Two hat-tricks as Wallabies rout wobbly Wales

MATCH REPORT: Australia handed Wales their 11th straight loss the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday.

Tom Wright and Matt Faessler both scored a hat-trick of tries, as the Wallabies routed the Welsh 52-20 – consigning Warren Gatland’s team to a national record of 11 consecutive Test losses.

The result kept Australia, however, on track to emulate the 1984 Grand Slam-winning Wallaby tourists who swept past all four home nations, after their impressive opening 42-37 victory over England and with Tests against Scotland and Ireland to come.

But the defeat will only increase speculation about Gatland’s future.

The New Zealander has just six wins from 23 Tests in his second stint as Wales coach.

The team now has to regroup before playing double world champions South Africa next week on a six-day turnaround.

A loss to the Springboks would mean a calendar year without a victory for Wales, something that last happened in 1937.

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“That was an awesome 80-minute performance,” said man of the match Wright.

“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.”

Wales prop Gareth Thomas admitted his team failed to live up to their planning.

“When we were training in the week we looked sharp, there was a real confidence in the group. Soon as there was a bit of pressure on us we weren’t good enough,” he said.

Tom Rogers was on hand to deprive Samu Kerevi of a try in his 50th Test after Wright and Max Jorgensen combined with smart offloads that cut the Welsh defence to ribbons.

Wright then showed a clean pair of heels down the right wing, stepping inside Blair Murray with ease for the opening try of the game.

Gatland could be seen grimacing at the defensive lapse and things quickly worsened.

Nick Frost crossed for Australia’s second just minutes later, the lock galloping in from 50 metres.

Noah Lolesio converted but spurned a penalty shot after Wales fullback Cam Winnett was caught in possession after the restart to go for the corner.

A second penalty saw Australian persistence rewarded as Faessler was driven over from a rolling maul off an attacking line-out with the visitors in total ascendancy, 19-0 up after 22 minutes.

Wright knocked on from the kick-off, handing Wales a rare visit into the Wallaby half, to the delight of the 56,188 crowd at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, well down on the 74,000 capacity.

The home side made it pay, No.8 Aaron Wainwright crashing over on a short ball for a try converted by Gareth Anscombe.

Then followed a passage of play controlled by Wales, their domination resulting in two Anscombe penalties that suddenly saw the Welsh back within six points going into half-time.

Can find the line 🔥#Wallabies #AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/Lj2ttPTh2a

— Wallabies (@wallabies) November 17, 2024

Toothless

Australia enjoyed the worst possible start to the second period when Kerevi was yellow carded by New Zealand referee James Doleman for a high, head-on-head tackle on Jac Morgan.

That card was upgraded to red as there were no mitigating factors, although Kerevi was replaced after 20 minutes under new laws World Rugby are trialling.

The question then was whether Wales could capitalise on their numerical advantage, something they failed to do in their 24-19 loss to Fiji last week.

They failed again, Lolesio again going to the corner with an offside penalty, Faessler driven over from the resulting maul for his second try of the game.

There was deja vu just minutes later after Wales skipper Dewi Lake was penalised: Lolesio kicked to the corner and Faessler was on hand to peel off a maul and plough through Ben Thomas’ tackle for his hat-trick of tries.

Lolesio made no mistake with the extras and suddenly Australia were 33-13 up despite Kerevi warming the bench.

Wales looked increasingly toothless in attack, a raft of replacements disrupting any continuity they might have had, notably at the line-out where replacement Ryan Elias failed to find his mark on a number of occasions.

And Wright grabbed an interception try off a Sam Costelow pass for an easy run-in.

Rugby League convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii made his entry on 62 minutes as Kerevi’s replacement, Australia having notched up three converted tries while down to 14 men.

Wales hit back with a Ben Thomas try, Costelow converting, but the Wallabies had the final word as first Len Ikitau outstepped Winnett and player-of-the-match Wright scored his third and Australia’s eighth of a one-sided match.

Man of the match: Very few Welsh are worthy. Flank Jack Morgan made an incredible 27 tackles. Matt Faessler made plenty of carries and was rewarded for his work with a hat-trick. Our award goes to Wallaby fullback Tom Wright, who scored a hat-trick and made more than 200 metres with his carries.

Moment of the match: For a long period – from minutes 33 to 48 – Wales were within one score of the Wallabies. However, the second of Matt Faessler’s three tries – ended any hope Wales had of a comeback.

Villain: This is easy. It is Australian centre Samu Kerevi, who was rightfully red-cared for his dangerous head-on-head tackle of an opponent.

The scorers

For Wales
Tries: Wainwright, Thomas
Cons: Anscombe, Costelow
Pens: Anscombe 2

For Australia
Tries: Wright 3, Frost, Faessler 3, Ikitau
Cons: Lolesio 6

Red card: Samu Kerevi (Australia, 42 – foul play, head-on-head tackle)

Teams:

Wales: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Ellis Bevan, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jack Morgan, 6 James Botham, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Eddie James

Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) & Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)