Wales v Australia: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – live
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Half-Time Score: Wales 13, Australia 19
The Australian team’s push comes to a halt as Wales secures a penalty during a breakdown when White goes in. Australia started strong, quickly jumping to a 19-0 advantage, but Wales has gradually pulled themselves back into the game. The second half promises to be crucial.
40 minutes in: Australia secures a flawless lineout and begins to push forward. However, they don’t advance much, so White directs them to continue. They are putting Wales under some pressure at the moment.
39 minutes: Wales gives away a penalty during the breakdown, allowing Australia to send the ball downfield.
At the 38-minute mark, Wales secures possession from the scrum and sends a low kick downfield. However, Wright is there to handle it and swiftly gets rid of the threat.
At the 36-minute mark, the referee and the TMO review the situation and determine it to be completely acceptable. We return to play with a scrum awarded to Wales.
At the 36-minute mark, Botham makes an impressive run, covering a good distance and advancing into Australia's territory. Anscombe kicks the ball, which reaches Rogers, but the referee interrupts play to review a potential risky tackle by prop Thomas.
35 min: Wales has responded brilliantly. After the first 20 minutes, things seemed grim for the home team, but they have fought hard to get back into the game.
Wales 13-19 Australia: Anscombe Penalty At 34'
Anscombe's boot is functioning well once again.
33 minutes in: Wales makes a mistake and knocks the ball on, but we return to the previous play since Frost was offside. Anscombe signals for another shot at goal.
32 minutes in: Wales is on the rise right now and is aiming to build on their momentum with an offensive push.
Penalty! Wales 10, Australia 19
Wales adds more points to the scoreboard.
30 minutes in: Wales' offensive play concludes with the referee calling back for an advantage after Bell's no-arms tackle. Will Wales opt for a kick to the corner or aim for the goal posts? Anscombe signals for the posts.
29 minutes in: Wales earns another penalty from the scrum, which is giving the referee a clearer view of the situation. The Wallabies' performances in this set piece haven't been impressive so far.
28 minutes: A chip pass just clears the defensive line and nearly reaches Ikitau, but he ends up losing control of the ball, resulting in a scrum for Wales.
Wales Vs Australia: 7-19 Conversion By Anscombe
The scoreboard is looking much more favorable for the home team now.
Wales' offense appeared promising as they continuously challenged the Australian defense, and Wainwright managed to break through.
Wales Falls To Australia: 5-19 Result
The hosts required that.
After 25 minutes, Wales earns a penalty from the scrum and continues to push forward, sensing an opportunity to score.
25 min: Wright steps in after the restart, providing Wales with a solid opportunity thanks to a scrum.
Australia Leads: Wales 0-19
The lineout was impressive, the maul was fantastic, and Faessler clearly crossed the line with ease. Gatland appears a bit taken aback.
Wales Falls To Australia 0-17
A sudden blow for Wales.
21 minutes: The lineout goes well, but Wales successfully halts the ensuing maul. Australia is currently benefiting from an advantage due to Bevan being offside, so we return to this situation a few plays later. The Wallabies choose to kick for the corner once more.
20 minutes in: Australia earns a penalty at a breakdown and chooses to kick for the corner instead of attempting a goal. They had the chance to go for the posts, but they're confident in their decision.
19 minutes in: This has to be a bit disheartening for Wales. They haven't made many mistakes, yet they're on the defensive. To regain some momentum in this match, they really need to be the next team to score.
Australia Takes Lead: Wales 0-12
The kick is successful.
Wales was steadily pressing forward, working through their plays to find a way to score. However, when Rogers attempted to pass the ball, Frost intercepted it, sprinted down the field, and scored. Incredible!
Australia Dominates Wales 10-0
What an incredible individual effort for that try!
At the 15-minute mark, Lolesio failed to convert, leaving Australia with just five points on the board.
Wright navigates through the traffic in Wales and is on the move. This poses a significant danger for Australia.
Australia Dominates Wales: 5-0 Win
They discover an opening.
