Wales vs Australia LIVE rugby: Latest updates as hosts trail 14-man Wallabies while record defeat looms
Warren Gatland’s hosts are hoping to avoid an 11th successive defeat
Wales must avoid defeat against Australia to spare themselves from their worst losing run in history with Warren Gatland’s side still searching for a first win of 2024.
Gatland has faced calls to quit from a number of his former players as scrutiny grows on his coaching of a young side that looked short of confidence and calm against Fiji. While the New Zealander would appear to retain the backing of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), the prospect of a winless year is a real one with only South Africa to come after this fixture
The Wallabies secured a 2-0 series victory when these two met on Australian soil in July and are bouncing in to Cardiff on the back of a helter-skelter win against England in their Autumn Nations Series opener. Joe Schmidt is a familiar foe of Gatland’s from his time with Ireland and has freshened up his side as he looks to prolong the pain for his old rival.
Follow all of the latest from the Principality Stadium in our live blog below:
NO TRY! Wales 13-33 Australia
57 mins: Wales think they’ve scored a stunning try as James Botham scoops up the bouncing ball and fends off the Australia defender to make it to the line.
But it comes back as Blair Murray’s pass, thrown in desperation as the attack broke down, is ruled to have been forward. It was.
Wales 13-33 Australia
55 mins: Wales are not able to be as clinical as Australia from the lineout, as Australia hold the hosts at bay and regain possession. There’s a raft of changes for Wales, Rhodri Williams and Eddie James among them.
TRY! Wales 13-33 Australia (Faessler)
54 mins: They can! And it’s getting ugly for Wales again as Matt Faessler completes a hat-trick! It again comes from the line-out, as Faessler finds the impressive Rob Valetini.
Faessler again pops up to score his third of the day - and Lolesio adds the conversion.
Wales 13-26 Australia
52 mins; Australia have upped it since going down to 14 men. They’ve returned to the corner after drawing another penalty. With two tries already, can they plunder another from the set-piece?
TRY! Wales 13-26 Australia (Faessler)
47 mins: Australia go back to the playback and score the same try from the lineout as they did in the first half, as Matt Faessler joins the maul and bundles over to halt Wales’ momentum.
Noah Lolesio stretches their lead to 13 points - but Samu Kerevi is off! It’s a red card for Australia after the TMO bunker review.
Wales 13-19 Australia
47 mins; Wales have not been able to get anything going against the 14-men of Australia. Now there’s another TMO review as Ellis Bevan flies into the ruck off the ball, with contact around the chin. Bevan had his arms low, and seems to get away with it with only a penalty awarded.
Australia have the ball back in the corner.
Wales 13-19 Australia
45 mins: There’s another lovely take from the impressive Tom Rogers, but Wales concede another penalty in the breakdown as they looked to advance from halfway. The gold shirts advance to the corner.
Wales 13-19 Australia
42 mins: Australia are down for 14 for now and it would not be a surprise if that remained the case for until the 80. Wales look to build some momentum but concede the penalty for not releasing, inside the 22’.
YELLOW CARD! Wales 13-19 Australia
42 mins: Samu Kerevi could be in trouble here. He crunches into Jac Morgan . There’s shoulder on shoulder, but is there head on head there too? The verdict is yellow, but the bunker review is underway.
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