Wales Endures Record Defeat in Substantial Loss to Australia

Australia is scheduled to play Ireland and Scotland later this autumn, having already defeated England and Wales. Wales (13) 20 Tries: Wainwright, Thomas Con: Anscombe, Costleow Pens: Anscombe 2 Australia (19) 52 Tries: Wright 3, Frost, Faessler 3, Ikitau Cons: Lolesio 6 Wales experienced an unprecedented low in their 143-year international rugby history, suffering a record defeat against Australia in Cardiff. This significant loss is expected to intensify scrutiny on head coach Warren Gatland, who has now overseen his team’s record 11th consecutive international defeat. Australian hooker Matt Faessler and full-back Tom Wright each scored hat-tricks as part of their team’s eight-try performance. During the first half, full-back Wright, lock Nick Frost, and Faessler scored tries, establishing an early 19-0 lead for Australia. Wales countered by scoring 13 points within seven minutes, comprising a try from number eight Aaron Wainwright and points from Gareth Anscombe’s kicking. Early in the second half, Australia centre Samu Kerevi received a 20-minute red card for a high dangerous tackle on Jac Morgan. Despite having a numerical advantage, Wales once more failed to capitalise, as Australia managed to score three tries while playing with 14 men, including a double from Faessler and a second try for Wright. Cardiff centre Ben Thomas scored, but Len Ikitau and Wright also touched down, contributing to the Wallabies setting a new points record against Wales in Cardiff. Following their victory against England last weekend, Australia is scheduled to play additional matches against Scotland and Ireland this autumn. Next Saturday, world champions South Africa will arrive in Cardiff to face Wales, who aim to prevent concluding a calendar year without a victory for the first time since 1937. Less than 14 months prior, Wales achieved a record 40-6 World Cup victory in Lyon, a result that highlighted Australia’s decline under Eddie Jones. Since Gatland guided Wales to the World Cup quarter-final, his team has not secured a Test match victory for 407 days, with their last win being against Georgia in Nantes. This series of results includes three defeats by Australia, along with additional losses against Argentina, Scotland, England, Ireland, France, Italy, South Africa, and Fiji. The previous weekend, the team equalled the 10 Test losses streak established under Steve Hansen in 2002 and 2003, which included the defeat by Fiji. Now, Gatland’s squad holds a unique record for this sequence of defeats. Since assuming leadership from Wayne Pivac and commencing his second tenure as Wales boss prior to the 2023 Six Nations, Gatland has presided over six victories and 17 defeats across 23 Tests, resulting in a 26% win ratio. Furthermore, Wales has secured only one win in nine games played in Cardiff during Gatland’s second period, with no victories at their home ground, Principality Stadium, since August 2023. This year, they concluded the Six Nations at the bottom of the table for the first time since 2003 and have fallen to their lowest ever position of 11th in the world rankings. This current decline stands in sharp contrast to Gatland’s initial 12-year period, which saw the team achieve World Cup semi-final appearances, Six Nations titles, Grand Slams, and a brief stint as world number one. Gatland had faced an unprecedented week in Welsh rugby, and discussions regarding his future are now expected to escalate. He had presented himself as willing to absorb all criticism to shield his players, a role former players and pundits readily engaged with. Mike Phillips and former WRU chief executive David Moffett urged his resignation, Tom Shanklin suggested his departure if Wales conclude the calendar year winless, and Gwyn Jones alleged he was already “checking out”. Last weekend, former Wales centre Jamie Roberts, a respected pundit and non-executive independent Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) board member, criticised Gatland’s Wales team. Prior to the match, Gatland expressed disappointment with Roberts’ comments, who defended his position by asserting his opinions were fact-based. While honest discourse is generally welcomed, this situation does not convey a sense of unity from the governing body. Responsibility cannot solely be attributed to Gatland, as former Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones has questioned the actions of the WRU hierarchy in recent years. The WRU leadership is currently perceived as lacking direction, and while Gatland will appropriately face inquiries and examination, the roles of chair Richard Collier-Keywood, chief executive Abi Tierney, and executive director of rugby Nigel Walker also warrant evaluation. Against this backdrop, Wales fans attended the match with more hope than expectation, as Gatland had made four changes to the team that previously lost to Fiji. Two changes were necessitated by injuries, with scrum-half Tomos Williams and wing Mason Grady being replaced by Ellis Bevan and Tom Rogers, the latter delivering an exceptional performance. Additionally, flankers Morgan and James Botham were selected over Tommy Reffell and Taine Plumtree. The lack of experience in Wales’ backline was evident, with fly-half Gareth Anscombe possessing 13 more caps than the combined total of the other six players. Australia coach Joe Schmidt made six personnel changes from the team that defeated England, including moving promising midfield player Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the bench, despite his player-of-the-match performance at Twickenham. Kerevi, earning his 50th cap, replaced him and led the team out alongside number eight Rob Valetini. Wales encountered an early setback when lock Adam Beard was forced off due to injury and replaced by Christ Tshiunza. Subsequently, Rogers skillfully prevented Kerevi from scoring a try for the visiting team. Blair Murray, Rogers’ fellow Scarlets wing, was defensively responsible for Australia’s opening try, having missed Wright as the visiting full-back scored. Wales contributed to their own undoing when Botham dropped a pass from Rogers, leading to Jorgensen and Len Ikitau combining to set up lock Frost for a 50-metre try. The Wallabies showcased another aspect of their play when Faessler was driven over from a maul. Wales then finally launched an attack, culminating in a skillful finish from Wainwright. Anscombe converted the try and then added two penalties, reducing Wales’ deficit to six points by half-time. Kerevi initially received a yellow card for his high tackle on Morgan. For the second consecutive week, Wales did not exploit their numerical advantage, as Faessler scored his second try before Kerevi’s 20-minute red card was confirmed. Botham’s try was disallowed after a pass from Murray was judged to be forward. Subsequently, replacement fly-half Sam Costelow’s interception pass was intercepted by Wright, who scored his second try. Ikitau and Wright finalized the rout, leading many Welsh fans to depart early, while some sections of the home crowd booed at the final whistle. The attendance, just over 56,000, is also expected to be a concern for WRU bosses, given the numerous empty seats observed towards the end of the match. Wales: Winnett; Rogers, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Murray; Anscombe, Bevan; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Griffin, Rowlands, Beard, Botham, Morgan, Wainwright. Replacements: Elias, N Smith, Assiratti, Tshiunza, Reffell, R Williams, Costelow, James. Australia: Wright; Kellaway, Ikitau, Kerevi, Jorgensen; Lolesio, White; Bell, Faessler, Alaalatoa, Frost, Skelton, Uru, McReight, Valetini. Replacements: Paenga-Amosa, Slipper, Nonggorr, Salakaia-Loto, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Suaalii. Twenty minute red card: Kerevi 41 Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand) Assistant referee 1: Karl Dickson (England) Assistant referee 2: Angus Mabey (New Zealand) TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)