Wales 34-39 Australia
Date:
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Attendance: 67,401
Wales v Australia Match Reports
Australia staged an impressive fightback to beat Wales 39-34 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The visitors scored an early penalty, but Wales built a commanding lead with first-half tries from Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau. The Wallabies managed to stay in touch when Folau Fainga'a scored five minutes before halftime. After the break, Wales extended their lead to 21-points when Morgan scored his second try and Rio Dyer crossed. Man-of-the-match Mark Nawaqanitawase started the comeback when he scored two tries in a 10-minute period. Justin Tipuric received a yellow card for a professional foul during that same period, which reduced Wales to 14-men at a crucial time. The momentum was now with the Wallabies and they completed the job when Lachlan Lonergan crossed in the 78th minute. A selection of match reports is listed below:
- Autumn Internationals: Australia's stunning comeback leaves Wayne Pivac's Wales future in severe doubt
- BBC: Wayne Pivac's future in doubt after Wallabies fightback
- Guardian: Australia overturn 21-point deficit to complete wild comeback over Wales
- Daily Mail: Pressure mounts on Wayne Pivac as home side suffer humiliating collapse against the Wallabies despite tries from Jac Morgan, Taulupe Faletau and Rio Dyer
- Sky Sports: Wallabies come from 21 points behind to stage second-half comeback in Cardiff
- Wales Online: Wayne Pivac's men throw away huge lead in unbelievable fashion
- WRU: Wallabies stun Wales with remarkable comeback
Wales v Australia - Match Highlights
Wales v Australia - Match Stats
Wales (20) 34
Try: Morgan (10', 47'), Faletau (22'), Dyer (52')
Conversion: Anscombe (11', 23', 48', 53')
Penalty: Anscombe (19', 28')
Australia (13) 39
Try: Fainga'a (34'), Nawaqanitawase (58', 68'), Penalty Try (74'), Lonergan (78')
Conversion: Donaldson (35'), Lolesio (69', 80')
Penalty: Donaldson (4', 15')
Man of the match: Mark Nawaqanitawase (Australia)
Wales v Australia - Team Line-ups
Wales Team
Forwards
- 1 Gareth Thomas
- 2 Ken Owens
- 3 Dillon Lewis
- 4 Adam Beard
- 5 Alun Wyn Jones
- 6 Jac Morgan
- 7 Justin Tipuric (Captain)
- 8 Taulupe Faletau
Backs
- 9 Tomos Williams
- 10 Gareth Anscombe
- 11 Rio Dyer
- 12 Joe Hawkins
- 13 George North
- 14 Alex Cuthbert
- 15 Josh Adams
Replacements
- 16 Ryan Elias
- 17 Rhodri Jones
- 18 Tomas Francis
- 19 Ben Carter
- 20 Josh Macleod
- 21 Kieran Hardy
- 22 Rhys Priestland
- 23 Sam Costelow
Australia Team
Forwards
- 1 James Slipper (Captain)
- 2 Folau Fainga'a
- 3 Allan Alaalatoa
- 4 Nick Frost
- 5 Cadeyrn Neville
- 6 Jed Holloway
- 7 Fraser McReight
- 8 Langi Gleeson
Backs
- 9 Jake Gordon
- 10 Ben Donaldson
- 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase
- 12 Reece Hodge
- 13 Len Ikitau
- 14 Jordan Petaia
- 15 Tom Wright
Replacements
- 16 Lachlan Lonergan
- 17 Tom Robertson
- 18 Sam Talakai
- 19 Ned Hanigan
- 20 Pete Samu
- 21 Tate McDermott
- 22 Noah Lolesio
- 23 Jock Campbell