“It’s an incredibly tough set of fixtures,” said Wales head coach Wayne Pivac.
Wayne Pivac
“We start with the top two sides in the world on back-to back weekends in Cardiff and there is no let up, with Fiji and Australia both capable of testing us to our limits.
“But this is what international rugby is all about. Testing ourselves against the best and we will relish the challenge.”
The grouping has only happened three times in autumn fixtures since the turn of the century, when Wales began hosting the four-match series – in 2005, 2010 and 2014.
In ’05 all games in the series sold-out as the nation celebrated the first Six Nations Grand Slam for 27 years sealed only a few months earlier.
And tickets to watch New Zealand are normally the hottest in town with the fixture producing a capacity occasion at Principality Stadium each time of asking (10) in autumn games so far.
If demand from the official supporters club members is anything to go by, All Blacks tickets in 2021 will be gold-dust once again after like for like sales, on day one, doubled the figures reached in 2017.
Prices for the clash start at £40, with tickets also still available in limited numbers at £75, £85 and £95 – half-price concession prices also apply for under-17s across all categories for the first time (£20, £37.50, £42.50 and £47.50).
Supporters can buy with confidence with a full refund policy, in the event of circumstances changing due to the Covid-19 pandemic, remaining in place after Wales has moved to alert level 0 making Principality Stadium now available at full capacity.
Wales will be looking for a first win over the Men in Black since 1953, and only their third of all time
There have been 31 attempts since the 13-8 win at Cardiff Arms Park almost 70 years ago, ten in modern ‘autumn series’ matches in Cardiff, but all have ended with New Zealand wins.
Outside of summer tours and World Cup games, the two sides have met at least every two years in the autumn since the turn of the century, when the new Principality Stadium was opened.
That is until 2017, when a 33-18 win marked New Zealand’s last visit of the decade to Wales.
Four years on, and the Wales head coach can think of no better way to welcome supporters back to a packed-out Principality Stadium, after a pandemic induced hiatus, than for his Six Nations Championship winning charges to take on his native country.
“South Africa are World Champions, they can now add Lion-tamers to their list of achievements and we will have the utmost respect for them in our preparation, as we will with both Australia and Fiji,” said Pivac.
“But New Zealand are the yardstick by which we all measure ourselves throughout the world game.
“We want to win every game, but they are also a team we would particularly like to beat. It is neither accident nor coincidence that no Wales side has achieved that ambition for the best part of 70 years.
“We will be doing our best to change the statistic. We know it will be difficult, but it will be all about what happens on the day and I can guarantee it will be worth watching us try.
“We have to back ourselves. The All Blacks will not take us lightly and they will want their winning run to continue, but runs end.
“We have built a strong squad and will be able to welcome some experienced internationals back for the series after a gruelling British & Irish Lions tour, which will have only left them even more hungry for wins against the very best opposition.
“We are excited about an incredibly tough campaign but, most importantly, we are delighted to finally be able to share the experience with the many thousands of supporters who will be there to cheer us on at Principality Stadium.”
Digital tickets are available from wru.wales/tickets with prices ranging from £10 to £35 for Fiji (that’s £5 to £17.50 concession) and from £25 to £75 for both the Springboks and Wallabies matches (or £12.50 to £37.50 at concessionary rates) with the half-price U17s offer available in all ticket categories for all matches. Supporters who have successfully purchased tickets are encouraged to download the Principality Stadium ticketing app to be able to receive their digital tickets for the autumn fixtures
Official WRU Hospitality packages are also now available to purchase, with prices from £325 +VAT. For more information and details of how to book please visit: wru.wales/VIP.
For supporters wanting to incorporate a night’s stay with their match day ticket, The Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff’s newest and most luxurious hotel is offering Autumn Nations Series match day packages. More details can be found on the hotel website: www.theparkgatehotel.wales
Off-site hospitality packages are via Events International and can be found here and Official Travel Packages can be purchased through Gullivers Sports Travel at: gulliverstravel.co.uk
For more information on the Autumn Nations Series 2021 matches at Principality Stadium, please visit: wru.wales/autumn2021
PREVIOUS ‘ULTIMATE GROUP OF DEATH’ MEETINGS:
Of the three previous occasions when Wales have faced these same fixtures the All Blacks have been first up in the series only once, 2005. On this occasion the visitors were 41-3 victors.
This same year Fiji took a Grand Slam holding Wales to the wire keeping their hosts to an 11-10 win in the second-round match. South Africa were victorious in round three, but a first historic win over the Wallabies since the 80s was the climactic result in the final round of the campaign.
In 2010 the Fiji result was even closer, drawn at 16-16, and this was the only success Wales had in the four-match series.
Wales took another southern hemisphere scalp beating South Africa in the final match in 2014. Fiji had again run them close (17-13) on the second weekend of games either side of losses to, first Australia, then nemesis side New Zealand.
The closest game of the set between Wales and the All Blacks, in recent times, came in 2009 when the fixture began a series which produced wins over Samoa and Argentina, but saw Australia win in Cardiff. The home side had kept New Zealand to a 19-12 scoreline in the opener, but a win against the All Blacks remains elusive.
FIJI FOCUS:
Fiji are the only side visiting in November who are ranked behind Wales, sitting just outside the top ten at 11th.
But the Fijian nation have also just returned from the Tokyo Olympics with gold, after beating New Zealand in the men’s sevens competition final, and bronze medals, after beating GB Women. In twelve meetings Wales have won ten, lost one and drawn one, but the statistics don’t tell the whole story. In 2007 Fiji notoriously knocked Wales out of the Rugby World Cup group stages in France and the 16-16 draw in 2010 came as a shock to a fully loaded Wales side.
AUSSIE RUES:
Wales have won each of their last two meetings with Australia, in the 2019 Rugby World Cup and in 2018 during the autumn series in Cardiff. However, prior to the ’18 loss, Australia went on an 13-match unbeaten run in the fixture, on both home and away soil, going all the way back to 2008 when that year’s incarnation of a Grand Slam winning Welsh side won 21-18 At Principality Stadium.
THE FIXTURES:
First up in the series New Zealand, face Wales on Saturday 30th October at Principality Stadium, kick-off 17:15. This meeting will be the first time the almighty All Blacks have returned to Cardiff in four years.
The second Test, against South Africa on Saturday 6th November, and the final Test, against Australia on Saturday 20th November, share the kick-off time of 17:30 with the third clash of the series against Fiji on Remembrance Sunday, Sunday 14th November set to kick-off at 15:15.
Wales v New Zealand, Principality Stadium – Saturday 30th October CAT A £95 (£47.50) / CAT B £85 (£42.50) / CAT C £75 (£37.50) / CAT D £60 (£30) – SOLD OUT / CAT E £40 (£20)
Wales v South Africa, Principality Stadium – Saturday 6th November CAT A £75 (£37.50) / CAT B £65 (£32.50) / CAT C £45 (£22.50) / CAT D £35 (£17.50) / CAT E £25 (£12.50)
Wales v Fiji, Principality Stadium – Sunday 14th November CAT A £35 (£17.50) / CAT B £25 (£12.50) / CAT C £20 (£10) / CAT D £15 (£7.50) / CAT E £10 (£5)
Wales v Australia, Principality Stadium – Saturday 20th November CAT A £75 (£37.50) / CAT B £65 (£32.50) / CAT C £45 (£22.50) / CAT D £35 (£17.50) / CAT E £25 (£12.50)
For the first time, concession tickets are available in ALL categories for ALL matches across the series (shown in brackets), meaning a child could get to all four matches for £50.
