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:
Warren Gatland ‘didn’t think there’d be this much pain’ in Wales rebuild process
Warren Gatland says he would probably head to the beach with a glass of wine “away from some of the pressure” if it was decided he should not continue in his role as Wales head coach.
Wales have lost their last 10 Test matches and are without a Test win since the 2023 World Cup.
Defeat against in-form Autumn Nations Series opponents Australia would inflict a record run of bad results on them, eclipsing the current sequence and that of 2002 and 2003 under Gatland’s fellow New Zealander Steve Hansen.
Warren Gatland ‘didn’t think there’d be this much pain’ in Wales rebuild process
Wales are without a Test victory since the 2023 World Cup.
Wales vs Australia LIVE
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s LIVE coverage of the Autumn Nations Series clash between Wales and Australia.
Warren Gatland’s hosts are in desperate need of a win, Wales still without a victory in 2024 and bidding to avoid the ignominy of a worst losing run in the side’s history. Can they end their streak against a Wallabies team riding high after a thrilling win over England?
Kick off is at 4.10pm GMT.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments