All Blacks v Wales test: Line-ups, kickoff times, how to watch – all you need to know

All Blacks v Wales, Grand Slam Tour, 4.10am Sunday, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

The Grand Slam dream is over, so let’s go back to calling it a Northern Tour. The All Blacks season rolls on for one more test as they finish the 2025 season in Cardiff. Wales have struggled of late, currently sitting 12th in the World Rugby rankings and end the year with tests against the All Blacks and South Africa.

The Welsh haven’t beaten New Zealand since 1953, the coronation year of Queen Elizabeth II while Winston Churchill was British prime minister. All Black Bill McCaw, who passed away in March, was the last surviving member of that 1953 test.

In their last 10 meetings, Wales haven’t got within 10 points of the All Blacks with the closest defeat being 37-25 win 2010. The All Blacks have put 50 on them the last two times the sides have met.

All Blacks v Wales history

Played – 37

All Blacks won – 34

Wales won – 3

Draws – 0

All Blacks points scored – 1219

Wales points scored – 430

All Blacks v Wales TAB odds

All Blacks: $1.01 Draw: $51 Wales: $15

All Blacks v Wales line-ups

All Blacks side to play Wales

Named Thursday

Wales side to play All Blacks

Named Thursday

All Blacks v Wales last time they met

2022, All Blacks 55 Wales 23

The All Blacks equalled their record high against Wales as Codie Taylor, Jordie Barrett and Aaron Smith all scored doubles. Sam Whitelock was captain, Ian Foster was coach, while Kiwi Wayne Pivac was coach of Wales. A bit has changed since.

Gregor Paul wrote:

If the All Blacks are losing their aura, Wales may be of the view that they are not losing it quickly enough.

An All Blacks side, supposedly vulnerable, ripe for the plucking, produced arguably their best – certainly their most controlled, disciplined and relentless - performance of the year in Cardiff.

It was a performance marked not by its creativity, of which there was precious little, but their commitment to a physical, direct style of ultra-conservative rugby that left Wales feeling that they were the veritable little brother, pinned down on the couch, weakly and hopelessly trying to fight off an opponent that they had neither the strength nor innovation to repel.

This was a victory for brute strength, clarity of thinking and patience to a simple gameplan that was markedly low in ambition.

New Zealand set out to squash Wales and that is exactly what they did.

All Blacks v Wales last 10 meetings

2022 - All Blacks 55 Wales 23, Cardiff

2021 - All Blacks 54 Wales 16, Cardiff

2019 - All Blacks 40 Wales 17, Tokyo

2017 - All Blacks 33 Wales 18, Cardiff

2016 - All Blacks 46 Wales 6, Dunedin

2016 - All Blacks 36 Wales 22, Wellington

2016 - All Blacks 39 Wales 21, Auckland

2014 - All Blacks 34 Wales 16, Cardiff

2012 - All Blacks 33 Wales 10, Cardiff

2010 - All Blacks 37 Wales 25, Cardiff

Form guide (past five tests)

All Blacks: L, W, W, W, L

Wales: W, L, W, L, L

All Blacks v Wales referee

Hollie Davidson will become the first female to referee an All Blacks test after being appointed to the final test of the season against Wales.

Davidson recently took charge of her second Women’s Rugby World Cup final, joining Andre Watson as the only other referee to oversee two finals.

The 33-year-old Scot also refereed the 2021 final when the Black Ferns edged England at Eden Park, when she sent off England’s Lydia Thompson.

Davidson was recently named World Rugby’s referee of the year and oversaw her first Springboks test in July when South Africa beat Italy 42-24.

All Blacks (Northern Tour) schedule

Sunday, November 2, 9.10am – All Blacks 26 Ireland 13, Soldier Field, Chicago

Sunday, November 9, 4.10am – All Blacks 25 Scotland 17, Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Sunday, November 16, 4.10am – All Blacks 19 England 33, Twickenham, London

Sunday, November 23, 4.10am – All Blacks v Wales, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

All Blacks v Wales – how to follow the action

For live commentary of All Blacks v Wales, join Elliott Smith on Newstalk ZB, Gold Sport and iHeartRadio.

You can watch the game on Sky Sport 1 and it will be livestreaming on Sky Sport Now.

You can also find live updates at nzherald.co.nz.