Australia v Wales LIVE rugby: Latest result and reaction as Wallabies claim 2-0 series win
Wales could not hit back Melbourne, falling to the Wallabies for a second successive week
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Your support makes all the difference.Wales’s search for a first win of 2024 continues after Warren Gatland’s tourists slipped to a 36-28 defeat against Australia in Melbourne.
Wales bounced back on countless occasions, but made too many key mistakes, as Filipo Daugunu scored two tries as the visitors’ suffered a ninth successive Test defeat, their worst run since 2013.
Daugunu scored the first try, before Jake Gordon extended their lead to 17-0. Wales fought back with two tries from Dewi Lake, and Liam Williams’ try took Wales to within one score of Australia, but they did not have enough to keep coming back into the clash.
A losing run stretching back to last year’s World Cup was extended last week in Sydney as the Wallabies began life under Joe Schmidt with victory in an encounter that would have encouraged two young sides.
Each has suffered a significant back row injury blow ahead of the second Test of this two-match series, with Schmidt forced to employ a new skipper in the absence of Liam Wright and Aaron Wainwright forced out with a shoulder problem for Wales.
Defeat last week plunged Gatland’s men to a new low of 11th in the world as pressure begins to build on the New Zealander, who has asked for patience as he rebuilds a side shorn of a number of senior leaders over the last 12 months. Can they finally find an elusive victory at AAMI Park?
Relive all of the action from Australia vs Wales below:
Wales lose ninth successive Test match as Australia grab series win in Melbourne
Wales lost their ninth successive Test match as Australia wrapped up a 2-0 series win by beating them 36-28 in Melbourne.
It was a 15th loss in 21 Tests since Warren Gatland returned for a second stint as head coach, with the Wallabies prevailing through tries from wing Filipo Daugunu (two), scrum-half Jake Gordon and prop Allan Alaalatoa.
Wales matched their opponents for long periods as skipper Dewi Lake touched down twice, while there were also tries for wings Liam Williams and Rio Dyer. Fly-half Ben Thomas kicked three conversions and Sam Costelow one.
FT: Australia 36-28 Wales
Dewi Lake said on Sky Sports: “Inaccuracy probably just cost us.
“We knew the kick game was coming with this weather, and a couple of scraps that they worked hard on.
“We never gave up, we’ve got that never say die attitude, but being a young team isn’t a good enough excuse at Test level.
“That’s something that we’ve got to change, but it’s never a question of intent or hard work, the boys will do that, it’s just finishing off our opportunities.”
FT: Australia 36-28 Wales
Here are some photos from the second half in Melbourne:
FT: Australia 36-28 Wales
Australia secure back-to-back wins on home soil as they look to put their disastrous Rugby World Cup behind them.
They played fluid, entertaining rugby, and Wales did not have enough to level the series.
Wales’ maul was one of their best weapons, but there were just too many key mistakes that allowed Australia to never be behind the game.
There were two occasions when immediately after a Wales try, they conceded a penalty, and the Wallabies took the three points.
Australia 36-28 Wales
78 minutes: On a wet night in Australia, Wales spill the ball and there will be a scrum.
Barring something exceptional, there is not enough time left for Wales to find a way back into this game.
They have done so well at times, but key errors have caught up with them.
Australia 36-28 Wales
78 minutes: Penalty! Donaldson takes the required total over a converted try, and is that enough for Australia?
Australia 33-28 Wales
76 minutes: Wales offside, and Australia go quickly, they play in Daugunu, who is on a hat-trick but he is stopped just metres from the try line.
Australia have a penalty, the ball goes back to the advantage.
Australia 33-28 Wales
73 minutes: There’s a big kick and chase from Wales, it was a good option from Costelow, but Grady couldn’t quite reach it on the wing.
Wales spill the lineout, and that’s just what they didn’t want as Australia hack the ball clear.
Australia 33-28
71 minutes: The conversion is good and the deficit is down to just five points.
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