Wales vs Australia LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as hosts booed off after record defeat

Wales suffered a record 11th successive Test match defeat as Australia demolished them 52-20 in Cardiff and ramped up the pressure on head coach Warren Gatland.

Wales fell to an all-time results low in their 143-year international rugby history, and Gatland has now presided over 17 losses from 23 Tests during his second stint at the helm.

Australia overcame a 20-minute red card for centre Samu Kerevi as hooker Matt Faessler and full-back Tom Wright each scored a hat-trick of tries, while lock Nick Frost and centre Len Ikitau also claimed touchdowns, with fly-half Noah Lolesio landing six conversions.

Wales briefly fought back from an alarming early 19-point deficit through an Aaron Wainwright try, plus two Gareth Anscombe penalties and a conversion, with centre Ben Thomas scoring a late try that Sam Costelow converted, but there was no escaping another comprehensive setback.

Wales captain Dewi Lake after an 11th consecutive defeat: “We feel the same as everyone does at home.

“We’re disappointed with the run that we’re on, with the result today. We want to win games; we train hard, we work hard to win games, but we’re not there yet.

“I don’t think anything needs to change, we just need to click. In key moments in that game, half-time we were six points down, we went into the half with the momentum and came out thinking we’re in this game. One try and we would’ve been ahead, but the game got away.

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel here, we just need to take our points.”

Warren Gatland says he will talk with his family and make a decision on his future, after admitting Wales’ run of defeats is his most challenging period in his coaching career.

He told TNT Sports: “It’s the most challenging time I’ve ever known as a coach and what will be, will be. I will chat to a few people as to what happens from here.

“I am passionate about Welsh rugby but there’s a lot of negativity around the game right now and we want to make sure what happens is the best for Welsh rugby, not about me. I will respect the decision.

“It hurts. We got ourselves back into the game. But to me, we’re a man up and conceded three tries - 21 points - that’s really disappointing.

“From our point of view, we had a chance to put them under pressure, we probably just forced things - some turnovers, some penalties, so that was disappointing.

“I felt we had the chance to get ourselves back into it and kind of just shot ourselves in the foot.”

The conversation around Warren Gatland kicks off as Dan Biggar questions whether it’s time for a change at the top.

The former fly-half says on TNT Sports: “You do wonder when is enough enough? But would changing the head coach going to make this team better and suddenly go and win games?

“We are down to 11th in the world and have South Africa and France to face next, so the question on everyone’s lips is when does the run stop?

“A change in head coach wouldn’t harm things because they can’t be worse.”

Player of the match Tom Wright, speaking to TNT Sports. He’s very gracious, despite a 52-20 win.

“That was an awesome 80-minute performance,” he says. “Ebbs and flows, we gave a lot of momentum to Wales at stages, we made it difficult for ourselves, but those are games you like to be a part of.

“There was a lot of ball in play, Wales were really up for the content and really made us earn all those points.”

No punches pulled from Dan Biggar, speaking to TNT Sports.

“It’s eight tries with a 20-minute red card. They looked like a team bereft of ideas at the end, the confidence looks shot. I don’t know where they go from here, with South Africa next week and France away at the start of the Six Nations.”

Sam Warburton, another former Wales captain, adds: “This is where Wales are at the minute. Welsh fans have to realise we are in a dark place and it might take a while to get out of it.”

Plenty of ashen-faced, shell-shocked Wales players struggling to come to terms with this. This is a new low.

Boos at the Principality. An 11th defeat in a row for Wales. A record win for Australia in Cardiff. Remarkable scoreline.

Speaking of, Tom Wright races away to complete his hat-trick and add a further blow to Wales and Warren Gatland! You thought it couldn’t get worse, but Wales fall apart defensively and Wright crosses for his third try.

52 points for Australia.

79 mins: A bleak day for Wales, who will dominate the headlines. But Australia are looking like themselves again - plenty of excitement for the Wallabies.