Thank you for joining me today for this historic match. Wales are on a losing streak they will want to break next week but their opposition is extremely tough in world champions South Africa. Australia were incredible when down to 14, their performance not perfect but one encouraging with a new head coach Joe Schmidt now embedding his plans. To recap all the action have a read of the report below. We will be back next weekend with live coverage of the next round of Autumn Nations Series, until then have a good week.
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Wales head coach Warren Gatland told TNT Sports: “It hurts. We got ourselves back into the game but when we’re a man up and concede 21 points, that’s disappointing.”
A lot of fans on social media calling for change in the Wales coaching ranks. What do you think? You can email me your thoughts.
Wales’ Dewi Lake told TNT Sports: “We know people at home are disappointed, we feel the same. We don’t come out to lose games. We are giving everything. We want to win as a group.”
Just to note, every red is not automatically a 20 minute red card during this trial of the law in the Autumn Nations Series. Referees are still able to reduce teams to 14 for the entire match. It comes down to a case-by-case basis. Samu Kerevi will still face a possible ban also.
Dan Biggar says on TNT Sports that a change in coach won’t suddenly turn around results for Wales. Sam Warburton adds it’s more a problem of a lack of quality players available.
The last team to put 52 points on Wales at the Principality was South Africa last August, they are Wales next opposition and it seems like an impossible task for Gatland’s men to overcome the world champions.
Player of the match Tom Wright told TNT Sports: “That was an awesome 80 minute performance… They are games you want to be a part of, so much ball in play. Putting back-to-back performances is huge to us, something we have struggled with in recent times.”
Also a word for how well Australia handled their 20 minute red card. They scored three tries in that period and they absolutely demolished Wales’ momentum they had garnered from the first half. I thought the red card might see Wales complete the comeback but not to be.
Fans boo the team as the full time whistle goes. The most amount of points Australia have put on Wales in Cardiff. The Gatland dynasty is crumbling around him.
Full time: Wales 20-52 Australia
11 games without a win. Wales’ longest losing streak in history. They have one more game in 2024 and it comes against world champions South Africa. Wales have not lost every game in a calendar year since 1937. Bleak times for Welsh rugby and this result will only add to questions over Warren Gatland’s future.
It’s a slick move from the full-back, he is on fire right now. Warren Gatland looks dumbfounded.
TRY! Wales 20-52 Australia (Wright, 81)
Wright has a hat-trick too. Player of the match.
79 min: Wales are on the hunt for a consolation score here.
76 min: I don’t think I have ever see the green of seats in the bottom tier of the Principality before. But supporters are making their feelings of this performance known. Wales were right in the mix until Australia killed them off when weathering the 20 minute red.
CONVERSION! Wales 20-47 Australia (Lolesio)
Intially thought he had missed that but it’s over. Fans are pouring out of the stadium. Hundreds heading for the exit.
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Some great carries in the build-up to that score, Ikitau finishing off perfectly. Wales look exhausted.
TRY! Wales 20-45 Wales (Ikitau, 75)
Australia have never scored this many points in Cardiff before.
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74 min: An Australian scrum is clean and Kellaway kicks upfield by Winnett is there to call the mark. It doesn’t go into touch though and Australia are immediately on the attack again.
73 min: Australia’s lineout is stolen and Wales kick clear. The Wallabies pick it up and Llewellyn almost intercepts to score but he knocks on. That would have been quite the try.
72 min: Here comes Australia with a lovely chip by Wright and he almost gets on the end of it but Murray comes to mop up the ball.
71 min: Is there enough time for Wales to fight back here? Rugby has seen stranger things happen. If they are the next to score and do it quickly it’ll be a slightly different story. 56,188 fans in the stadium today, surprisingly less than last week.
CONVERSION! Wales 20-40 Australia (Costelow, 69)
It’s over.
A tap and go from the latest penalty sees one or two passes and Thomas is over.
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TRY! Wales 18-40 Wales (B Thomas, 68)
A great powerful line from Thomas.
68 min: We come back for the earlier advantage and surely the referee is going to be warning Australia soon. There is it, it’s like he read my mind.
68 min: Another good lineout for Wales and they are a few metres closer. They earn an advantage and go through the phases.
67 min: Another lineout for Elias, this time it is good. They form a maul and Australia cough up a penalty. Wales go to the corner again.
66 min: Possession exchanges hands but Wales are the next to get some attacking phases. Williams puts boot to ball but we come back for an advantage, Wales kick to the corner.
64 min: The lineout isn’t good and Australia steal it, an awful few minutes for replacement hooker Elias at the set piece.
63 min: What a kick from Williams, who secures a 50:22. A lovely bit of skill. Suaalii is on for the Wallabies as Kerevi’s replacement as the 20 minute red card time is up.
62 min: The tackle is right on the line but it is on the right side of safe. The replay showed as much, Wales heading for their worst losing run ever.
CONVERSION! Wales 13-40 Australia (Lolesio, 61)
Huge kick.
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I think they did review a tackle from Valetini as it looked like head contact but it has been cleared so the try stands.
Wright nabs the ball from the Wales attacking line and he runs 50 plus metres to score.
TRY! Wales 13-38 Australia (Wright, 61)
Oh my.
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60 min: Australia steal the lineout and they clear, a huge moment.
59 min: Can Wales maul over here? Well we wait with baited breath as Australia make changes with Gleeson and Paenga-Amos on.
59 min: Wales win a scrum penalty and they kick to the corner. Pressure is ramping up here.
59 min: Australia have the scrum and it’s clean but McDermott’s pass doesn’t go to hand and so Wales now have a scrum in a good position. A scrappy old game. Williams is also on for Bevan.
NO TRY! Wales 13-33 Australia
Ah it was a forward pass. There was a wild throw but Botham seemed to pick it up with one hand without knocking on. But it has been ruled out.
TRY! Wales 18-33 Australia (Botham, 57)
They are checking this but if he has scored that it is insane.
57 min: Thomas has a great run as Wales are on the hunt once again.
55 min: Rogers is off, why Gatland is taking him off I don’t know, for James and Costelow is also on for Anscombe.
55 min: The lineout is not good from Wales but Morgan manages to rescue the loose ball. The men in red go on the hunt for a try, and boy do they need one. But it won’t come just yet as Anscombe is wrestled into touch.
55 min: Australia have scored two tries since being down to 14 men, what incredible rugby from the visitors. The referee’s whistle blows but it is Australia who are pinged this time. Wales now install a completely new front row.
CONVERSION! Wales 13-33 Australia (Lolesio, 54)
It’s over.
That maul is deadly from Australia. They make a good few metres and then Faessler breaks away to power over. Amazing game management from the Wallabies.
TRY! Wales 13-31 Australia (Faessler, 53)
He has a hat-trick.
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52 min: Wales give away yet another penalty, we play on for a few phases but we come back to it. The Wallabies kick to the corner.
51 min: We saw last week, where Fiji had a 20 minute red with Semi Radradra, that it doesn’t mean a team will lose with Fiji coming away with the win. Australia are doing really well to weather the storm of only having 14 on the pitch right now. They are now into Wales’ 22.
50 min: So a 20 minute red card means Kerevi is not allowed to re-enter the game. But 20 minutes after he first left the pitch, Australia will be able to replace him with another player. Back to play Wales gives away another penalty and Australia kick upfield. So many penalties from the hosts.
RED CARD! Wales 13-26 Australia (Kerevi, 49)
It has been upgraded to a red card. I think this will be a 20 minute red though. I’ll explain that shortly.
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CONVERSION! Wales 13-26 Australia (Lolesio, 48)
What a kick!
A perfectly executed maul by Australia, a lovely move.
TRY! Wales 13-24 Australia (Faessler, 48)
Lineout. Maul. Try.
47 min: Bevan comes charging in at a ruck and there is shoulder on head contact with White. The referee judges it to be a penalty only as there’s a lot degree of danger. A contentious one. White is now off for a HIA with McDermott on.
47 min: Wales are really starting to wrack up the penalties now as they give another one away and we come back to it. There’s a break in play as there is potential foul play on White.
