Sam Warburton wants Wales's historic win over New Zealand to be a springboard for further success as they continue to rebuild from a recent record-breaking run of 18 consecutive Test defeats.
Wales produced one of the all-time great sporting, let alone rugby union, upsets with a 35-28 defeat of New Zealand in Cardiff on Saturday -- their first win over the All Blacks since 1953.
Former Wales and British and Irish Lions captain Warburton was elated by his compatriots' performance and urged a side coached by Steve Tandy to carry on from where they left off in next week's Nations Championship clash against Australia at the Principality Stadium.
"One thing that I think Steve Tandy has brought to this team, and one thing about all good Welsh teams we've had in the past, is that they've all been really tough, defiant, never given up at any cost," Warburton told ITV.
"That was the perfect example of that. There was so much pressure it seemed inevitable New Zealand were going to score, but for those players to just not crack and get over the line, it's what being Welsh is all about.
"It's what great teams define themselves on and I hope this is the catalyst for this team for better things to come."
First-half tries from Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake and Archie Griffin –- all converted by Sam Costelow –- saw Wales off to an excellent start and, although New Zealand were level by the interval, the hosts found fresh impetus early in the second half.
Converted tries from Eddie James and Louis Rees-Zammit put them in charge again before superb defence sealed one of the most memorable wins in Welsh rugby history.
It was all a far cry from the despondent mood enveloping Wales during a woeful run of consecutive defeats that finally ended when they beat Japan at the second attempt in Kobe last year.
"Nobody gave Wales a chance and I didn't think they would beat New Zealand, but I sometimes think we forget what this playing group has gone through," said former back-row forward Warburton.
"They've gone from plummeting from being Grand Slam winners six or seven years ago, all the way to 12th in the rankings, a record losing streak of any tier one nation.
"They were right in the pits and they slowly crawled their way out and had one of the greatest wins of all time in Welsh history. It was a phenomenal effort."
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