Wales vs Australia LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as hosts booed off after record defeat
Wales 20-52 Australia: Warren Gatland’s hosts fell to an 11th successive defeat as Australia racked up a record score in Cardiff
Australia hooker Matt Faessler and fullback Tom Wright both scored a hat-trick of tries as the Wallabies thrashed a tired-looking Wales 52-20 to condemn the home side to their worst run of results.
It was an unprecedented 11th successive defeat for Wales, who last won at the World Cup 13 months ago, and the result will add significant pressure onto veteran coach Warren Gatland, whose tenure had already been under scrutiny.
Australia, who had a poor run of results themselves this year, continued their upturn in fortunes as they won a second successive test after last weekend’s 42-37 victory over England, with lock Nick Frost and centre Len Ikitau also scoring tries and Noah Lolesio kicking six conversions.
Wales’ points came from tries from Aaron Wainwright and Ben Thomas and eight from the boot of flyhalf Gareth Anscombe and a Sam Costelow conversion.
Follow all of the latest from the Principality Stadium in our live blog below:
PENALTY! Wales 13-19 Australia
31 mins: And another. Wales had the penalty advantage when Frost is caught offside, with the Wallabies losing some of their discipline towards the end of the half. Anscombe scores from inside halfway to get Wales within six.
PENALTY! Wales 10-19 Australia
Suddenly Wales have trimmed the score. Angus Bell is penalised for a tackle and Anscombe nails the penalty to bring Wales back within nine points.
TRY! Wales 7-19 Australia (Wainwright)
24 mins: How Wales needed this! From the scrum, Wales draw the penalty and their attack clicks into life. Anscombe finds Murray on the wing and Wales pile the big bodies forward before Aaron Wainwright squeezes through a gap in front of the posts.
Anscombe adds the conversion and Wales will hope that sparks them into life.
TRY! Wales 0-19 Australia (Faessler)
22 mins: Oh dear. This is getting bad for the hosts. Australia go for the maul and the hooker Matt Faessler comes from taking the lineout to powering over the line.
“This could get ugly for Wales, uglier than it already is,” warns Jamie Roberts.
Noah Lolesio adds the two points. Three tries for Australia inside 10 minutes. They’ve been clinical.
Wales 0-12 Australia
20 mins: More trouble brewing for Wales as the Wallabies win a penalty and Lolesio chips the ball into the corner.
Wright is threatening again, with Australia moving the ball so quickly in attack. Bevan is offside so Australia will have the chance to go again.
TRY! Wales 0-12 Australia (Frost)
16 mins: And another! The giant Nick Frost stretches his legs on the breakaway for an easy score. Wales fell apart after the turnover.
There’s a clever offload from Max Jorgensen to set the move on its way. Once Frost saw the gap, there was no slowing him down.
The towering lock thundered from halfway and this time Lolesio adds the two points.
TRY! Wales 0-5 Australia (Wright 14’)
14 mins: There it is! The Wallabies had been building nicely and that’s a lovely score from Tom Wright, as the Wallabies veered to the right wing. The full-back fakes a pass to his outside with Australia building the numerical advantage. Wright slips away from Aaron Wainwright and scores from the corner.
Wales 0-0 Australia
12 mins: Australia are pilling on the pressure now as the Principality falls to a hush. Rogers is required to make another last-ditch tackle but Australia are getting closer...
Wales 0-0 Australia
10 mins: A try-saving tackle from Tom Rogers to drag down Samu Kerevi just before the line after a lovely move from the Wallabies.
Rogers just did enough to pull back Kerevi before he burst over.
Wales 0-0 Australia
6 mins: Australia have several dangerous runners in the side, and look to make up the ground through Samu Kerevi. After a knock-on, Wales looked to slip through the grubber-kick, but it breaks down. An exchange of kicks follows, before a touch from Rogers under the high ball gives both sides a breather.
A concern for Wales, though, as the experienced Adam Beard is forced off. Christ Tshiunza is an early replacement from the bench.
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