Match Day Programme: Wales v New Zealand

The head-to-head between Wales and New Zealand is a story of enduring supremacy versus desperate, heartbreaking defiance. For Welsh supporters, victory over the All Blacks remains the ultimate, elusive prize. This rivalry is defined not just by history, but by the contemporary struggle of the Welsh Dragon against a truly global rugby titan.

Fixture: Wales vs New Zealand

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales

Kickoff Time: 17:40 (GMT)

Referee: Karl Dickson 

Head-to-head Played:

Played: 37

Wales Wins: 3

New Zealand Wins: 34

Draws: 0

Points for:

Wales: 430

New Zealand: 1,219 

Biggest winning margin:

Wales: 5 (19 December 1953)

New Zealand: 52 (21 June 2003)

Last Meeting:  5 November 2022 – Wales 23-55 New Zealand, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

2025 Autumn Nation Series

Wales

­L 28-52 (h) v Argentina

W 24-23 (h) v Wales

2024 Autumn Nation Series

New Zealand

W 13-26 (a) v Ireland

W 17-25 (a) v Scotland

L  33-19 (a) v England

Team News: 

Wales: Captain Dewi Lake starts at hooker. Joining him in the front row this weekend are Rhys Carré at loosehead prop and Keiron Assiratti at tighthead prop. There are two changes to the Wales back line. Joe Hawkins is selected at inside centre and will feature for Wales for the first time since the 2023 Guinness Six Nations. Tom Rogers returns on the wing.

New Zealand: Fabian Holland has recovered to pair up with Captain Scott Barrett at lock, with Josh Lord providing cover. Blindside flanker Simon Parker is the only other player to retain his spot since last week, and he will be joined in the loose forward trio by Du’Plessis Kirifi at openside and Wallace Sititi at No.8. Loose forward cover will be provided by Christian Lio-Willie, who joined the squad from the All Blacks XV last week when Luke Jacobson (concussion) and Samipeni Finau (family illness) returned home. 

Trivia

• The All Blacks have played Wales in 37 Tests, winning all but three of them.  They have scored 1219 points for and had 430 recorded against. 

• While Wales has not beaten the All Blacks at Millennium (Principality) Stadium, the venue has not always been kind to the All Blacks, with narrow losses to South Africa and France in the 1999 and 2007 Rugby World Cups respectively, before beating France and Georgia there in 2015. 

• Harri Deaves will become the 1,217th men’s international when he starts for Wales at openside flanker on Saturday

• Hollie Davidson will make history at this match when she becomes the first female referee to take charge of an All Blacks Test.  She will be assisted by Andrea Piardi and Gianluca Gnecchi from Italy.