Wales vs Australia LIVE: Rugby result, final score and Autumn Nations Series 2021 reaction
The hosts prevailed on a dramatic night at the Principality Stadium thanks to Rhys Priestland’s late penalty
Wales‘ Rhys Priestland kicked a penalty after the hooter as the hosts poured more misery on Australia with a 29-28 victory at the Principality Stadium on Saturday following an early red card for visiting number eight Rob Valetini.
Valetini became the fifth player to see red against Wales in the last 12 months but could have few complaints after his dangerous tackle on lock Adam Beard after 14 minutes resulted in a clash of heads.
Hooker Ryan Elias and centre Nick Tompkins scored tries for the home side, who failed to drive home their numerical advantage and were seconds away from losing before they were awarded an offside penalty in the last play of the game.
Australia, who have lost all three matches on their tour after defeats by Scotland and England, scored tries through wings Andrew Kellaway and Filipo Daugunu, plus scrumhalf Nic White but, having highlighted the need to improve their discipline in the week, let themselves down again.
England 17-12 South Africa, 34 minutes
South Africa win the lineout but that’s not Cobus Reinach’s best, a shanked box kick that sails out within the South African 22. England with good attacking ball, with Jamie Blamire looping around the back of a dummy maul and inviting Joe Marchant to carry hard on his shoulder. That might have been more effective with Manu Tuilagi still on the pitch.
Bevan Rodd is absolutely munched in the tackle of Ox Nche! Loosehead on loosehead crime, and England are then penalised for sealing off.
England 17-12 South Africa, 32 minutes
A good exit from the Springboks and England rather meander on kick return, Jonny May guilty of running sideways, something he has largely cut out from his game.
Now England attack more fluently! A lovely delayed pass from Marcus Smith nearly sets Bevan Rodd free, before a clever flick up from Sam Underhill to Tom Curry allows England to get away down the right.
Freddie Steward passes to Max Malins who is dragged into touch! A valiant sprint from the corner from the replacement but he’s not particularly close to beating the defender for it.
England 17-12 South Africa, 31 minutes
Up like a salmon and down with the ball! A perfect restart drill from Marcus Smith and Maro Itoje, like a point guard to his power forward in the paint as Itoje beats South Africa to the ball.
A loose pass stalls England but a canny kick for the corner means a pressure lineout for South Africa.
PENALTY! England 17-12 SOUTH AFRICA (Handre Pollard penalty, 30 minutes)
Another nice enough strike from Handre Pollard, this time from the left. South Africa just ticking along.
England 17-9 South Africa, 29 minutes
South Africa maul and Courtney Lawes is pinged for trying to bring it down. The penalties are just beginning to mount against England - Andrew Brace warns Lawes to “tidy up” at the maul as the South African tee comes on for a fourth time.
England 17-9 South Africa, 28 minutes
South Africa get themselves in a muddle in their own 22 but somehow the ball is not knocked on as Cobus Reinach’s pass hits a forward retreating back. South Africa belatedly clear.
England play off the top of the lineout and Jonny May prods a grubber through, but Joe Marchant advances before May has passed him and is thus offside. Handre Pollard slips as he strikes the penalty but safely finds the touchline 35 metres from the England tryline.
PENALTY! England 17-9 SOUTH AFRICA (Handre Pollard penalty, 26 minutes)
It didn’t look nice off the boot but there is just enough welly in Pollard’s strike to clear the crossbar.
England 17-6 South Africa, 25 minutes
It’s all a bit staccato, now, as another breakdown infringement causes Andrew Brace to whistle again. This time England fail to vacate a ruck - and South Africa, somewhat surprisingly, will have another shot at the posts. This is all of 49 metres out and beyond the 15-metre line - a toughie for Handre Pollard.
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