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

Rugby World Cup to be expanded to 24 teams in 2027

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:

Australia vs Wales second Test

• Wallabies forced to switch skipper after injury hits Liam Wright, with James Slipper steppingin
• 7’ TRY! Daugunu secures dream start for Australia [7-0]
• 25’ TRY! Gordon punishes sloppy Wales [17-0]
• 28’ TRY! Dawi Lake scores after Wales drive well from the line out [AUS 17-7 WAL]
• 36’ TRY! Lake has another for the Welsh [AUS 20-14 WAL]
• HT: Australia 23-14 Wales
• 47’ TRY! Liam Williams has Wales’ third [AUS 23-21 WAL]
• 54’ TRY! Alaalatoa scores his first Wallabies try! [AUS 28-21 WAL]
• 68’ TRY! Daugunu has his second of the game [AUS 33-21]
• 70’ TRY! Dyer scores for Wales [AUS 33-28]
• FT: Australia 36-28 Wales

[13 July 2024 12:09 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 23-21 Wales

50 minutes: Tom Wright kicks high, but the gather is good from Wales and they have a chance now to drive and secure momentum of their own.

There are just a few words being exchanged between a couple of the players, and the Georgian ref just takes a moment to calm it down.

[13 July 2024 12:07 · Sonia Twigg]

Try! Australia 23-21 Wales

48 minutes: Try! There were 12 phases before the option opened up for Williams.

The Welsh carries had just started to gain ground and the decoy runners opened up the space for Williams to score against the Wallabies in his first try against Australia.

Thomas converts

[13 July 2024 12:04 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 23-14 Wales

46 minutes: Wales drive for the line again, they gain good ground, but this time the ball goes backwards and out of the driving maul which has been a key weapon for the visitors.

[13 July 2024 12:02 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 23-14 Wales

43 minutes: Wales have a penalty and they kick for touch, just outside the Australia 22, but it’s turned over immediately and all of that pressure has been released.

[13 July 2024 12:00 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 23-14 Wales

42 minutes: Australia will continue to be a player down for first couple of minutes of the second half.

Will that give Wales a chance to capitalise?

[13 July 2024 11:59 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 23-14 Wales

41 minutes: Wales kick the second half underway

[13 July 2024 11:50 · Sonia Twigg]

HT: Australia 23-14 Wales

Here are some photos from the first half:

(Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

[13 July 2024 11:43 · Sonia Twigg]

HT: Australia 23-14 Wales

40 minutes: Australia drive forward and are just metres out moments from half time, but Wales have the penalty.

The Wallabies joined the ruck incorrectly, and Wales can get a bit of a breather and a chance to regroup at the break.

[13 July 2024 11:40 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 23-14 Wales

39 minutes: As they wait to take the penalty, Salakaia-Loto’s yellow card will remain a yellow.

Lolesio has continued to kick well, it’s straight through the middle of the posts.

[13 July 2024 11:39 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 20-14 Wales

38 minutes: Penalty! But again Australia have a penalty almost immediately afterwards, right off the restart. The exact same thing happened after their first try.