Fullback Tom Wright scores against Wales. Image: Rugby Australia
The Wallabies’ 52-20 win over Wales in Cardiff on the weekend has kept their Grand Slam (or unbeaten UK Test tour) hopes on track.
The Joe Schmidt-coach side were able to rally despite the loss of centre Samu Kerevi to an upgraded red card.
The Wallabies started from where they left off against England when fullback Tom Wright beat defenders to score close to the line.
He was followed by lock Nick Frost when he was unleashed into space for a 50 metre run to the line.
A Matt Faessler try off the back of a rolling maul had the Wallabies up 19-0 before Welsh No. 8 Aaron Wainwright scored a try next to the posts. 19-7.
Two Gareth Anscombe penalty goals had them back in the contest as the Wallabies scrambled to hold on; Australia led 19-13 at the break.
Kerevi’s 50th Test ended on a sour note when he was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Welsh flanker Zac Morgan in the second half only to have the card upgraded to red upon review.
The card only spurred the Wallabies on as hooker Matt Faessler crossed for a hat-trick, the first by a Wallabies hooker and all of them off a rolling maul.
An intercept to Wright gave him his second try of the night and centre Len Ikitau capped off the night for the Wallabies with a try to sentence Wales to their 11th straight defeat, a record for coach Warren Gatland’s side.
“I think the banana skin got pretty slippery coming toward half-time at 19-13. I was thinking after the 19-0 start that we were hitting our rhythm with a couple of great tries,” Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said.
“It looked like that was going pretty well in the first quarter, but unfortunately that changed.
“The one thing that didn’t change is the support we’re starting to pick up. Coming out of the hotel to come down here, the support that’s lined up…even in the stadium we could hear it.”
“There’s enough yellow around to really inspire the boys and that’s exciting for them because I think we’re trying to reciprocate the enthusiasm they’re giving us. I think there was some good enthusiasm out there.”
- Meanwhile, an Australia XV rounded out their two-game UK Tour with a 38-17 loss to England A at Twickenham Stoop on the weekend. Australia conceded four tries (20 points) in the final 22 minutes despite the efforts of Test flanker Luke Reimer with his try and three turnovers of possession.
