Wales national rugby union team they had not lost at home since 1899. This New Zealand team now referred to as the "Original All Blacks"was the first of the southern hemisphere national teams to visit the British Isles, and were undefeated on their tour up until that point; their victories included prior defeats of England, Ireland and Scotland. Before the match, the All Blacks performed a haka (a Māori posture dance); the 47,000-strong crowd responded with the Welsh national anthem"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" ("Land of Our Fathers")the first time a national anthem had been sung before a sporting fixture. Wales' wing Teddy Morgan scored a
James James Welsh versifier who wrote under the pen-name of "leuan ab lago", moved with his family to Pontypridd, where he carried on the business of weaver and wool merchant, in about 1844. His son James assisted him in the business. James James composed the melody which was later to be known as "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau" in January 1856. Its initial title was "Glan Rhondda" (The banks of the Rhondda), giving rise to the tradition that the tune had come to James as he walked on the bank of the River Rhondda. His father, Evan James, wrote the lyrics that eventually