47 min: Australia kick to the corner but they don’t gain much advantage. The lineout is good and they opt for a maul once again. They make good metres before shifting to phases.
45 min: Australia kick upfield and they have a clean lineout as a result. They charge on in a maul but eventually White runs it through the hands but Wales win it back and the Principality erupts as they make good metres but then they give away a breakdown pen.
43 min: Wales look to capitalise on being a player up but it is Australia who win a breakdown penalty.
43 min: The bunker review for those who don’t know is another TMO reviewing an incident for the sin bin time to see if a card needs to be upgraded to a red. So it is an anxious wait for Australia.
YELLOW CARD! Wales 13-19 Australia (Kerevi 42)
Usually tackles look worse in slow motion but that is horrific at usual speed. My word that looks horrible. It’s sin bin and a bunker review.
42 min: Wales have a lineout on halfway, which is clean and they whip it out. A huge hit from Kerevi comes in on Morgan, they will have a look at this for foul play.
Back underway: Wales 13-19 Australia
So can Wales complete the comeback and end their losing streak? Or will Australia get their win over the line? All to come. Australia have made a change with Slipper on for Bell.
Some reaction to yesterday’s results:
A special mention for Tom Rogers on the Welsh wing. He hasn’t been perfect but he has probably been Wales’ best player so far. Wales need him in on more of the action in the second 40.
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It’s poised at half-time to be another electric finish in this Autumn Nations Series. The games yesterday were edge-of-your-seat finishes, especially France’s win over New Zealand, and neutrals will most definitely want that again today.
Half-time: Wales 13-19 Australia
The Aussie attack ends with Wales winning a breakdown penalty as White dives in. Australia raced out of the blocks to a 19-0 lead but Wales have slowly chipped away to get themselves back into this contest. A huge second half to come.
40 min: Australia have a clean linout and they go on the march. They don’t get far and so White sends them on their way. They are asking questions of Wales right now.
39 min: Wales cough up a penalty at the breakdown and Australia kick upfield.
38 min: Wales come away with it from the scrum and a grubber kick is put in but Wright mops it up to clear the danger.
36 min: The referee and TMO discuss the incident and it’s judged to be absolutely fine. We come back for a Wales scrum.
36 min: Botham has a great carry, trucking up a fair few metres to take them into Australia’s half. Anscombe puts the ball to boot and it find Rogers but the referee blows up and he wants to see if there is a dangerous clearout by prop Thomas.
35 min: Excellent response from Wales. After 20 minutes it looked bleak for the hosts but they have really clawed their way back into this contest.
PENALTY! Wales 13-19 Australia (Anscombe, 34)
Anscombe’s boot is good once more.
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33 min: Wales knock on but we come back for an advantage as Frost was offside. Anscombe points to the sticks once again.
32 min: Wales in the ascendency at the moment and they look to compound their momentum with an attack.
PENALTY! Wales 10-19 Australia (Anscombe, 30)
Wales chip away at the scoreboard again.
30 min: Wales’ attack ends with the referee going back to an advantage from a no arms tackle from Bell. Will Wales go to corner or posts? Anscombe points to the sticks.
29 min: Wales win another scrum penalty and this is really starting to paint a picture for the referee. The set piece not great from the Wallabies so far.
28 min: A chip over the top almost goes to hand for Ikitau but he knocks on, Wales scrum.
CONVERSION! Wales 7-19 Australia (Anscombe, 26)
The scoreboard looking much better for the hosts now.
Wales’ attack there looked good, they just kept hitting the Aussie wall and Wainwright found a way through.
TRY! Wales 5-19 Australia (Wainwright, 26)
The hosts needed that.
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25 min: Wales win the scrum penalty and they play on with advantage as they smell the try line.
25 min: Wright knocks on from the restart which gives Wales a good platform with a scrum.
CONVERSION! Wales 0-19 Australia (Lolesio, 23)
It’s good.
The lineout was lovely, the maul was stunning and Faessler is easily over the line. Gatland looks slightly shocked.
