As Wales prepare to face the All Blacks for the first time since 2017, much of the build-up has been dominated by looking back to the history books and the fact the men in red haven't pulled off a Test win against New Zealand since 1953.
The All Blacks' assignment today - in front of more than 70,000 at the Principality Stadium - sees them chasing a 32nd successive victory over Wales.
They last lost in the fixture 68 years ago, and 25 of those wins were by at least 10 points. Sixteen of Wales' last 31 defeats have been on home soil, too.
Live updates: Wales v New Zealand latest score
So, what exactly happened that fateful day back in the year of the Queen's Coronation?
December 19, 1953, is a date which has been etched into Welsh folklore thanks to Bleddyn Williams' team securing a 13-8 win in Cardiff courtesy of tries from Sid Judd and Ken Jones.
New Zealand at the time were still reeling from a defeat by club side Cardiff earlier in the week, with the tourists being greeted by a crowd of 56,000 at the old Arms Park - meaning club and country captain Bleddyn Williams managed to beat the All Blacks twice in four days.
Wales were trailing 8-5 in the last 15 minutes, with wing Gareth Griffiths playing on despite a dislocated shoulder and Williams having torn thigh ligaments.
Flanker Judd crossed the whitewash to level the scores (tries were only awarded three points back in those days) and back-row forward Clem Thomas soon had the ball on the wing and caught the All Blacks flat-footed when he launched a diagonal kick into the New Zealand 25.
Wing Ken Jones latched onto the ball to score the winning try to complete Wales' third victory in four meetings with New Zealand, at the time of course.
That stat put Wales' winning rate against New Zealand at 75%, and had a measurable impact of the travelling side that day.
All Black icon Sean Fitzpatrick previously described how his father Brian – who passed away in 2006 – could never forget his dark day at Cardiff Arms Park.
"Unfortunately for Dad, he lost to the Welsh in 1953, which, of course, was the last time the All Blacks lost to Wales. He never got over it.
"My brother and I used to remind him of it all the time! Cliff Morgan would ring him every year and invite him back to Wales for the reunion of the 1953 team and he never went once.
"Even in 1989 when we toured Ireland and Wales, Mum had to go by herself because Dad wouldn’t go back to Wales.
"Which shows how we park our success and remember our losses – Dad carried that out to the letter of the law."
Nowadays, the burden of history weighs on this fixture like no other.
Immortality and a lifetime of black-tie dinner appearances await the first Welshmen to beat the All Blacks in six decades.
Ignominy looms for the first Kiwis to lose to Wales in 61 years.
Wales 13-8 New Zealand, Cardiff Arms Park, December 19, 1953
Scorers - Wales: Tries: Sid Judd, Ken Jones; Cons: Gwyn Rowlands (2); Pen: Rowlands
New Zealand: Try: Bill Clark; Con: Ron Jarden; Pen: Jarden
Wales: G Williams (London Welsh), KJ Jones (Newport), GM Griffiths (Cardiff), BL Williams (Cardiff, capt), G Rowlands (Cardiff), CI Morgan (Cardiff), WR Willis (Cardiff), WOG Williams (Swansea), DM Davies (Somerset Police), CC Meredith (Neath), ER John (Neath), JRG Stephens (Neath), S Judd (Cardiff), JA Gwilliam (Gloucester), RCC Thomas (Swansea)
New Zealand: RWH Scott, AEG Elsom, JM Tanner, RA Jarden, BBJ Fitzpatrick, LS Haig, K Davis, KL Skinner, RC Hemi, IJ Clarke, RA White, GN Dalzell, RC Stuart (capt), WA McCaw, WH Clark
Referee: Dr Peter F Cooper (England)
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