Welsh win dangerously overdue

Press, 24 September 1980, Page 26

Welsh win dangerously overdue

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

A long-awaited win over the All Blacks would no doubt be of special significance to Wales in this its centennial year of organised rugby. Just about all Welshmen

are painfully aware of the fact that it is 27 years since they last beat the All Blacks and there have been six tests, plus a virtual test against a Welsh XV in 1974, since the day

Bob Stuart’s team was beaten, 13-8. But the All Blacks who leave next week on the latest expedition to Wales will have more than just a winning sequence against that country to maintain. The AH Blacks,’ in fact, have not lost a test in Britain since 1953 and this

takes in a total of 21 games. There have been two draws, against Scotland in 1964 and Ireland in 1973, but the only Home Union to beat New Zealand in the last 27 years was England, which had a surprise victory at Auckland in 1973. Many Welshmen see the test on November 1 as the 1 ast chance they might

have of witnessing the joyous spectacle of a Welsh victory over the All Blacks. The argument goes that not many 10-year-olds saw Wales win in 1953 and these people are now getting close to 40. They will probably be rising 50 before the All Blacks return

to Wales and the fear might be of being past the stage of being able to fully savour the win when it does eventually come. But it is still remarkable that the All Blacks, through both good and lean years, have survived 21 tests in Britain without a loss against them. Will the sequence be extended to 22 on November 1?