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 11:37 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 20-14 Wales

36 minutes: The conversion is good from Thomas, and Wales are within just one kick of Australia’s total.

[13 July 2024 11:36 · Sonia Twigg]

Try! Australia 20-12 Wales

36 minutes: It’s the driving maul again!

This Welsh maul is just unstoppable, and Dawi Lake has another!

They made the most of the advantage when Salakaia-Loto was shown a yellow card.

[13 July 2024 11:32 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 20-7 Wales

34 minutes: This is better from Wales, they have charged down a kick and find themselves 15 metres out.

Winnett looked like he was running well, but the pressure is gone and the Wallabies have the penalty!

[13 July 2024 11:31 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 20-7 Wales

32 minutes: There was just a brief break in play while Jeremy Williams received treatment for a head knock, alerted by the smart mouth guards.

[13 July 2024 11:29 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 20-7 Wales

31 minutes: Penalty! Wales had worked so hard to reduce the deficit, but a good penalty from Lolesio has extended their advantage.

Cam Winnett held onto the ball in a tackle straight from the kick off, and those three points have been gifted back to the Wallabies.

[13 July 2024 11:25 · Sonia Twigg]

Try! Australia 17-7 Wales

28 minutes: Try! Wales drove well from the line out in Sydney, and they have done so again here, and they have the try!

Dewi Lake is the player to drop the ball over the line, it’s not an easy conversion for Thomas, but this one he has managed!

[13 July 2024 11:22 · Sonia Twigg]

Conversion! Australia 17-0 Wales

23 minutes: The conversion is also good from Lolesio.

[13 July 2024 11:22 · Sonia Twigg]

Try! Australia 15-0 Wales

25 minutes: Wales have made another mistake, the ball was dropped in the air, and the Wallabies have another try.

The ball falls to Gordon who drives over the line!

[13 July 2024 11:20 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 10-0 Wales

24 minutes: Thomas loses his footing, and Wales lose possession at the scrum.

It’s so wet in Melbourne there have been a lot of turnovers, and it might just be levelling the playing field between the teams.

[13 July 2024 11:18 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 10-0 Wales

21 minutes: Wales have an attacking scrum and a great opportunity, the scrum dissolves, the ball has gone backwards, and the Wallabies have the turnover.