Sometimes, one big moment in sport can set off a spark that carries across an entire nation.
That’s exactly what happened in Wales this week, as the excitement from a stunning football victory started to spill over into rugby.
Dewi Lake, who is stepping up to lead the Welsh rugby side, says he wants to build on that energy when his team takes on the mighty New Zealand.
Football’s Big Night Sets the Tone
Just a night earlier, the Welsh football squad delivered a jaw-dropping 7–1 win over North Macedonia, sealing a home advantage for their World Cup play-off.
Harry Wilson’s hat-trick was only part of the story — the whole team’s performance created a feel-good wave that reached every corner of the country.
Lake explained that the rugby players had gathered around the TV at their shared training base at the Vale Resort to watch the match unfold.
He said they often bump into members of Craig Bellamy’s squad in the hotel corridors, swapping quick chats and congratulations along the way.
Using Football’s Energy as Motivation
According to Lake, the footballers didn’t just win — they lit up the nation.
Scoring seven goals for the first time since 1978 left fans buzzing, and it made the rugby team think deeply about their own responsibility this weekend.
Lake said that his squad wants to bring that same level of excitement to supporters, whether they’re filling the stadium or following along from home.
His message was simple: if the football side could spark that joy across Wales, the rugby side should aim to do the same.
A Huge Challenge Against the All Blacks
Of course, the mountain in front of Wales is steep.
New Zealand haven’t lost to them in their last 33 meetings, and most observers expect this upcoming match to follow that trend.
Wales themselves only scraped past Japan 24–23 last weekend, which added to the nerves surrounding the fixture.
With Jac Morgan sidelined after dislocating his shoulder in the Argentina match, Lake is stepping in as captain.
Although he hasn’t faced the senior All Blacks before, he does have one special memory against their youth side — leading Wales Under-20s to a memorable 8–7 win at the Junior World Cup in 2019.
Several members of that Baby Blacks team are now full All Blacks, including Quinn Tupaea, Fletcher Newell and Billy Proctor.
New Zealand Still Firm Favourites
Despite their own setback in a 33–19 loss to England, New Zealand remain overwhelming favourites to bounce back.
Bookmakers have Wales at 35/1 — odds that highlight just how tough the task ahead looks.
Still, Lake insists that dreaming big is part of the job.
He says it’s every player’s childhood dream to face New Zealand, and there’s no point showing up if you don’t believe a win is possible.
Team announcements from both camps will arrive on Thursday, but Wales already know they will be without Josh Adams, who is serving a suspension following his red card against Japan.
What’s Next?
The focus now shifts to Thursday’s team announcement, where fans will get clarity on Wales’ lineup and potential strategy for facing the All Blacks.
Training intensity is expected to ramp up as the squad looks to fix errors from the Japan match and sharpen their physicality.
For Lake, the challenge is both emotional and tactical: he wants to harness the country’s renewed sporting pride while preparing his squad for one of rugby’s toughest tests.
Whether Wales can ride the football-inspired momentum into the weekend remains the big question — but the team knows the nation will be watching closely.
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