Wales vs Australia LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as hosts booed off after record defeat
Wales 20-52 Australia: Warren Gatland’s hosts fell to an 11th successive defeat as Australia racked up a record score in Cardiff
Australia hooker Matt Faessler and fullback Tom Wright both scored a hat-trick of tries as the Wallabies thrashed a tired-looking Wales 52-20 to condemn the home side to their worst run of results.
It was an unprecedented 11th successive defeat for Wales, who last won at the World Cup 13 months ago, and the result will add significant pressure onto veteran coach Warren Gatland, whose tenure had already been under scrutiny.
Australia, who had a poor run of results themselves this year, continued their upturn in fortunes as they won a second successive test after last weekend’s 42-37 victory over England, with lock Nick Frost and centre Len Ikitau also scoring tries and Noah Lolesio kicking six conversions.
Wales’ points came from tries from Aaron Wainwright and Ben Thomas and eight from the boot of flyhalf Gareth Anscombe and a Sam Costelow conversion.
Follow all of the latest from the Principality Stadium in our live blog below:
TRY! Wales 20-47 Australia (Ikitau)
75 mins: Australia are cruising to victory - and a record-breaking win at that for the Wallabies in Cardiff. Len Ikitau has the freedom of the Principality and side-steps his way to the line for Australia’s seventh try of the night, in front of a stunned home crowd.
47 points for Australia - their most ever against Wales away from home.
Wales 20-40 Australia
72 mins: Lolesio goes for the chip and run through the middle but Wales can clear up. At the other end, Wales knock on and Australia will reset from the scrum.
TRY! Wales 20-40 Australia
68 mins: Wales do indeed get the score their overall play has deserved in the second half. A nice line from Ben Thomas, who crosses between the posts. A simple try after good pressure, and a clever pass from James Botham.
Wales 13-40 Australia
66 mins: Wales conceded three tries in a 10-minute spell in the first half. They then conceded three tries against 14 men at the start of the second half. There’s been spirit before and after those runs, but it’s not going to be enough. Still, the hosts continue to push for another try.
Wales 13-40 Australia
63 mins: Australia are back up to their full number. There are groans as Wales lose another ball from the lineout.
TRY! Wales 13-40 Australia (Wright)
60 mins: That could be the end of the Wales fightback! The hosts were throwing everything at the 14 gold shirts, to no avail. Eventually, Ben Thomas’ pass is picked off by Tom Wright, who runs from halfway to score his second try of the day.
Australia are up to 40.
Wales 13-33 Australia
59 mins: A sensational one-handed catch from Lukhan Salakaia-Loto frustrates Wales at the lineout. The big man plucks the oval from the sky as if it’s a tennis ball.
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.
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