Nations Championship - Wales 35-28 New Zealand: Hosts display immense defence to pull off first win vs All Blacks since 1953

Wales pulled off one of rugby's biggest shocks of recent times as immense defence saw them to a 35-28 Nations Championship victory over New Zealand - a first vs the All Blacks since 1953.

Wales' victory was built on the foundation of some of their best 40 minutes of rugby for some time in the first half, leading 14-0 and 21-7 after tries from scrum-half Tomos Williams, hooker Dewi Lake and tighthead Archie Griffin.

A decision to keep playing deep in the first half instead of kicking out proved costly, though, allowing New Zealand to level the contest by the break via tries from scrum-half Cortez Ratima, No 8 Wallace Sititi and wing Fehi Fineanganofo - the last score coming three minutes into dead time at the end of the first half.

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Yet, Wales emerged and flew into a big lead again at the start of the second half, scoring converted tries through centre Eddie James and wing Louis Rees-Zammit for a 35-21 advantage.

Peter Lakai quickly narrowed the deficit to seven with an All Blacks try, and the remainder of the contest was played out almost exclusively inside the Wales 22, only for the home side to repel wave after wave of attack, holding New Zealand up three times in-goal.

Story of the match

Wales made an astonishing start to the contest, creating space down the right for Rees-Zammit to chip ahead and Williams to score a try off a kind bounce after just 90 seconds.

Into the sixth minute, Wales had a second try as their early pressure and exuberance gave way to a strong finish from captain Lake, scoring after a rolling maul had made decent ground in the New Zealand 22.

Staring at a 14-0 scoreline, New Zealand quickly woke up to score their opening try in the 10th minute: scrum-half Ratima breaking off a maul to dart over past poor Welsh defence.

Yet, Wales came strong again as centre Max Llewellyn knocked on a chance he should have scored in the 23rd minute, with the hosts maintaining their composure to grab a third through impressive prop Griffin from close range.

Past the half-hour mark, New Zealand hit back again as back-row Sititi fought his way over after another driving maul in the Wales 22.

As the half drew to a close, Wales twice had opportunities to kick the ball off and bring things to the break, but instead played on in search of further points.

It proved a major error when the All Blacks attacked from deep, and kept making ground and offloading until wing Fineanganofo finished by the posts.

When Richie Mo'unga converted, the score was level at 21-21 at half-time, with Wales no doubt disappointed not to be in the lead after their impressive first half.

The home side came out in the second half undeterred, however, building through Rees-Zammit down the right again, and eventually creating space for James to finish in the left corner.

Sam Costelow converted brilliantly for a 28-21 lead, and moments later the Welsh had a fifth try through Rees-Zammit - turning down a kickable penalty in favour of a five-metre lineout, and executing perfectly off the set-piece to score.

With a lead of 35-21, James then made a remarkable tackle on Anton Lienert-Brown to save a try, but it proved little more than a delay of the inevitable as Lakai dived to ground on the line, narrowing the gap to seven points just five minutes after Wales' latest try.

On the hour mark, Sititi was held up over the try-line by Gareth Thomas when a try looked easier to score, before 21 phases of All Blacks attack was ended by a superb Jac Morgan breakdown turnover.

With 15 minutes to play, James Botham held up Asafo Aumua to deny the All Blacks again, before Wales somehow denied the visitors once more after a lengthy stanza of attack gave way to another call of held-up.

The All Blacks kept coming, but Wales' defence proved inspired to get them over the line for a famous, and wholly unexpected, victory.

'I can't even describe the emotions'

Wales back row James Botham, speaking on ITV:

"I can't even describe the emotions. 1953 was the last time we beat the All Blacks.

"It's come from belief. The crowd was behind us - I just want to thank the energy and the noise behind us - you were unbelievable.

"It shows how tight we are as a group.

"It would be rude not to have a celebration tonight!"

Warburton 'Proud to be Welsh'

Former Wales international Sam Warburton, speaking on ITV:

"To every fan, the 55,000 who put their hands in their pockets to still watch Wales, this will be so sweet.

"We forget what this playing group has gone through. From Grand Slam champions to one of the longest losing streaks for a tier one nation - they were in the pits.

"Proud to be Welsh on a day like today - those players were magnificent."

What's next?

For Wales, they next face Australia in their third Nations Championship Test of the autumn at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, November 21 (8.10pm kick-off).

New Zealand travel to face England at Allianz Stadium Twickenham for their next Test, also on Saturday, November 21 (2.10pm kick-off).