Wales just pulled off an absolutely historic 35-28 victory against New Zealand, shattering a mind-blowing 34-game losing streak against the All Blacks and ending a 73-year hoodoo. This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement that echoed across the rugby world, and the Welsh squad earned every single bit of it.
Eddie James’s Defensive Masterclass That Changed Everything
Twenty-four-year-old Scarlets centre Eddie James, who made his Wales debut against South Africa back in 2024, played like a man possessed. He walked out of Principality Stadium with a souvenir match ball, and honestly, it could’ve been for any number of plays. Yeah, he dotted down one of Wales’ five tries down the left wing early in the second half, showing off that strong running and offloading threat we’ve come to expect. But the real moment that had everyone talking? It was one of his 25 tackles, a play you’re going to want to rewatch until the video buffer gives out. New Zealand’s Anton Lienert-Brown was barreling towards the line at 35-21, a try looked absolutely certain, but James, with his long right arm, reached out and stopped him a mere meter from the line, killing the offload opportunity. That single play, right there, encapsulated the defensive desire of the entire Welsh side. You could feel it radiating off him. “I honestly can’t feel a thing,” James said after the whistle, still in his kit, “I haven’t been able feel my feet for a long time now. It was an amazing performance defensively. We’re such a small nation and we pride ourselves a lot on our heart.” The guy is pure passion. He later added, “I’m so proud, it’s easily the best day of my life and something I will remember until the day I die. It was a dream come true facing the Haka, and I loved it.”
Taine Basham’s Incredible Comeback
Adding to the heroics was Taine Basham. This guy’s journey back to the international fold is the stuff of legends. Drafted in because of Aaron Wainwright’s calf injury, Basham scored two tries on his Wales debut against Canada in 2021. But this wasn’t just any game for him. This was his first cap since the 2024 Six Nations and his first start in four years! His recall? Purely down to a scorching start to the season with Cardiff. To step back onto that stage and deliver against the All Blacks? Unreal. Basham summed it up perfectly: “I’ve moved clubs, worked hard to get myself back into the team and now I’ve been in a team that beat the All Blacks. What a feeling, what a feeling!” Even after starring against the All Blacks in 2021 despite a 54-16 hammering, the 27-year-old from Talywain never gave up. “I always thought there might be an opportunity to make a comeback with Wales. There are always opportunities, whether it’s injuries or just through form,” he said. Talk about perseverance paying off.
The energy inside Principality Stadium with 55,152 fans roaring was electric, a massive help to the team. James knows the importance of that crowd, saying, “Credit to the fans, they got behind us and were a massive help for us. The more fans we have, the louder it is and so hopefully we can bottle this up and get even more for the Australia game. The fans help us so much on the pitch – they are massive for us.” Next up, Wales faces Australia on Saturday with a challenging late start at 20:10 GMT. Here’s hoping this historic performance fuels an even bigger turnout and more deafening support from the fans. After a win like this, who wouldn’t want to be there for the next chapter?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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