At the 13-minute mark, Australia keeps trying to break through Wales' sturdy defense, but so far, it remains intact.
If you're curious about the outcome of the Italy vs. Georgia match from this afternoon, Italy came out on top with a score of 20-17.
12 minutes in: The referee pauses the game after Botham takes a blow to the head. He's worried about the flanker and has called for medical assistance. Although the referee wanted Botham to undergo a head injury assessment, the medical team confirms he's alright. We resume play with Australia having possession. It’s commendable that the referee prioritized player safety in this situation.
At the 11-minute mark, Donaldson makes an impressive run and passes the ball to Kerevi, who seems poised to score. However, Rogers steps in and manages to stop him just in time. It’s a stunning tackle that prevents what looked like a certain try.
After 10 minutes: Australia manages a smooth lineout, but the last pass isn’t secured, resulting in a lineout for Wales. Last weekend, the Welsh team successfully executed every lineout, which was one of the highlights of their game. Anscombe seemed to be in some difficulty, possibly due to a hand injury, but he’s remaining in the match for now. Once again, the lineout goes well for Wales, but Australia legally brings down the maul, earning a penalty that allows them to clear the ball from their territory.
8 minutes in: A long kick across the field aims for Rogers on the sideline as Wales launches another offensive, but he fails to secure the ball. Australia decides to take a line-out instead of a scrum, marking the match's first line-out. Before that can happen, Beard requires some medical attention and it appears he will be leaving the game. He is substituting out for Tshiunza.
In the 8th minute, Kerevi showcases some impressive skills, keeping the Australian offense alive. However, they end up losing the ball again, giving Wales the opportunity to counterattack. The kicking game becomes important, and the Wallabies are back on the offensive. The ball changes hands often between the two teams.
In the sixth minute, Rogers sprints down the field, igniting excitement among the fans. However, Wales fumbles the ball, leading us to reset with another scrum. Australia gets the feed this time, and they handle it smoothly right from the start. They attempt a kick across the field to reach Kellaway, but Wales does a good job of regaining possession.
In the 4th minute, Wales' defense is performing well, and it pays off when Australia fumbles the ball, resulting in a scrum. The initial scrum is often crucial as it can influence the tone for the remainder of the game, so teams aim to create a positive impression on the referee right from the start. The scrum collapses on its first two tries, prompting referee James Doleman to have a chat with the players in the front row before they finally manage a clean engagement. Wales capitalizes on this, launching their first offensive play.
2 minutes in: Wales doesn’t get off to the best beginning, allowing Australia to launch the first offensive play. The visitors gradually make their way down the field, taking it one step at a time.
Wales Vs. Australia: Scoreless Kickoff!
Here we go! Will Australia make things worse for Wales? Or will the home team finally end their losing run? Stay tuned to find out!
The energy in the Principality is electric as usual. The crowd is fired up with passionate and booming songs, coupled with dazzling lights and some classic ACDC tunes. The game is about to begin.
The anthems will be played soon. The roof is closed again at the Principality, so we anticipate a lot of noise. Then, the match will kick off shortly after. Make sure to grab a cup of tea and some biscuits!
If you've visited my blog previously, you know I enjoy discussing snacks, so feel free to share what you're munching on while reading this. I'm also interested in your opinions about whether Gatland should continue as the leader. Don’t hesitate to drop me an email with your thoughts!
Once again, there's a deep reflection on the current condition of Welsh rugby following another game. The concern is especially intense this time, as Wales is on the verge of reaching an undesirable milestone. If they are defeated by Australia in Cardiff this Sunday, they'll set a new record for the most consecutive Test losses.
Last Sunday's loss to Fiji was disappointing for many reasons, but the hardest part to swallow was that it marked their tenth consecutive defeat. This ties the record set during Steve Hansen’s time, when they faced a similar losing streak from 2002 to 2003, which was the last time they finished last in the Six Nations.
Until this year, that is, when they added another title after experiencing decades of unmatched success. Now the Wallabies come to town with a renewed sense of confidence, especially after overcoming their own challenges with a thrilling victory against England at Twickenham.
