Classic Encounters - Wales vs All Blacks 2003 World Cup
Wales play New Zealand in Dunedin this weekend as they look to start their tour of Australia on a high note. As a bit of build up for the big game, here’s a match that we’ve not yet featured on here - the thriller from Sydney in the 2003 World Cup.
It was a match where Wales were expected to just roll over and concede defeat as the almighty All Blacks went about dismantling them on their way to the next round.
The Welsh had other ideas though, and despite being 28-10 down at one stage, produced an incredible comeback that saw them cording four tries without reply either side of halftime, going on to lead 34-28 before New Zealand realised what hit them.
Wales coach Steve Hansen had rested several key players but those who were on the park gave New Zealand the fright of their lives as stars were born through some inspired play.
Wing Shane Williams wasn’t all that well known at that stage, but by the second half the Australian commentators were yelling ‘Give the ball to Williams, he’s brilliant!’
Williams admitted a few years later: "My mother has the World Cup DVD somewhere and I'd be lying if I said I haven't watched it a few times. It was a great day for the likes of myself but we still came off that field as the losing team," he said.
The All Blacks were shaken but rallied well to pull things back and take the 53-37 win, managing to get out of jail in what would have been one of the biggest World Cup upsets to date.
Check out the related links under the video for other classic matches between the two sides.
It was a match where Wales were expected to just roll over and concede defeat as the almighty All Blacks went about dismantling them on their way to the next round.
The Welsh had other ideas though, and despite being 28-10 down at one stage, produced an incredible comeback that saw them cording four tries without reply either side of halftime, going on to lead 34-28 before New Zealand realised what hit them.
Wales coach Steve Hansen had rested several key players but those who were on the park gave New Zealand the fright of their lives as stars were born through some inspired play.
Wing Shane Williams wasn’t all that well known at that stage, but by the second half the Australian commentators were yelling ‘Give the ball to Williams, he’s brilliant!’
Williams admitted a few years later: "My mother has the World Cup DVD somewhere and I'd be lying if I said I haven't watched it a few times. It was a great day for the likes of myself but we still came off that field as the losing team," he said.
The All Blacks were shaken but rallied well to pull things back and take the 53-37 win, managing to get out of jail in what would have been one of the biggest World Cup upsets to date.
Check out the related links under the video for other classic matches between the two sides.
:: Related Posts ::
Wales fail to capitalise on chances as All Blacks triumph - 2009
The Welsh response to the All Blacks Haka - 2008
Classic Encounters - Wales vs All Blacks 2004
Time: 07:32
Wales fail to capitalise on chances as All Blacks triumph - 2009
The Welsh response to the All Blacks Haka - 2008
Classic Encounters - Wales vs All Blacks 2004
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25 Comments:
What a match. All time classic. 2004 was good too
By Anonymous, at June 17, 2010 10:48 am
^ woops. That was me. Name included this time.
By Flinto, at June 17, 2010 10:50 am
That was the first time I saw a cross-kick for a lock . And rokocoko look so skinny back then . And welsh played really well , what a pity that they lost .
By Anonymous, at June 17, 2010 11:05 am
I FUCKING LOVE THIS MATCH!
woop woop GO rugbydump, what a classic game, shame Wales couldn't clinch it. The emergence of Shane Williams.
By David, at June 17, 2010 11:13 am
I remember that match so well. Best world cup match that cup. Shame The Northern Hemisphere is a shadow of its former self. Will be a while till we see matches like these again.
By Clinomaniac, at June 17, 2010 11:37 am
Why did the Taffs rest players? I remember this being a 1/4 final, but I guess it might have been a pool match.
Also, did anyone see Gethin Jenkins (?) almost keeping up with Rokocoko?
By Prop#3, at June 17, 2010 12:19 pm
classic. but NZ looked so much sloppier than they have been ever since 2003. No wonder they lost to AUS in the semis!
