Australia v Wales LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Wallabies end losing run with victory in Sydney
Warren Gatland’s struggling Wales side fell to the Wallabies in Sydney despite showing signs of progress
Wales suffered defeat to Australia in Sydney this morning in the first of two summer international Tests against the Wallabies.
Warren Gatland’s side had gone into the game on the back of seven straight defeats, having lost all of their matches at the Six Nations earlier this year and then falling to a 41-13 defeat at the hands of South Africa in June, and were unable to buck the trend against Australia.
In the first half their issues were rooted in the set pieces, and they struggled to make inroads in the scrum, but in the second it started to look a bit more frantic and they couldn’t find a way through the Australia line.
For the Wallabies, new head coach Joe Schmidt led them to victory having taken over after Eddie Jones led them to a humiliating elimination at the pool stage of the 2023 World Cup.
Both of these sides faced off in that tournament, with Wales running out 40-6 victors in September, though injuries and retirements mean that this time round, Gatland’s squad is weaker than he’d have liked heading into the tour.
Follow all the latest updates and reaction during the first test below, as well as all the reaction to New Zealand v England:
Australia 13-10 Wales, 27 minutes
There is a hold up as Australia were preparing to take a penalty. It looks like there was a tackle on the lower leg, Plumtree was tacked in the leg, but it has been judged as thigh, and the game will continue.
Penalty try! Australia 13-10 Wales, 26 minutes
Penalty try: This game has completely turned on its head.
Despite being a player down in the forwards, Wales won three penalties in a row and drove the ball over the line with a strong maul to take the penalty try!
Australia have also been shown a yellow card of their own, and have not looked the same since scoring their first try.
Australia 13-3 Wales, 25 minutes
Ben Thomas had a probing chip through just hoping someone could get on the end of it.
There is a check to see if there was a touch before Dyer swooped onto the loose ball, and he did, so the ball will go back to Wales for an earlier penalty.
Australia 13-3 Wales, 23 minutes
Wales have a penalty and Thomas has kicked the ball into touch after a yellow card was shown in the aftermath of the try.
The advantage is with Wales, who are being pushed back in the maul, and Dyer pounced on a loose ball over the line. This will be checked!
Conversion! Australia 13-3 Wales, 22 minutes
Lolesio had missed a kick earlier, but makes no mistakes from that one, it was close to the posts, and the Wallabies are now in a healthy lead against Wales.
Try! Australia 11-3 Wales, 20 minutes
Wales have yet to make it into Australia’s 22, while the Wallabies break in for the third time in the match.
They are trying to drive the ball over the line, but Wales are just about pegging them back as they creep closer.
And they make it! Taniela Tupou scores his 7th try for the nation as he kept low to fall just over the line.
Australia 6-3 Wales, 18 minutes
An offiside call gives Wales the advantage, and more importantly a chance to breathe after an impressive passage of play for Australia.
Slipper is down for the Wallabies and receiving treatment, but he is okay to continue.
Australia 6-3 Wales, 16 minutes
The Wallabies have another penalty for offside, and it’s a good kick to gain around 40 yards for the line out.
Australia have just dominated physically a bit in these early stages.
Wales conceded 15 penalties against South Africa a couple of weeks ago and is the same thing happening here?
Australia 6-3 Wales, 14 minutes
Penalty: Lolesio has another chance, and this one goes straight through the posts!
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