Wales v Australia LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 result and reaction from record win as Wallabies face shock exit

Wales 40-6 Australia: Warren Gatland’s side enjoyed a night to remember as Eddie Jones suffered a humiliating World Cup defeat in Lyon

Facial injury may end French skipper Antoine Dupont's Rugby World Cup

Wales thumped Australia to cruise into the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup with a game to spare, leaving the Wallabies and head coach Eddie Jones staring at the humiliation of a first-ever group-stage exit.

An early break from Gareth Davies set Wales on their way to a comprehensive victory and although Warren Gatland lost fly-half Dan Bigger to a concerning shoulder injury, replacement Gareth Anscombe came off the bench to contribute 23 points.

Anscombe also set up Wales’ second try with a clever chip to Nick Tompkins, as Gatland’s side continued to choose their moments in what was a clinical victory, before Jac Morgan crashed over to seal a record 40-6 scoreline for Wales in this fixture.

The result was a disaster for Australia and Jones, who desperately needed a win after their earlier defeat to Fiji in Pool C. The two-time champions are now set to record their worst-ever performance in World Cup history.

Follow all the reaction after Wales recorded their biggest-ever win against Australia to reach the quarter-finals

Wales vs Australia LIVE: Rugby World Cup updates

• REPORT: Brilliant Wales thrash abject Australia to bring Eddie Jones’s world crashing down
• Wales cruise into World Cup quarter-finals with record win over Australia
• Australia on the brink of first group-stage exit after nightmare performance
• 78’ TRY! Morgan adds late score as Wales secure record win (WAL 40-6 AUS)
• 48' TRY! Tompkins collects Anscombe chip to give Wales breathing space (WAL 26-6 AUS)
• 12’ INJURY - Wales lose Biggar to shoulder injury (WAL 7-3 AUS)
• 3’ TRY - Gareth Davies breaks through as Wales make dream start (WAL 7-0 AUS)

[24 September 2023 19:22 · Ben Fleming]

Wales vs Australia

The fans make their way in:

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

[24 September 2023 19:18 · Ben Fleming]

Scotland romp to vital bonus-point victory over Tonga

Earlier today, Scotland romped to the bonus-point victory they required over Tonga at Stade de Nice to kick-start their World Cup campaign and keep alive their hopes of qualification for the knockout phase.

The pressure was on Gregor Townsend’s side after losing their first game to South Africa and then seeing Ireland defeat the Boks on Saturday, a scenario that left them with no margin for error and in need of big victories from their remaining fixtures.

The Scots kept their composure, however, and showed their attacking quality to get themselves a foothold in the top-heavy pool B by recording a 45-17 win over Tonga, with their seven tries all scored by different players.

Read the full match report below:

[24 September 2023 19:14 · Ben Fleming]

Ireland prove they can win Rugby World Cup after beating up Springboks

Yesterday evening then saw the tournament’s biggest fixture so far as defending champions South Africa too on Ireland in a mouthwatering pool-stage encounter.

France vs New Zealand got this Rugby World Cup off to a compelling start amid a febrile atmosphere, Wales vs Fiji provided the controversy and last-gasp drama before the Fijians then delivered the well-deserved upset against Australia.

But it’s Ireland’s narrow, 13-8 win over South Africa that will go down as this tournament’s first true example of vintage, pure Test match rugby. And it was spell-binding.

Read Luke Baker’s full report from the Stade de France below:

[24 September 2023 19:06 · Ben Fleming]

Five-try Henry Arundell provides X-factor as England put Chile to the sword

We have just under an hour to go until Wales and Australia take to the field, so let’s take a look back at some of the other action over the week. First, to the Stade Pierre Mauroy where England put on a dominant display to thrash Chile 71-0 with 20-year-old Henry Arundell the star of the show.

For Henry Arundell, nothing could break a sense of reverie. There are dream World Cup debuts and then there was this, Arundell becoming only the fourth Englishman to score five tries in a single match as Chile were put to the sword. Who knows what the future holds for a player still with years, but aside from a sip from the Webb Ellis Cup, this first experience of tournament rugby will surely not be topped.

Read more of Harry Latham-Coyle’s report from yesterday’s thumping win below:

[24 September 2023 18:58 · Ben Fleming]

Liam Williams hails Wales’ transformation from Six Nations despair to brink of World Cup quarter finals

Liam Williams has hailed the work ethic behind Wales’ transformation from Six Nations also-rans to potential Rugby World Cup quarter-finalists.

It is barely six months since Wales floundered on northern hemisphere rugby’s biggest stage. Their solitary win – a 29-17 victory over Italy in Rome – spared them the indignity of propping up the table.

The Six Nations campaign also unfolded against a backdrop of major financial and contractual uncertainty in Welsh professional rugby, factors which almost led to a player strike as Wales prepared for a Six Nations appointment with England.

“We’ve worked hard as a group, everyone,” said Wales full-back Williams, who wins his 87th cap this weekend. The pre-World Cup camps were hell, to be honest, but the boys have just been digging in. We are all on the right page.

“If you had said six months ago that we would have played two pool matches and been at the top of the group with 10 points we would have bitten your hand off. We have just got to go and back that up on the weekend.”

Read more of his thoughts ahead of today’s clash below:

[24 September 2023 18:50 · Ben Fleming]

Wales’ Josh Adams eyes Australia contest after ‘best week’ before clash to secure quarter-final spot

Josh Adams says the chance to clinch a Rugby World Cup quarter-final place on Sunday has been a motivational force behind Wales’ preparations to face Australia.

Wales will guarantee a last-eight place if they topple the Wallabies in Lyon.

And they would do it with a game to spare, with their final Pool C fixture against Georgia a fortnight away.

“It is in our hands now, which is a nice feeling,” Wales wing Adams said. “It is all depending on us and how we perform.

“We are quite aware of the carrot at the end, if you like, and it has motivated us a lot this week, if I am honest.”

Read more of the winger’s thoughts ahead of the clash with Australia below:

[24 September 2023 18:48 · Ben Fleming]

Scotland up and running against Tonga

It’s all over in Nice and Scotland have a much-needed bonus-point win against Tonga to kickstart their World Cup campaign.

Tries from Turner, Van der Merwe, Steyn, Darge, Horne, Kinghorn and Graham see Gregor Townsend’s men romp to a convincing 45-17 victory.

[24 September 2023 18:42 · Ben Fleming]

Wales v Australia referee: Who is Wayne Barnes?

England’s Wayne Barnes is one of the officials at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The vastly-experienced referee has taken charge of more than 100 international games, a record tally.

Having made his tournament debut in France in 2007, Barnes is back for a fifth edition of the men’s World Cup.

Find out more about today’s ref below:

[24 September 2023 18:34 · Luke Baker]

Australia team news

Australia, meanwhile, make three changes to the side that lost to Fiji. Fraser McReight makes way for Rob Leota in the back row as Tom Hooper shifts to open-side flanker. Tate McDermott has recovered from a head injury and returns at scrum-half in place of Nic White while Ben Donaldson moves from full-back to fly-half with Andrew Kellaway filling in at 15.

Australia XV: Angus Bell, David Porecki, James Slipper; Nick Frost, Richie Arnold; Rob Leota, Tom Hooper; Rob Valetini; Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson; Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, Jordan Petaia, Mark Nawaqanitawase; Andrew Kellaway.

Replacements: Matt Faessler, Blake Schoupp, Pone Fa’amausili, Matt Philip, Fraser McReight, Nic White, Carter Gordon, Suliasi Vunivalu.

[24 September 2023 18:26 · Luke Baker]

Wales team news

After a heavily-rotated side faced Portugal, Gatland has reverted to the same starting XV that narrowly beat Fiji on the opening weekend. Dewi Lake - Wales’ co-captain - is the only surprise absentee with the hooker missing out on a place in the matchday 23.

Wales XV: Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis; Will Rowlands, Adam Beard; Aaron Wainwright, Jac Morgan; Taulupe Faletau; Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar; Josh Adams, Nick Tompkins, George North, Louis Rees Zammit; Liam Williams.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Corey Domachowski, Henry Thomas, Dafydd Jenkins, Taine Basham, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Rio Dyer.