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:
Wales 0-0 Australia
3 mins: Ellis Bevan gets his first touch as Wales eventually emerge from the scrum with ball in hand. Tom Rogers is handed his first carry but Wales concede the penalty just as they made their first steps into the Australia half.
Wales 0-0 Australia
2 mins: Australia looked to be building up the phases in a confident start, but a spill gives Wales the penalty and the chance to reset from the scrum.
KICK-OFF! Wales 0-0 Australia
Noah Lolesio gets us underway as the Wallabies kick off. The visitors immediately regain possession inside the Welsh half.
Wales vs Australia
Stirring stuff ahead of kick-off at the Principality. Despite their recent form, the Welsh anthem still packs a punch. Kick-off is next.
Wales vs Australia
Here we go, the players are in the tunnel with those in Welsh red looking to avoid making some unwanted history this afternoon. The sound of ‘11 defeats in a row’ will be ringing in their ears.
But it’s loud, as ever, in Cardiff. With the roof closed, we’re set for a cracker.
Jamie Roberts responds to Warren Gatland comments
Jamie Roberts with an honest response to Warren Gatland saying there are former players he is “disappointed” with.
“I think Warren Gatland has done okay because of what the players have done for him. We’re all in this together. It’s never personal and I have a huge amount of respect for Warren Gatland. But I think Warren Gatland appreciates as well that he’s in the position he’s in because of the players as well.
“That’s not personal. It’s never personal. Wales are where they are, they haven’t won since the World Cup. The pressure is on and it’s only right we question that. There’s nothing I say here that I wouldn’t say in the board room either.”
Wales’ winless run: The nine defeats in a row in 2024
3 February: vs Scotland, Cardiff, 26-27
10 February: vs England, Twickenham, 14-16
24 February: vs Ireland, Dublin, 7-31
10 March: vs France, Cardiff, 24-45
16 March: vs Italy, Cardiff, 21-24
22 June: vs South Africa, Twickenham, 13-41
6 July: vs Australia, Sydney, 16-25
13 July: vs Australia, Melbourne, 28-36
10 November: vs Fiji, Cardiff, 19-24
Warren Gatland hits out at Wales critics
It’s all getting quite spicy, as it has all week, as the back-and-forth between Warren Gatland and former Wales players, including Jamie Roberts, continues amid Wales’s winless run.
Speaking to TNT Sport before the Australia match, Gatland said there are some former players who he is “disappointed” with after their comments this week.
“If I look back, 12 months ago we had the same people saying we wouldn’t make it out of the World Cup group and we won the group,” Gatland said.
“Since the World Cup it’s been challenging. A lot of the people making comments in the media are there because of their success they had for Wales or the Lions. It’s the way things are.
“Some of them I’m a little disappointed with, because it’s an opportunity to back you in the corner. But the amount of support we’ve had from the Welsh public over the last two weeks has been fantastic.”
Wales vs Australia match officials
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant Referee 2: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Joe Schmidt expecting tough test against struggling Wales
Australia head coach Joe Schmidt feels that Wales will be “incredibly hard to beat” in today’s encounter at the Principality Stadium.
The odds favour a Wallabies win following their thrilling victory over England last time out, while Wales have lost a record-equalling 10 Tests in a row.
“Obviously, this time last year, Wales put 40 points on the Wallabies (in the World Cup),” Schmidt said.
“They got very close to a number of teams in the Six Nations, losing by one score to England and Scotland, as well as Fiji last week.
“I am expecting them to be incredibly hard to beat. They are dogmatic with the way they go about their defensive work and are very hard to break down.”
Asked about Wales being under pressure, Schmidt added: “You live in this bubble, really. I am too busy worrying about our team.
“It’s funny, I feel under more pressure than I was last week.
“Last week, no-one expected us to win. Suddenly, when expectations shift and you are up against a team that are on a losing run, you are expected to win.
“But it doesn’t actually mean anything in terms of the players running out and getting the job done. I think everyone feels pressure.”
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