Fiji, Australia, and improving self-esteem – these concepts are all too recognizable for Wales, whose struggles have persisted for several years, though they found a brief respite during their World Cup journey, particularly in the pool stage. Wales navigated this phase smoothly, benefitting from fortune in a thrilling opening match against Fiji, before confidently defeating Australia. See? It wasn’t so hard after all.
Check out the complete article:
Australia's head coach Joe Schmidt commented on Wales' recent struggles, stating, "I imagine Warren is experiencing some pressure, just like any coach at the international level. He had a very successful run during his last time with Wales."
"He achieved great success with the Wasps. I believe it’s natural for any team to go through a rough patch during times of change. I remember some of the players he had when I began competing against Wales with Ireland."
“There are some strong players currently in the team, such as Adam Beard, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright, and Dewi Lake, to highlight just a few. They need a certain amount of time to get used to the rigors of Test rugby. This adjustment is a key aspect of the transition that Gats is working to expedite right now.”
There have been doubts about whether Warren Gatland should continue as the head coach given the recent performance. When asked about the rumors regarding his job, he said, “We’ve always emphasized that we would have to endure some challenges. I didn’t expect it to be this difficult.”
"We've had matches where we couldn't quite seal the deal, and we've faced some tough competitions. If a choice is made regarding what you're discussing about Gatland's future, I'm totally okay with it. I've spent enough time in this sport to understand how it works."
"I plan to head back to the beach, sip on a glass of wine, and unwind, taking a break from the stress!"
Here are some tough numbers for fans of Wales. The team hasn't secured a victory since their win against Georgia during the pool stage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Currently, they hold their lowest world ranking at 11th place, and another loss today would mark their longest losing streak in history. Since Warren Gatland returned to coach the team in December 2022, they've only managed to win six out of 22 matches.
Additional details regarding Suaalii being moved to the bench:
The latest team updates are in. Wales has made four adjustments to their lineup following their loss last week.
Ellis Bevan takes the field in place of the injured Tomos Williams, while Tom Rogers steps in for Mason Grady. Warren Gatland has also made changes to the flanker positions, bringing in Jac Morgan and James Botham.
Wales: Winnett; Rogers, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Murray; Anscombe, Bevan; G Thomas, Lake (captain), Griffin, Rowlands, Beard, Botham, Morgan, Wainwright.
Substitutes: Elias, N. Smith, Assiratti, Tshiunza, Reffell, R. Williams, Costelow, and James.
In contrast, Australia has made six changes from last weekend's lineup, with the most notable adjustment being Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii moving to the bench. Samu Kerevi will be starting in his place. Other new players joining the team include Nic White, Seru Uru, Will Skelton, Max Jorgenson, and Allan Alaalatoa.
Rob Valetini and Kerevi will each earn their 50th appearances.
Australia's lineup includes Wright; Kellaway, Ikitau, Kerevi, and Jorgensen; Lolesio and White; Bell, Faessler, Alaalatoa, Frost, Skelton, Uru, McReight, and Valetini.
Substitutes: Paenga-Amosa, Slipper, Nonggorr, Salakaia-Loto, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Suaalii
Greetings and welcome to the Wales vs. Australia match, where the home team might end up in the record books for an outcome they'd rather steer clear of.
Wales has suffered defeat in 10 consecutive Test matches, and if they fall to the Wallabies today, it will mark their longest streak without a victory. Just last weekend, they lost to Fiji, which was a historic win for Fiji in Cardiff. This weekend, they are up against an upbeat Australian team that is coming off a victory over England.
The home team is facing a couple of injuries today. Mason Grady had to leave last weekend’s game due to an injury, and his ankle problem will keep him from playing this afternoon. Additionally, Tomos Williams has also been deemed unavailable.
There’s an unexpected player sitting out in the Australia squad, and we’ll explore that shortly since the team updates are already out. We’ll also review the comments made in the lead-up to the match before it starts at 4:10 PM GMT.