By Anonymous, at June 17, 2010 12:37 pm
that 2nd howlett try was definitely forward!
By Anonymous, at June 17, 2010 1:00 pm
Ah, I remember this, back in the good old days when Rokocoko was good, and Tom Shanklin had hair.
By ScrumGuru, at June 17, 2010 1:12 pm
RD, any highlights of history channel vs future shadow available?
By absolutely, at June 17, 2010 2:37 pm
Wales and new zealand have produced some classics to date, but i'm afraid i can't see one in the next two weeks... Wales would have a huge task to win in New Zealand with a full team, and with the injuries and dubious selection (such as prydie,) Wales are ballsed.
By Anonymous, at June 17, 2010 3:29 pm
Wales and new zealand have produced some classics to date, but i'm afraid i can't see one in the next two weeks... Wales would have a huge task to win in New Zealand with a full team, and with the injuries and dubious selection (such as prydie,) Wales are ballsed.
By Anonymous, at June 17, 2010 3:29 pm
One of the most thrilling games I've ever seen. After getting in to rugby in the mid-late nineties that was amazing to see the Welsh play that well. Seemed to be the date they realised they could play rugby again. Came close to beating England a week later. Cheers for putting it up RD
Also, doubt any New Zealanders complained about the forward pass for the second to last try.
Also also, the commentator seemed quite disappointed when the inevitable was happening and NZ won
By Anonymous, at June 17, 2010 6:20 pm
Arguably the greatest game of all time! This was also the year wales won the wooden spoon. just shows how they have the attacking talents to match anybody in the world just not everything else.
By Anonymous, at June 17, 2010 6:26 pm
Brilliant, thank you RugbyDump! I haven't seen the Charvis try since the game. I remember watching the match on a cold Manchester morning not believing what I saw when Shane Williams scored!
By Anonymous, at June 17, 2010 8:15 pm
Shane Williams ripped them to shreds all game.
Amazing stuff.
By dole, at June 18, 2010 3:14 am
Great Highlights. This game was just before I started watching rugby, so it was quite a sight!
I must say, that except for an injury to Ali Williams this year, the All Blacks would be fielding the same second row pair this year as seven years ago! Does that say more about Ali and Brad, or the state of second rows in NZ?
By granite, at June 18, 2010 3:29 am
@Granite yeah good one except brad thorn left Nz rugby for a while, made it into state of origin, and still came back and made the ABs- there is no doubting his pedigree. Also Sam whitelock scored two tries on debut last week and Tom Donelley is looking good so there is huge competition. Also Isaac Ross was looking promising till he lost the plot this year but he will come right. There's also Boric etc. In short I'd say we have roughly 4-5 locks that would waltz into a Welsh squad.
By Max, at June 18, 2010 5:17 am
sadly aaron mauger was a absolute talent...
By Anonymous, at June 18, 2010 6:34 am
We rested players because we had played Italy, were guaranteed to qualify for the QF and wanted to give England a run for their money.
Watching this over breakfast, my bacon and eggs had gone cold at half time! I hadn't seen us play like that for a long time and while NZ were always comfortable, it was great fun. the 2004 match (26-25) was also a cracker.
By Anonymous, at June 18, 2010 12:11 pm
How wonderful was Rokoçoko... I hope he will come back in 2011, stronger as ever
By Anonymous, at June 18, 2010 10:42 pm
'while NZ were always comfortable'
Kind of sums it up really that even when wales run riot over NZ for the mid-part of the game it's always in the back of the mind 'we'll still lose'..
By Anonymous, at June 19, 2010 4:44 pm
How come the game looked so much quicker back then, without the ELVs, which were supposed to "Speed things up"??
By vinniechan, at June 20, 2010 5:05 am
cause defences werent as good as nowadays
By Anonymous, at June 22, 2010 6:38 pm
Great Game you can find it in 10-11 parts on youtube
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2010 8:25 pm
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