Three Feathers and a Silver Fern: An Off-field History of the Wales-All Blacks Fixtures by Roger G. K. Penn, Gomer Press.

A FORTNIGHT ago, Newport celebrated the 50th anniversary of their superb 3-0 win over Wilson Whineray’s 1963/64 All Blacks, the only time New Zealand lost during a mammoth 36-match tour of England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and finally Canada that lasted four months.

That historic victory is well covered in Roger G. K. Penn’s delightful book that charts the intense rugby rivalry, sometimes friendly, sometimes violent, that exists between Wales and New Zealand.

There are fine interviews from witnesses there on that sodden Wednesday at Rodney Parade on October 30, 1963, including one of the Black and Ambers’ heroic back row forwards Alan ‘Algy’ Thomas and lifelong fan Mike Dams who went on to become club historian.

The enmity between the two great rugby nations all started when the gifted Wales team of its era inflicted the only defeat suffered by the first All Blacks, known as the Originals, to tour outside Australasia between 1905/06 on their 35-match tour of Europe and North America which took five months.

On Saturday, December 16, 1905, a date still seemingly seared into New Zealand consciousness, Wales’ victory at Cardiff Arms Park came in highly controversial circumstances.

There was no doubt about the hosts’ try, scored by wing Teddy Morgan, but a disallowed touchdown by the tourists’ Bob Deans is still hotly debated to this day.

Penn’s well-written and wonderfully illustrated book is brimming with some great anecdotes, intriguing sketches and revealing interviews from those at the centre of epic contests with the All Blacks, whether at national or at club level over the last 108 years and is testament to the author’s dedication and thorough research.

It’s almost hard to fathom these days, but Wales used to be considered as the All Blacks’ big bogey side, a nemesis who once led the Test series head-to-heads between the two 3-1.

How Wales’ fortunes have plummeted since they last beat New Zealand to take that two-match lead in 1953.

Penn, who travelled to the land of the long white cloud as part of his detailed background work, has spoken to a wealth of players, officials and fans on both sides of the divide to find out what makes this duel, even if it is quite uneven these days, so enduring.