USA Eagles game important ahead of Wales clash on All Blacks Foster

 New Zealand coach Ian Foster claimed the All Blacks learned valuable lessons ahead of more testing challenges on the European leg of their current tour after handing the United States a 104-14 thrashing in Washington on Saturday. All Blacks vs Wales live

Foster's team scored 16 tries while conceding twice in a one-sided clash that saw the All Blacks return to winning ways following their recent Rugby Championship loss to South Africa.

New Zealand take on Wales on Saturday before facing off against Italy, Ireland and France in the following weeks and Foster stressed the meeting with the United States was important head of the trip to Cardiff.

"It's immense use to us," said Foster. "This game was vital in terms of a number of players who hadn't played for 3-4 weeks, it was a great chance for a really good hitout, and to do it in a special stadium and on a special occasion is pretty valuable.

"We go to Wales next week, we've had a bit of contact under our belt, we're really delighted with some of the skill stuff we were able to put on the park and it gives us a good launching pad for what is going to be a big month."

New Zealand won The Rugby Championship despite their loss to the South Africans in the final round of matches in the competition, and Foster believes his side have improved since cementing their status as the southern hemisphere's top team.

"Our handling, the quality of our passing, and some of our support-line work went up a step from the Rugby Championship," he said.

"I wouldn't underestimate the importance of being able to give a number of new players – in the pack six out of eight had played less than 10 tests – a feel of what it's like be an All Black in different situations.

"And there are going to be plenty of different situations coming up the next four weeks."

All Blacks vs Wales Rugby 2021 Live in New Zealand

The first capacity occasion to return to Cardiff’s Principality Stadium since the pandemic began, has sold-out.

The 74,500-seater ground at the heart of the Welsh capital sees Wales host New Zealand, who visit for the first time in four years, on Saturday 30th October (17:15hrs) and there won’t be a spare seat in the house.

A week later Wales face the British & Irish Lion-taming South Africans (17:30hrs) with sales for this match already tracking higher than the All Blacks game over the last fortnight, as tickets become more and more sparse for the whole Autumn Nations Series.

Fiji, on Sunday 14th November (15:15hrs), currently has the most availability, but this game is also in high demand.

The fixture sold-out the last time it was played in Cardiff – the 2015 Rugby World Cup – and remaining prices for the match mean a family of four can attend for just £60 (price based on a Category C ticket, with Categories D and E both now sold-out).

And the Series climax against Australia, on Saturday 20th November (17:30hrs), promises to provide a celebratory finale to a month which will see hundreds of thousands of supporters return to live sport at Principality Stadium, in person. Wales vs All Blacks Rugby tv

The Wallabies have drawn an average crowd of 60,000-plus fans over their last three outings in Wales (2019, 2018 and 2016), with the 64,000 who witnessed a famous Welsh win in ’19 on course to be replicated this year.