Australia v England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Wallabies win despite Darcy Swain red card
Follow all the reaction from the first Test of England’s summer tour
England went down 30-28 to Australia in a rollercoaster first game of the three-match series in Perth on Saturday.
The Wallabies’ win snaps an eight-match losing streak against their old rivals despite the loss of lock Darcy Swain to a red card before half-time.
Winger Jordan Petaia, hooker Folau Fainga’a and loose forward Pete Samu scored tries in the last quarter as Australia recorded their first win over England since knocking the co-hosts out of the 2015 World Cup.
Samu’s try took Australia to a 30-14 lead but England debutants Henry Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet scored tries in the dying minutes to make the scoreline more respectable.
The series continues over the next two weeks with tests at Brisbane’s Lang Park and the Sydney Cricket Ground. Follow all the reaction with our live blog:
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 22-24 Wales (Cheslin Kolbe try, 66 minutes)
South Africa strike again! It is a try made by the back-row replacements, first Kwagga Smith all energy and enmity as he arrows into Josh Navidi from the back of the maul, then Elrigh Louw’s long, powerful frame driving to within five metres. Quick ball is efficiently moved to the left and then right.
Damian de Allende spots space in the right corner, prods into it, and Cheslin Kolbe has the simple job of gathering and scoring. Damian Willemse converts superbly - South Africa just two behind, and it seems they may be more bother for Wales...
South Africa 15-24 Wales, 65 minutes
A loose ball is ruled out by the referee and South Africa nearly pounce. The lineout will be theirs just inside the Welsh 22.
PENALTY! South Africa 15-24 WALES (Dan Biggar penalty, 63 minutes)
And Dan Biggar duly adds three more from the tee. Wales again in front by more than a single converted score, with the intensity of the South African fightback very much dulled.
South Africa 15-21 Wales, 61 minutes
Hints of open space for Will Rowlands and the big second row takes advantage, putting his foot down as he races on a leftward arc, producing a nifty show-and-go.
South Africa are penalised in an eminently kickable position...
South Africa 15-21 Wales, 59 minutes
De Klerk’s clearance isn’t the longest, but Wales get their maul wrong, making the basic error of straying too close to the touchline and all too easily chaperoned over it.
The visitors then close the gap at the lineout, with Kwagga Smith tapping quickly and charging forth into Dewi Lake, who stands him up well. Another error - de Klerk again off target with his box kick, which drifts out on the full.
South Africa 15-21 Wales, 58 minutes
Louis Rees-Zammit chips deep in behind and then forms part of a Welsh blind alley that Willie le Roux rather runs down. Le Roux in the end does well to keep the ball alive long enough for support to arrive, enabling de Klerk to clear.
South Africa 15-21 Wales, 57 minutes
Faf de Klerk looks to play the percentages, twice box kicking. The second one is directly diagonally for the corner, but tumbles on a roll or three too far, and out in touch in goal. All the way back Wales will come for a scrum feed on halfway.
Tomos Williams puts in having relieved Kieran Hardy.
PENALTY! South Africa 15-21 WALES (Dan Biggar penalty, 55 minutes)
And the Welsh lead is doubled to six points by another clean Biggar strike.
South Africa 15-18 Wales, 54 minutes
That might be a foothold that Wales need. Jasper Wiese runs into Alun Wyn Jones and Rhys Carre, a new arrival on the Welsh loosehead, with plenty of support - but all three South African support runners flop off their feet. Dan Biggar points to the posts.
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 15-18 Wales (Malcolm Marx try, 51 minutes)
Another driving maul, and South Africa are over again!
This is the Springboks modus operandi, going to their power game to force their way back into the contest. Again Wales are powerless to quell the drive, Malcolm Marx hitting his jumper, sweeping to the back and riding in the motorcade all the way to the line. The conversion is missed.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments