Wales end 73-year wait to beat New Zealand in Cardiff

Wales have beaten New Zealand, ending a wait of 73 years for a win over them. The Nations Championship match took place in Cardiff in front of 55,000 fans, The Guardian reported.

Wales started at speed. Tomos Williams scored the opening try inside 90 seconds, following up after Louis Rees-Zammit kicked the ball ahead of the defence. Dewi Lake added a second within five minutes, and Sam Costelow's conversion, the extra kick after a try, gave Wales a 14-0 lead.

New Zealand came back. Cortez Ratima scored their first try by breaking blind from an attacking lineout, a throw-in from the touchline that gives the attacking side a quick run before the defence is set. Archie Griffin then crossed to put Wales 21-7 ahead in the second quarter.

New Zealand answered again. Wallace Sititi scored on the half-hour, and Fehi Fineanganofo, set up by Quinn Tupaea, tied the scores at half-time. The match was level at the break.

The second half belonged to Wales at first. Eddie James scored within 10 minutes of the restart, and Costelow converted. Wales had the lead again, and the crowd had plenty to cheer.

What does it mean for the table? New Zealand still collected two bonus points, extra points awarded for scoring four tries or losing by seven or fewer. Those points were enough to put them top of the southern table, according to the same report. New Zealand had made eight changes to their side after beating Scotland, so the team on the field was far from the one that had started their previous game.

For Wales, the result is the first win over New Zealand in 73 years. It came in a match where both sides had to keep finding ways through a physical contest for every breakdown, every scrum and every lineout.