Did you know….
This will be the 12th time Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt have faced off against one another as head coaches in men’s Test rugby – only Graham Henry and Robbie Deans (15) and Michael Cheika and Steve Hansen (14) have faced each other more oftern in matches between two Tier 1 nations.
The record between them currently stands at three wins for Gatland and seven for Schmidt, alongside one draw.
Australia won 13 stragiht games against Wales between 2009 and 2017 but since then Wales have had the edge, winning four of seven subsequent meetings.
Wales lost both of their fixtures against Australia this summer, their first tour down under since 2012, but haven’t beaten the Wallabies in Australia since 1969. However, they have won two of their last three against them in Cardiff.
AND WE’RE OFF
8mins | An early setback for Wales, with second row Adam Beard limping from the field, to be replaced by Exeter Chiefs Christ Tshuinza.
10mins | The Wallabies cut loose down the touchline, with full back Tom Wright sparking an attack, the move continues and Samu Kerevi is only denied by a desperate and well timed tackle from Tom Rogers.
13mins | Australia’s abiility to remain calm while seemingly getting nowhere pays dividends. Wright, having already showed his class earlier, avoids Blair Murray’s tacke to flash across out wide to put the Wallabies 5-0 in front.
17mins | Nick Frost shows a surprising burst of speed to gallop unopposed from the halfway line after James Botham spills the ball in a tackle. Smith picks up the ball and supplies Frost with an easy run-in to the tryline. Noah Lolesio’s conversion puts the visitors 12-0 ahead.
22mins | The Wallabies are turning the screw – they turn down a simple penalty and have a line-out close to Wales’ line. Matt Faessler collects the ball from the lineout, and powers his way over from the back of a rolling maul. Lolesio’s conversion puts the Wallabies 19-0 ahead and firmly in control.
Aaron Wainwright of Wales scores a try
25mins | Finally are stung into action and run hard into the Wallaby defence. Archie Griffin and Gareth Thomas go close, before Aaron Wainwright forces his way over to score by the posts. Gareth Anscombe’s conversion brings Wales back into the game, even though Warren Gatland’s side still find themselves trailing 7-19.
31mins | Anscombe claws back another three points with a short range penalty as Wales work their way back into the game.
34mins | Wales continue to chip away at Australia’s lead with a long range penalty from Anscombe.
HALF-TIME: Wales 13-19
42mins | Jac Morgan feels the full force of a tackle from Kerevi who is sent to the sin bin – the Wallaby centre will face an anxious wait to see if it escalates to a red card.
46mins | Faessler is the recipient of a second try after a copybook line-out-rolling maul combo. Wales had no answer to the powerful drive and the hooker bags his second try of the match. Lolesio kicks the conversion to put Australia 26-13 ahead.
Kerevi’s yellow card has been upgraded to a red card which means Wales have a one-man advantage – can they make it count?
53mins | Wales have no answer to Australia’s dominating maul. Hooker Faessler helps himself to a hat-trick – the first hooker in history to score one – and with Lolesio’s conversion, the visitors jump out to a 33-13 lead.
54mins | Hooker Ryan Elias and props Nicky Smith and Keiron Assiratti come on to inject some fresh blood into Wales.
55mins | Eddie James and Sam Costelow join the action with Tom Rogers and Gareth Anscombe making way.
57mins | James Botham has a try chalked off after a pass from Murray is deemed to have gone forward.
61mins | A Costelow pass is intercepted by Wright who looks almost embarrassed with his easy run 65m towards the Wales try-line. The Wallabies are firmly in control, leading 40-13.
Ben Thomas of Wales scores a try
67mins | Ben Thomas finally gives Welsh fans something to shout about ploughing over after brief period of ascendancy. Costelow’s conversion brings the score to 20-24.
75mins | Len Ikitau turns full back Cameron Winnett inside out with a stunning finish to score Australia’s seventh try as Wales trail 20-47.
80mins | Man of the match Wright becomes the second Aussie to score a hat-trick with the final move of the game as the Wallabies rack up over a half of century of points to
FULL-TIME: Wales 20-52 Australia
