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Wales 20-52 Australia: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – live reaction

Wales 20-52 Australia: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – live reaction

Key events

A lot of fans on social media calling for change in the Wales coaching ranks. What do you think? You can email me your thoughts.

Wales’ Dewi Lake told TNT Sports: “We know people at home are disappointed, we feel the same. We don’t come out to lose games. We are giving everything. We want to win as a group.”

Just to note, every red is not automatically a 20 minute red card during this trial of the law in the Autumn Nations Series. Referees are still able to reduce teams to 14 for the entire match. It comes down to a case-by-case basis. Samu Kerevi will still face a possible ban also.

Dan Biggar says on TNT Sports that a change in coach won’t suddenly turn around results for Wales. Sam Warburton adds it’s more a problem of a lack of quality players available.

The last team to put 52 points on Wales at the Principality was South Africa last August, they are Wales next opposition and it seems like an impossible task for Gatland’s men to overcome the world champions.

Player of the match Tom Wright told TNT Sports: “That was an awesome 80 minute performance… They are games you want to be a part of, so much ball in play. Putting back-to-back performances is huge to us, something we have struggled with in recent times.”

Also a word for how well Australia handled their 20 minute red card. They scored three tries in that period and they absolutely demolished Wales’ momentum they had garnered from the first half. I thought the red card might see Wales complete the comeback but not to be.

Fans boo the team as the full time whistle goes. The most amount of points Australia have put on Wales in Cardiff. The Gatland dynasty is crumbling around him.

Full time: Wales 20-52 Australia

11 games without a win. Wales’ longest losing streak in history. They have one more game in 2024 and it comes against world champions South Africa. Wales have not lost every game in a calendar year since 1937. Bleak times for Welsh rugby and this result will only add to questions over Warren Gatland’s future.

It’s a slick move from the full-back, he is on fire right now. Warren Gatland looks dumbfounded.

TRY! Wales 20-52 Australia (Wright, 81)

Wright has a hat-trick too. Player of the match.

79 min: Wales are on the hunt for a consolation score here.

76 min: I don’t think I have ever see the green of seats in the bottom tier of the Principality before. But supporters are making their feelings of this performance known. Wales were right in the mix until Australia killed them off when weathering the 20 minute red.

CONVERSION! Wales 20-47 Australia (Lolesio)

Intially thought he had missed that but it’s over. Fans are pouring out of the stadium. Hundreds heading for the exit.

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Some great carries in the build-up to that score, Ikitau finishing off perfectly. Wales look exhausted.

TRY! Wales 20-45 Wales (Ikitau, 75)

Australia have never scored this many points in Cardiff before.

Blimey. Len Ikitau scores again for Australia. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
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74 min: An Australian scrum is clean and Kellaway kicks upfield by Winnett is there to call the mark. It doesn’t go into touch though and Australia are immediately on the attack again.

73 min: Australia’s lineout is stolen and Wales kick clear. The Wallabies pick it up and Llewellyn almost intercepts to score but he knocks on. That would have been quite the try.

72 min: Here comes Australia with a lovely chip by Wright and he almost gets on the end of it but Murray comes to mop up the ball.

71 min: Is there enough time for Wales to fight back here? Rugby has seen stranger things happen. If they are the next to score and do it quickly it’ll be a slightly different story. 56,188 fans in the stadium today, surprisingly less than last week.

CONVERSION! Wales 20-40 Australia (Costelow, 69)

It’s over.

A tap and go from the latest penalty sees one or two passes and Thomas is over.

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TRY! Wales 18-40 Wales (B Thomas, 68)

A great powerful line from Thomas.

68 min: We come back for the earlier advantage and surely the referee is going to be warning Australia soon. There is it, it’s like he read my mind.

68 min: Another good lineout for Wales and they are a few metres closer. They earn an advantage and go through the phases.

67 min: Another lineout for Elias, this time it is good. They form a maul and Australia cough up a penalty. Wales go to the corner again.

66 min: Possession exchanges hands but Wales are the next to get some attacking phases. Williams puts boot to ball but we come back for an advantage, Wales kick to the corner.

