Wales's latest defeat at the hands of New Zealand might have been their most encouraging loss yet. A 52-26 thrashing may seem daunting on paper, but for the Welsh team and fans, there was a sense that something more significant had unfolded in the match.
Captain Dewi Lake reflected on the positive aspects of Wales's performance, stating that "a lot of what we want to do and what we've been working on as a team shone through today." The team's courage, fluency, coherence, and commitment were evident throughout the game. Despite being outplayed, they managed to force their way back into the match multiple times, scoring tries that showcased their flair.
The real hero of the day was Scarlets wing Tom Rogers, who made history by becoming the first Welshman to score a hat-trick against New Zealand. His teammates - Tomos Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit, and Joe Hawkins - also played key roles in setting up the hat-tricks, with ingenious grubber kicks, superb catches, and fine long passes.
However, the All Blacks were not to be underestimated, and their dominance eventually told. Three times they took the lead, only for Wales to respond with tries of their own. But as the match wore on, New Zealand's superior quality began to show, and the Welsh team found themselves struggling to cope.
A series of disciplinary errors from both teams - Gareth Thomas and Taine Plumtree receiving red cards - meant that Wales were forced to play with 14 men for much of the final quarter. It was a case of too little, too late, as New Zealand capitalized on their advantage to score three more tries.
In the end, it was not just about the scoreboard; it was about the performance and the pride of the Welsh team. When they were pushed to the limit and still managed to push back, it felt like a small victory - one that would stay with them long after the final whistle blew.
Captain Dewi Lake reflected on the positive aspects of Wales's performance, stating that "a lot of what we want to do and what we've been working on as a team shone through today." The team's courage, fluency, coherence, and commitment were evident throughout the game. Despite being outplayed, they managed to force their way back into the match multiple times, scoring tries that showcased their flair.
The real hero of the day was Scarlets wing Tom Rogers, who made history by becoming the first Welshman to score a hat-trick against New Zealand. His teammates - Tomos Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit, and Joe Hawkins - also played key roles in setting up the hat-tricks, with ingenious grubber kicks, superb catches, and fine long passes.
However, the All Blacks were not to be underestimated, and their dominance eventually told. Three times they took the lead, only for Wales to respond with tries of their own. But as the match wore on, New Zealand's superior quality began to show, and the Welsh team found themselves struggling to cope.
A series of disciplinary errors from both teams - Gareth Thomas and Taine Plumtree receiving red cards - meant that Wales were forced to play with 14 men for much of the final quarter. It was a case of too little, too late, as New Zealand capitalized on their advantage to score three more tries.
In the end, it was not just about the scoreboard; it was about the performance and the pride of the Welsh team. When they were pushed to the limit and still managed to push back, it felt like a small victory - one that would stay with them long after the final whistle blew.
I'm loving this team's attitude! They get smashed 52-26 but still manage to keep fighting, and scoring some sick tries too 
. You can tell they're proud of what they've achieved, even if it wasn't enough to win. It's all about the journey, right? 
And who knows, maybe next time they'll come back stronger! 
?! I mean, the dude's skills are insane! But seriously, the All Blacks were way too strong for Wales, and those disciplinary errors from Gareth Thomas and Taine Plumtree just opened up holes for NZ. Still, it was a huge step forward for Welsh rugby - they showed some serious grit and determination 
! And let's be real, 26 tries is a LOT of tries 
! Would love to see Wales bounce back stronger next time out 
Scarlets wing Tom Rogers is literally my spirit animal rn 
and those grubber kicks tho! 
can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store
this loss by wales is actually kinda uplifting? like, we're not talking about a typical win or loss here... we're talkin' about the team showin' up and givin' it their all, even when they got destroyed on paper 
but at the same time, you can see that new zealand was totes in trouble too 
they took three leads only to fall back... i mean, those are the moments where u gotta wonder what could've been, right? 
! It's amazing how a 52-26 loss can be framed as a positive experience for the team and fans. The fact that they were able to push back multiple times and even score some incredible tries shows their resilience and determination 
? 
. And let's not forget Gareth Thomas and Taine Plumtree getting red cards - talk about a turning point in the game 
!
still though it's awesome to see scarlets players get some recognition 
with that hat-trick 
and his teammates are so talented too!! i'm loving the way they stuck together as a team even when things got tough 
Tom Rogers is literally a legend for scoring that hat-trick, and his teammates were all on point. It's not about how many tries you score, it's about how you respond when things aren't going your way... and Wales did just that 
. Like, Tom Rogers' hat-trick was insane! 
. And Gareth Thomas and Taine Plumtree getting red cards? Yeah, that's a major bummer 
.
. The way the team fought back like 5 times and then just ran out of steam is kinda relatable tbh. And can we talk about how much I love grubber kicks 
And what's with all these "small victories" people are talking about? It's just 26 points of difference... not exactly something to write home about. 
i mean 52-26 is a lot of points but the way they played was so inspiring. dewi lake seems like such an underrated captain and tom rogers just became a legend 
they were still pushing it till the end which is all that matters, not that scoreboard lol
! His team's ability to set him up with those grubber kicks and long passes was just incredible. It shows that they've got some real talent on their hands 
.
. I think we're starting to see a new breed of player in Wales, ones who are fearless and ready to take on the best 
.
they held their own, showed a lot of heart & grit 
! Like, come on, 52-26 is a landslide win for a reason, right? I mean, don't get me wrong, Wales put up a good fight and all that, but let's be real, the All Blacks are just too talented. And don't even get me started on those disciplinary errors - Gareth Thomas getting sent off was like, what were they thinking?!