Lake says Wales belief held firm at half-time in historic All Blacks win

Wales captain Dewi Lake said his side's belief in beating New Zealand was genuine long before they completed a 35-28 victory in Cardiff. According to BBC Sport, Lake described the result as the reward for difficult conversations and sustained work across the squad and staff, rather than a possibility players had raised only for public consumption.

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Wales had led 14-0 and 21-7 before New Zealand drew level by half-time. Lake said the interval brought a reminder of the previous year's encounter, when Wales had remained within reach before losing 52-26. He declined to disclose his precise words to teammates, keeping the detail of that discussion inside the dressing room. Head coach Steve Tandy praised the players' conversation and his captain's contribution.

BBC Sport's separate report on New Zealand's reaction underlined the defensive demands that followed. Wales registered 346 tackles, with Dafydd Jenkins credited with 38, and held the visitors up over the line three times during the second half. Their five tries were a Welsh record against the All Blacks, while the victory ended a sequence of 34 defeats in the fixture.

Beauden Barrett, captaining New Zealand in a Test for the first time, credited Wales with repeatedly denying his team a route through. All Blacks coach Dave Rennie acknowledged that the visitors had failed to finish enough of the opportunities they created. He defended his selection despite making eight changes to the starting side following the win over Scotland, saying the players chosen were capable of winning.

For Lake, who had been substituted, the closing stages became difficult to watch. According to the report, he stopped watching with about a minute and 20 seconds remaining and waited for the final whistle. Tandy described pride in the players and staff, and said the squad should enjoy a result that gave Welsh supporters a rare victory over these opponents.

New Zealand's attention now turns to England. In the BBC's account, Rennie called for a response at Twickenham after a defeat he accepted his team had deserved. He said Wales became increasingly difficult to break down as each successful defensive stand strengthened them, leaving the All Blacks to address their failure to convert pressure into enough points.