Dewi Lake, Wales’s captain, the first to lead his team to victory over New Zealand in 73 years, paid tribute to his teammates, who chiselled this win out of a recent history of adversity, sometimes even humiliation. At last, they gave this rugby nation reason to be proud again, as he called the win an “amazing feeling”.
“It’s nice to sit in this room and not be disappointed,” he said. “I think we got asked a lot of questions last week in terms of performance, in terms of things that went wrong. We had tough conversations in the week [after a narrow win over Japan]. We’re a group that trusts each other a lot, and to put on the field what we did today, to make history, it’s tough to put it into words, really. But it is nothing this group doesn’t deserve for the work they put in for the last year, year and a half.”
The win will surely instil some belief in this young Wales team. Lake insisted it was already there. “I think some sometimes we sit in front of the media and say we can beat them, and it’s probably a passing comment for some people at home. It’s not for us. We work hard. We have tough conversations. Not only players, coaches, staff. Like you wouldn’t believe the work that goes on for this group to grow and succeed. So, yeah, we do believe that we can do it, and and that’s why.”
The Principality Stadium had 20,000 empty seats, such was the level of expectation, but the noise they made by the end was as deafening as ever in the good times. “I think I stopped watching with a minute 20 left,” said Lake. “It’s almost as if you’re blocked out. You hear the noise, but it’s like it’s background noise. I just waited for the whistle. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Beauden Barrett, captain of the All Blacks for the first time in his 149th Test, was gracious in defeat. “It felt like a brick wall at times,” he said of Wales’s defence, “so you have to give them credit. They brought the crowd into the game. You’re well aware of them when you come here. That’s why it’s one of the best places to play rugby, when there’s that support behind you. It was like playing 16 or 17.”
Dave Rennie, New Zealand’s coach, said: “I give credit to Wales. They were really clinical when they got their chances, and then they defended for massive periods. It hurts, but you’ve got to take it on the chin. Wales were passionate, and every time they kept us out, I reckon they grew and became harder to break down.”