64 min: The lineout isn’t good and Australia steal it, an awful few minutes for replacement hooker Elias at the set piece.

63 min: What a kick from Williams, who secures a 50:22. A lovely bit of skill. Suaalii is on for the Wallabies as Kerevi’s replacement as the 20 minute red card time is up.

62 min: The tackle is right on the line but it is on the right side of safe. The replay showed as much, Wales heading for their worst losing run ever.

CONVERSION! Wales 13-40 Australia (Lolesio, 61)

Huge kick.

Noah Lolesio knocks over the conversion. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images
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I think they did review a tackle from Valetini as it looked like head contact but it has been cleared so the try stands.

Wright nabs the ball from the Wales attacking line and he runs 50 plus metres to score.

TRY! Wales 13-38 Australia (Wright, 61)

Oh my.

Tom Wright scores again for a dominant Australia. Photograph: Rui Vieira/AP
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60 min: Australia steal the lineout and they clear, a huge moment.

59 min: Can Wales maul over here? Well we wait with baited breath as Australia make changes with Gleeson and Paenga-Amos on.

59 min: Wales win a scrum penalty and they kick to the corner. Pressure is ramping up here.

59 min: Australia have the scrum and it’s clean but McDermott’s pass doesn’t go to hand and so Wales now have a scrum in a good position. A scrappy old game. Williams is also on for Bevan.

NO TRY! Wales 13-33 Australia

Ah it was a forward pass. There was a wild throw but Botham seemed to pick it up with one hand without knocking on. But it has been ruled out.

TRY! Wales 18-33 Australia (Botham, 57)

They are checking this but if he has scored that it is insane.

57 min: Thomas has a great run as Wales are on the hunt once again.

55 min: Rogers is off, why Gatland is taking him off I don’t know, for James and Costelow is also on for Anscombe.

55 min: The lineout is not good from Wales but Morgan manages to rescue the loose ball. The men in red go on the hunt for a try, and boy do they need one. But it won’t come just yet as Anscombe is wrestled into touch.

55 min: Australia have scored two tries since being down to 14 men, what incredible rugby from the visitors. The referee’s whistle blows but it is Australia who are pinged this time. Wales now install a completely new front row.

CONVERSION! Wales 13-33 Australia (Lolesio, 54)

It’s over.

That maul is deadly from Australia. They make a good few metres and then Faessler breaks away to power over. Amazing game management from the Wallabies.

TRY! Wales 13-31 Australia (Faessler, 53)

He has a hat-trick.

Matt Faessler extends the Australian lead. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images/Reuters
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52 min: Wales give away yet another penalty, we play on for a few phases but we come back to it. The Wallabies kick to the corner.

51 min: We saw last week, where Fiji had a 20 minute red with Semi Radradra, that it doesn’t mean a team will lose with Fiji coming away with the win. Australia are doing really well to weather the storm of only having 14 on the pitch right now. They are now into Wales’ 22.

50 min: So a 20 minute red card means Kerevi is not allowed to re-enter the game. But 20 minutes after he first left the pitch, Australia will be able to replace him with another player. Back to play Wales gives away another penalty and Australia kick upfield. So many penalties from the hosts.

RED CARD! Wales 13-26 Australia (Kerevi, 49)

It has been upgraded to a red card. I think this will be a 20 minute red though. I’ll explain that shortly.

Samu Kerevi has been given a red card for this high tackle on Jac Morgan. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images
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CONVERSION! Wales 13-26 Australia (Lolesio, 48)

What a kick!

A perfectly executed maul by Australia, a lovely move.

TRY! Wales 13-24 Australia (Faessler, 48)

Lineout. Maul. Try.

47 min: Bevan comes charging in at a ruck and there is shoulder on head contact with White. The referee judges it to be a penalty only as there’s a lot degree of danger. A contentious one. White is now off for a HIA with McDermott on.

47 min: Wales are really starting to wrack up the penalties now as they give another one away and we come back to it. There’s a break in play as there is potential foul play on White.

47 min: Australia kick to the corner but they don’t gain much advantage. The lineout is good and they opt for a maul once again. They make good metres before shifting to phases.