TRY! Wales 0-17 Australia (Faessler, 22)
Sucker punch for Wales.
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21 min: It’s a good lineout but Wales do well to stop the resulting maul. Australia are playing with an advantage with Bevan offside and we come back to it a few phases later. The Wallabies opt for the corner again.
20 min: Australia win a breakdown penalty and they opt to kick to the corner. They did have the option to kick at posts but they are backing themselves.
19 min: This must be slightly crushing for Wales, they haven’t done much wrong but they find themselves on the back foot. They must be the next to score to find some momentum int his Test.
CONVERSION! Wales 0-12 Australia (Lolesio, 17)
The kick is good.
Wales were patiently knocking on the door and run through the phases in search of their first points. But Rogers tries to offload and Frost nabs it, runs over half the pitch and scores. Wow.
TRY! Wales 0-10 Australia (Frost, 17)
What a phenomenal solo try.
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15 min: Lolesio missed the conversion and so Australia have to settle for the five points.
Wright weaves in and out of Wales traffic and is over. A really deadly threat for Australia.
TRY! Wales 0-5 Australia (Wright, 13)
They find a hole.
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13 min: Australia are continually hitting Wales’ red wall but it is holding strong for now.
And for those wondering how Italy Georgia panned out this afternoon, Italy won 20-17.
12 min: The referee stops play as Botham was hit in the head, he is concerned for the flanker and he has raised the alarm to the medics. The official wanted Botham to go for a HIA but the doctors say he is okay. We restart with Australia ball, really great intervention from the referee as player welfare must always come first.
11 min: Donaldson makes an incredible run and he lays it off to Kerevi and it looks like a sure try until Rogers gets in his way and holds him up. An absolutely beautiful try-saving tackle.
10 min: Australia’s lineout is clean but a final pass isn’t caught and so it is out for a Wales lineout. The men in red won every single lineout last weekend in one of their positives from their performance. Anscombe looked in some trouble but he is staying on pitch, it looked like a hand injury. It’s a good lineout again but then Australia collapse the maul legally and they win the penalty to clear their lines.
8 min: A crossfield kick comes in to find Rogers on the wing as Wales become the latest to attack but he can’t catch. Australia opt for a line-out instead of a scrum, the first of the match. Before that can be played Beard needs some treatment and it looks like he is coming off. He is, Tshiunza is on.
8 min: Some slick hands from Kerevi keeps Australia’s attack going but they knock on again with Wales playing the advantage as they to attack. The kicking game comes into play so the Wallabies are on the charge again. Possession flipping between teams so frequently.
6 min: Rogers makes a blistering run to make the crowd come to life but then Wales knock on and so we scrum again. This time Aus have the put in and its clean the first time of asking. They kick across field to try and find Kellaway but Wales recover it well.
4 min: Wales’ defence has largely been good and it pays off as Australia knock on, a scrum to come. The first scrum is always interesting as it starts to set precedent for the rest of the match so teams like to make a good impression to the referee early on. The scrum is straight down and in need of an reset for the first two attempts, referee James Doleman has a word with both front rows and then they get a clean set piece. Wales come away with it to set their first attack.
2 min: It’s not a clean start from Wales and so Australia have the first attacking set. Phase-by-phase the visitors edge up the pitch.
Kick off! Wales 0-0 Australia
Here we go then. Will Australia inflict more misery on Wales? Or can the hosts break their losing streak? All to come.
The atmosphere is crackling as always at the Principality. Emotional and loud anthems, a light show and some ACDC. Kick-off imminent.
The anthems will come shortly. The roof is closed once again at the Principality so we expect them to be loud. Then we have kick-off shortly after. Grab a cup of tea and the biscuits.
If you have read one of my blogs before you will know I love a bit of snack chat so do get in touch and let me know what you’re tucking into for this one. I’d also like to hear from you if you think Gatland should remain in charge. You can send me an email to let me know your thoughts.
Another match, another inquest into the state of Welsh rugby. This time, the hand-wringing is particularly fervent, for Wales stand on the brink of an unwanted threshold. Should they lose to Australia in Cardiff on Sunday they will surpass their longest run of Test defeats.
