This was the first Wales tour of New Zealand and they carried on to meet and defeat Australia and Fiji before returning home. Wales had lost to the All Blacks in the first test a week earlier in Christchurch by 19-0, but with many of the players who were to star for the Lions in New Zealand two years later, hopes were high for a win to tie the series.
It was not to be however. New Zealand only won 3-2 on the try-count, but in Fergie McCormick they possessed the match-winner. The Canterbury full back,whose son later became the Japanese skipper, notched a then-world record of 24 points with three conversions, five penalties and a brilliant drop goal.
Wales scored two excellent tries – the first by centre Keith Jarrett and the second by wing Maurice Richards. The Richards try was one of the best everscored by a Wales player, as he just defeated McCormick and fly half Earle Kirton in a dash to the corner flag. Richards half-stopped and virtually changed gear to defeat two fine defenders, scoring by inches.
It was the New Zealand pack, led by Brian Lochore and having the mighty Colin Meads at lock, that took the plaudits. In this match, Gerald Davies played as a wing for the first time and said, “I saw it as demotion.”
New Zealand; F McCormick; M Dick, W Davis, G Skudder; I MacRae; E Kirton; S Going; K Gray, B McLeod, A Hopkinson, C Meads, A Smith, T Lister, B Lochore (capt), I Kirkpatrick. Tries: Skudder, MacRae, Kirkpatrick. Cons: McCormick
3. Pens: McCormick 5. DG: McCormick. Wales: JPR Williams; M Richards, J Dawes, K Jarrett, TGR Davies; B John, G Edwards; D Williams, N Gale, B Thomas, D Thomas, B Price (capt), D Morris, M Davies, D Hughes. Tries: Jarrett, Richards.
Pens: Jarrett 2. Referee: J P Murphy (New Zealand).
