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.
Scotland 26-12 Japan, 61 minutes
Scotland carry well inside the 22 having failed to set something more structured from the lineout. They draw another penalty, and Scotland tap-and-go quickly!
Scotland 26-12 Japan, 59 minutes
This time the arm is pointed Scotland’s way! Kazuki Himeno is isolated and chopped down by the busy McNally, and two Scottish jackalers like what they find among the carrion - Himeno is penalised for holding on. Scotland kick for the right corner.
Scotland 26-12 Japan, 58 minutes
Big double tackle and Stuart McNally fumbles! The hooker’s third touch isn’t quite as good as his first two as Japan cr-unch him in the carry and force the ball free.
Japan will attack, as they have done all afternoon, from deep in their own territory...
And Pierre Schoeman is pinged to allow them to clear in comfort and keep the ball.
Scotland 26-12 Japan, 56 minutes
Ali Price has kicked rather well this afternoon, putting one perfectly on the head on the Japanese catcher who is given a muscular embrace by three chasers as he comes back to earth. His offload is unwise, Scotland gather and Finn Russell pushes a perfect kick for the corner with his weaker left-foot. Scotland lineout inside the Japan 22.
TRY! SCOTLAND 26-12 Japan (Stuart McNally try, 55 minutes)
And his second job will be scoring! A meaty maul, some fine guidance from the rear by the replacement hooker and with Zander Fagerson and Hamish Watson clearing the way in front of him, McNally is able to make safe progress to within scoring distance. He crashes over, Finn Russell’s converts, and that will just steady any nervy Scots after the Japan fightback.
Scotland 19-12 Japan, 53 minutes
A brief delay while referee Brendon Pickerill again stabilises the scrum and Jamie Bhatti will soon be back with us.
In fact, it may be properly soon as Scotland are awarded a penalty for offside and the clock runs out on the sin-binning.
Finn Russell pokes it for the corner and here come the cavalry, Bhatti back on, Hamish Watson too, and Stuart McNally replacing George Turner at hooker. McNally’s first job will be to find a hoisted teammate at the five metre lineout...
Scotland 19-12 Japan, 50 minutes
Instability on the engage and a free kick to Scotland, which Finn Russell is going to boot as high as he possibly can and ask his teammates to chase...
Knocked on! Kazuki Himeno fails to catch cleanly and Scotland will have possession just outside the Japan 22.
Scotland 19-12 Japan, 48 minutes
Scotland play some aimless midfield phases but Jamie Ritchie regathers some momentum as he steps free of a tackle attempt with a great lift of his long left leg, and producing a rather nice one-handed offload as he falls to the floor.
That is knocked on by Japan, on the line of being deliberate but ruled to be in the tackle, and thus just a Scottish scrum.
That decision will necessitate the introduction of a new loosehead with Jamie Bhatti still in the bin. Hamish Watson is sacrificed so Pierre Schoeman, with his flopping locks of long brown and blonde hair, can provide suitable propping cover.
PENALTY! Scotland 19-12 JAPAN (Rikiya Matsuda penalty, 46 minutes)
Three more to the tally of Rikiya Matsuda. Japan very much in this contest.
Scotland 19-9 Japan, 45 minutes
Stuart Hogg drags Millar down but Scotland are then offside as Yutaka Nagare looks to exploit an inviting overlap on the right. Japan poke through, and Kotaro Matsushima is on to it!
He’s dragged down just short and his offload ends up in...Scottish hands! The tackler had bounced back to their feet and managed to clutch Matsushima’s pass before a teammate could arrive to support the winger - a vital moment for Scotland, for otherwise that was a certain score, but Japan will have another penalty to kick for goal.
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