Wales vs Australia LIVE: Rugby result, final score and Autumn Nations Series 2021 reaction
The hosts prevailed on a dramatic night at the Principality Stadium thanks to Rhys Priestland’s late penalty
Wales‘ Rhys Priestland kicked a penalty after the hooter as the hosts poured more misery on Australia with a 29-28 victory at the Principality Stadium on Saturday following an early red card for visiting number eight Rob Valetini.
Valetini became the fifth player to see red against Wales in the last 12 months but could have few complaints after his dangerous tackle on lock Adam Beard after 14 minutes resulted in a clash of heads.
Hooker Ryan Elias and centre Nick Tompkins scored tries for the home side, who failed to drive home their numerical advantage and were seconds away from losing before they were awarded an offside penalty in the last play of the game.
Australia, who have lost all three matches on their tour after defeats by Scotland and England, scored tries through wings Andrew Kellaway and Filipo Daugunu, plus scrumhalf Nic White but, having highlighted the need to improve their discipline in the week, let themselves down again.
TRY! ENGLAND 24-18 South Africa (Raffi Quirke try, 66 minutes)
Twickenham erupts! England are back ahead! It’s Raffi Quirke!
It’s a delightful attacking play. Good lineout ball is fizzed out with a perfect pass from the scrum half to Henry Slade, who sets the defence with a charge and then releases a blind pass with perfect timing for Joe Marchant to rush on to.
Marchant charges through the chasm, draws the last defender and puts in Quirke on the cheat line to score! Marcus Smith adds the two - England have been comfortably out-played in this second half but are back in front.
PENALTY! England 17-18 SOUTH AFRICA (Elton Jantjies penalty, 63 minutes)
South Africa lead for the first time...
England 17-15 South Africa, 63 minutes
No penalty! Andrew Brace is happy that Ewels is not at fault, believing that Etzebeth tumbled into him having been taken at the ankles, and it will just be the previous penalty for which South Africa will head.
Elton Jantjies has taken over kicking duties
England 17-15 South Africa, 62 minutes
Another penalty against England, and a warning for Courtney Lawes as a South African player receives treatment...
And that would be why! A stray arm to the face from Charlie Ewels as Eben Etzebeth topples over and TMO Brian MacNeice would like to check this...
England 17-15 South Africa, 60 minutes
Twickenham says hello, Dolly, as Leicester hooker Nic makes his debut in Jamie Blamire’s stead. Charlie Ewels arrives too.
South Africa try a drop-goal from England’s goalline drop out but it flies wide.
But momentum remains with the Springboks - Raffi Quirke is charged down by the enormous Eben Etzebeth’s long forearms and South Africa win a penalty at the breakdown, which is kicked for the right corner.
Held up! England 17-15 South Africa, 59 minutes
Remarkable defence from England! It’s Max Malins again! South Africa maul to within inches but are somehow just short, and then Kwagga Smith lunches for the line, but is somehow held up by Malins, turtling the South African flanker and keeping the ball from brushing the in-goal grass - a goalline drop out for England and they survive!
England 17-15 South Africa, 58 minutes
South Africa are nearly in, and is there a card coming here? Good play down the left from Malcolm Marx sees him power through a tackle and draw another defender, and his infield offload nearly puts Cobus Reinach away.
Max Malins somehow gets to him and disrupts the offload, too, but is the wing off his feet? He looks to be, but the officials are happy with a penalty only, which South Africa poke for the corner...
England 17-15 South Africa, 57 minutes
A proper mauling from South Africa! England are forced to haul down the rumbling mass as it gathers momentum towards the left corner.
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