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 11:17 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 10-0 Wales

20 minutes: The rain is falling thick and fast in Melbourne, Plumtree picks the ball up after an overthrown lineout, but is held up over the line.

[13 July 2024 11:14 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 10-0 Wales

18 minutes: Botham pushes towards the line but has just been pushed into touch and the Wallabies have the line out.

[13 July 2024 11:13 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 10-0 Wales

16 minutes: Penalty! Wales have a penalty.

Thomas has missed! It has gone too far to the right-hand side, and it was a poor miss from the Welsh kicker.

It was in a relatively central position.

[13 July 2024 11:11 · Sonia Twigg]

Penalty! Australia 10-0 Wales

14 minutes: Australia lose the ball forward, but they have the penalty.

Lolesio was at 60 per cent last week, but he has a penalty and a chance to make the lead double figures, and he takes it!

[13 July 2024 11:09 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 7-0 Wales

Inside the Wales 22, Australia have the advantage, but they are driving for the line after 17 phases.

Within three metres, they have another advantage, and 21 phases...

[13 July 2024 11:08 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 7-0 Wales

12 minutes: Australia are going through the phases inside the Wales half after passing the ball across the field with ease to keep charging forwards.

[13 July 2024 11:07 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 7-0 Wales

It was Rio Dyer who released Daugunu for the try after Andrew Kellaway launched the counter-attack.

Plumtree missed the tackle and after a promising start, Wales are firmly on the back foot, and Australia are flying.

[13 July 2024 11:04 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 7-0 Wales

7 minutes: Try! Australia have scored the first points of the match!

It was a phenomenal play, and Wales had built up so well and were inside the Australia 22, but one kick up the field has just released the pressure.

The chip and chase paid off and Filipo Daugunu has put the ball under the posts.

The conversion is also good.

[13 July 2024 11:01 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 0-0 Wales

5 minutes: Wales are just starting to build and edge towards the 22, but an attempted cross kick goes int touch and that has just halted all the momentum.

[13 July 2024 11:00 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 0-0 Wales

3 minutes: Australia have the first scrum, and it’s a solid one, they win the ball easily without conceding any ground.