Losing to Fiji last Sunday was upsetting on any number of levels, but the sharpest pain was the fact it was a 10th defeat in a row, equalling the run under Steve Hansen that stretched from 2002 to 2003, the last time they collected the wooden spoon in the Six Nations.
Until this year, of course, when they picked up another after a couple of decades of unrivalled success. Now the Wallabies stride into town, suddenly feeling a bit better about themselves after their own recent travails were eased by a dramatic win against England at Twickenham.
Fiji, Australia, feeling better about themselves – these are all achingly familiar terms to Wales, whose recent travails extend back a few years, but were temporarily eased by their World Cup, or at least their pool campaign. Wales negotiated that without mishap, riding their luck against Fiji in the opener in one of the games of the tournament, before fairly dismantling Australia. See? Easy.
Read the full piece:
Australia head coach Joe Schmidt said on Wales’ bad run: “I’m sure Warren is feeling some pressure, just like any international coach. He was obviously highly successful in his previous tenure with Wales.
“He was successful with Wasps. I think anyone can have a lean spell, when teams are transitioning. I look at some of the players he had when I first started competing with Ireland against Wales.
“There are some good players there now like Adam Beard, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright and Dewi Lake to name but a few. There is a period of time that it takes for them to adjust to Test rugby. That’s part of that transition Gats is trying to accelerate at the moment.”
Some have been questioning whether Warren Gatland should remain in charge with the current run of results. The head coach was asked about his job speculation: “We’ve tried to point out from the outset we need to go through some pain. I didn’t think there’d be this much pain.
“There have been games where we haven’t been able to get over the finishing line and some close fixtures. If a decision is made in terms of what you’re talking about [Gatland’s future], I’m more than comfortable with that. I’ve been around the game for long enough.
“I’ll probably go back to the beach, have a glass of wine and enjoy myself away from some of the pressure!”
Some painful stats for Wales fans. Wales have not won a game since they beat Georgia at the 2023 Rugby World Cup pool stage. The team are at their lowest world ranking at 11th and they will hit their worst ever losing run if they fall to defeat today. Since Warren Gatland re-joined the side in December 2022 he has won just six of 22 games.
More here on Suaalii being dropped to the bench:
The team news is here. Wales make four changes from their defeat last week.
Ellis Bevan starts in place of the injured Tomos Williams and Tom Rogers is in for Mason Grady. Warren Gatland has also replaced both flankers with Jac Morgan and James Botham coming in.
Wales: Winnett; Rogers, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Murray; Anscombe, Bevan; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Griffin, Rowlands, Beard, Botham, Morgan, Wainwright.
Subs: Elias, N Smith, Assiratti, Tshiunza, Reffell, R Williams, Costelow, James.
Australia, meanwhile, make six changes from last weekend with the big news being Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii dropping to the bench. Samu Kerevi starts ahead of him with the other new faces being Nic White, Seru Uru, Will Skelton, Max Jorgenson and Allan Alaalatoa.
Rob Valetini and Kerevi will win their 50th caps.
Australia: Wright; Kellaway, Ikitau, Kerevi, Jorgensen; Lolesio, White; Bell, Faessler, Alaalatoa, Frost, Skelton, Uru, McReight, Valetini
Subs: Paenga-Amosa, Slipper, Nonggorr, Salakaia-Loto, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Suaalii
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Wales v Australia which could put the hosts in the record books for a reason they want to avoid.
Wales have lost 10 Test in a row and if they lose to the Wallabies today it will be their longest-ever run without a win. Last weekend they lost Fiji, a game where Fiji won for the first time in Cardiff. This weekend they face a buoyant Australia team who come into the match after beating England last time out.
The hosts today have also been hit with a few injuries. Mason Grady went off injured last weekend and his ankle issue means he cannot play this afternoon. Tomos Williams has also been ruled out.
There is a surprise benching in the Australia camp which we will dive into next as the team news is already available. We’ll also take a look at what has been said in the build-up to the game before kick-off at 4.10pm GMT.
