The last time Steve Hansen’s side were at the home of English rugby they made it back-to-back World Cup titles in 2015 when they beat Australia. Now they kick off their end of season tour with an uncapped match against a Baa-Baas side containing 10 Kiwis in the starting XV.
Wales face New Zealand on Saturday, 25 November, in a game that has already sold-out the Principality Stadium. There hasn’t been a Welsh win over the All Blacks since 1953.
Gatland’s British & Irish Lions at least proved the world champions are beatable by drawing the three-Test series in the summer. The Wallabies followed that up with a win in the third Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney two weeks ago.
The All Blacks have made a number of changes to the side that was edged by the Wallabies. The experienced Jerome Kaino returns to the back row, Beauden Barrett takes over the captaincy in the absence of Kieran Reed and Seta Tamanivalu gets a run on the left wing.
It could be a big day for three youngsters on the bench, with hooker Asafo Aumua, prop Tim Perry and outside back Matt Duffie all hoping to make their All Blacks debut.
Everyone over the age of 50 will be able to talk you through the great try scored by Gareth Edwards for the Barbarians to beat the All Blacks in their final game on tour in 1973 at Cardiff Arms Park. But the invitation side also beat New Zealand when they last met at Twickenham in 2009.
Included among a stellar line-up of rugby playing talent on that famous day was a 22-year-old Welsh centre,
Jamie Roberts. Until this year, when Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton and Taulupe Faletau joined him by clinching a victory over the All Blacks with the Lions, was the only Welsh player since the likes of JJ Williams, JPR Williams, Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennett and Mervyn Davies to be able to claim a victory over the three southern hemisphere super powers.
“It was an amazing day and one of the most enjoyable weeks of my career. I was only 22 at the time and playing with some amazing players,” said Roberts, who was instrumental in one of the tries that earned his side a 25-18 victory.
“It was a completely random group of rugby guys, but I have never seen a group of players flick a switch on the morning of a match as they did. We played some fantastic rugby and beat the ABs, which was pretty impressive.”
For Gareth Edwards in 1973, read Bryan Habana in 2009. The Springbok wing ran in three tries to sink New Zealand and add a new chapter to the rich history of the Barbarians.
BARBARIANS: George Bridge; Julian Savea, Richard Buckman, Harold Vorster, Vince Aso; Richie Mo’unga, Andy Ellis (captain); Jacques van Royen, Adriaan Strauss, Atu Moli, Sam Carter, Dominic Bird, Steven Luatua, Kwagga Smith, Luke Whitelock
Reps: Akker van der Merwe, Ben Franks, Ruan Smith, Willie Britz, Ruan Ackerman, Mitchell Drummond, Robert du Preez, Dillon Hunt.
ALL BLACKS: David Havili; Waisake Naholo, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Seta Tamanivalu; Beauden Barrett (captain), TJ Perenara; Kane Hames, Nathan Harris, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Luke Romano, Scott Barrett, Vaea Fifita, Ardie Savea, Jerome Kaino,
Reps: Asafo Aumua, Tim Perry, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Patrick Tuiupulotu, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, Matt Duffie
Under Armour Series 2017 – BUY TICKETS HERE
WALES v AUSTRALIA – Saturday, 11 November 2017 (17:15)
WALES v GEORGIA – Saturday, 18 November 2017 (14:30)
WALES v NEW ZEALAND – Saturday, 25 November 2017 (17:15) SOLD OUT
WALES v SOUTH AFRICA – Saturday, 2 December 2017 (14:30)
Official Hospitality Packages are available from 02920 822 413 or visit www.wru.wales/hospitality and official travel packages can be purchased from the WRU’s official travel supplier, Gullivers Sports Travel by visiting www.gulliverstravel.co.uk
The WRU’s official resale marketplace, which gives clubs the opportunity to re-sell a limited selection of their allocated tickets to the general public, can also be found at www.seatwave.com/wru
