing. The speedster skipped round the covering tackle and dotted down. Edwards dusted himself off to land the conversion from the tram to bring us level again. Great score from the home side.
8 min: Murray does well in the backfield after mopping up a kick and then returning it with interest. But NZ are back on the ball around halfway. Sititi with a stiff carry. They stay patient before a knock-on hands Wales possession. Rees-Zammit snaffling the loose ball.
TRY! Wales 0-7 New Zealand (Clarke, 5)
Too easy, too accurate, too slick! The line-out is won by Holland and they hammer close to the breakdown for a series of big carries down the blind. Then they pull the trigger after six phases, going through the hands before finding Clarke prowling on the left wing. He’s got too much pace and runs in for a simple score. Great. line by Ioane in midfield but the Welsh defence was simply not there.
McKenzie adds the extras from out left.
3 min: Assiratti strays offside after McKenzie darts through a half gap, putting Wales on the back foot. The big prop never got back behind the gainline so gives away a soft penalty. McKenzie nudges it downfield for a line-out just short of the 22.
2 min: Rogers hoists a high kick that is fielded in the backfield by the ABs. There is loads of smoke in the air from the pyrotechnics before kick-off. NZ run it from deep going coast to coast. It’s scrappy but they keep the ball until Ratima hoofs it from the back of a ruck. Jordan gathers it and they’re over halfway.
Alrighty, here we go! Nothing to lose for Wales. Just go out there and give it to the All Blacks! A proper chance to make a name.
Hollie Davidson becomes the first female referee to take charge of an All Blacks game.
She blasts her whistle and they’re off!
120 years on from the first time the Welsh anthem was sung before a rugby match – incidentally against New Zealand – they’ve done it again.
That was special. Really, really special. In a competitive field I reckon the Welsh anthem is the best in rugby.
Photograph: Nigel French/PA
The rest of the field is in darkness as the players are lit up by a single spotlight.
I love that! They’ve been doing the same in France for a few years and has apparently become the norm. Makes the whole thing feel a little more special.
Anthem time. New Zealand’s up first, then the Welsh.
The Principality looks a picture! I’m on my couch in London but I wish I was there.
If you consider yourself a true rugby fan and have not yet watched a game there, or hear the Welsh crowd sing their anthem, you need to recalibrate your bucket list.
On TNT Dylan Thomas’ ‘Dying of the Light’ is being recited in epic fashion.
A poignant metaphor for the almost impossible task facing the men in red this afternoon.
It’s been a challenging tour for the Kiwis.
They were eying up a grand slam autumn but England saw to that. And after less than clinical performances against Ireland and Scotland, they’ve not quite hit their straps.
“The boys are raring to go, actually,” captain Scott Barrett said in the build up. “It’s been a long week after a result like that at Twickenham, and we can’t wait to get back out there and put that performance behind us, and finish the Northern Tour strong.
“It’s easy; everyone’s telling us that, and the last thing we want to do is turn up and get smacked in the face by a Wales team that would desperately love to beat us.
So, we’ve prepared accordingly, given them the utmost respect, and what a place to play our last Test match of the year.”
Can you believe its been three years since the sides last met?
Took me by surprise I have to say.
Back in 2022 the All Blacks spanked their hosts 55-23 to stretch their unbeaten record against Wales to 33 games, a run going all the way back to 1963.
The numbers are not on Wales’ side.
– Wales have won only two of their last 21Tests
– New Zealand have scored 40 or more points in four of their last five games against Wales.
– The first half has been the highest scoring period in seven of Wales’ matches in 2025
– Kiwi winger Will Jordan has scored 43 tries in 52 Tests. I expect he’ll add at least one or two more today.
New Zealand team news
There are a dozen changes to the side that lost to England last week.
Damien McKenzie starts at fly-half and Ruben Love’s selection at full-back means Will Jordan switches to the right wing.
World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee Fabian Holland starts in the second row.
New Zealand: Love; Jordan, R Ioane, Lienert-Brown, Clarke; McKenzie, Ratima; T Williams, Taukei’aho, Tosi, S Barrett (capt), Holland, Parker, Kirifi, Sititi.
Replacements: Bell, Newell, Bower, Lord, Lio-Willie, Christie, Fainga’anuku, Reece.
Wales team news
Welsh rugby is built on its connection with local communities and today we get a brilliant example of that.
The 24-year-old coaches in his hometown of Pontyclun and is the captain of the club’s darts second team.
He starts. in a back row that has a lot of mobility alongside 23-year-old Alex Mann and Taine Plumtree at No. 8.
Jarrod Evans, the hero from last week, starts on the bench again as Dan Edwards keeps his spot at fly-half.
There are five English-based players in the starting XV alongside Montpellier’s Adam Beard.
Wales: B Murray (Scarlets); L Rees-Zammit (Bristol), M Llewellyn (Gloucester), J Hawkins (Scarlets), T Rogers (Scarlets); D Edwards (Ospreys), T Williams (Gloucester); R Carre (Saracens), D Lake (Ospreys, capt), K Assiratti (Cardiff), D Jenkins (Exeter), A Beard (Montpellier), A Mann (Cardiff), H Deaves (Ospreys), T Plumtree (Scarlets).
Replacements: B Coghlan (Dragons), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), A Griffin (Bath), F Thomas (Gloucester), M Morse (Ospreys), K Hardy (Ospreys), J Evans (Harlequins), N Tompkins (Saracens).
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
It wasn’t too long ago that this match would be the coming together of the best teams in their respective hemispheres.
In 2012 Wales won a grand slam in the Six Nations a few months before New Zealand claimed a clean sweep in the Rugby Championship. Generational players. Superstar coaches. An indomitable belief either side of the equator that men in red and men in black were almost guaranteed success.
Now the opposite is true. Wales needed a last-gasp penalty to beat Japan last week to hand Steve Tandy his first victory as head coach. Meanwhile, Scott Roberston is fighting for survival after his All Blacks were hammered by England’s bench at Twickenham.
Two great empires trying to restore their former glories but that’s where the comparisons end. Because for all the angst coming from New Zealand, they are nowhere near as low as the Welsh at present. The All Blacks still possess world class talent and a robust pipeline. Wales on the other hand have been facing an existential crisis for what feels like five years at least.
Anything other than a Kiwi romp in Cardiff would constitute a mighty upset. But that means that Wales have a free swing of sorts. Little expectation should equate to little pressure which cannot be said for the All Blacks. They simply have to fire this afternoon. Even a positive result won’t blow away the storm clouds. They have to set the Principality on fire.
Kick-off at 3.10pm GMT.
Teams and other bits to follow.
