This Sunday, in Cardiff, Australia defeated Wales 52-20 with seven tries scored and despite the red card suffered by Samu Kerevi at the start of the second half. The Welsh suffered an eleventh consecutive international defeat, a first in their history.
Put an end to doubts. The evening's ambitions were not very high for a Welsh team terrified at the idea of beating a sad record more than 20 years old. With ten consecutive losses suffered since the last World Cup, Warren Gatland's men did not want to become the worst team in the country's history, tied before their match – following their defeat against Fiji last week – with that of 2003, which had also been beaten ten times before recognizing success.
But here, on the other hand, Australia had just achieved the feat of beating England at Twickenham and arrived with many certainties at the Principality Stadium. And if the debates are balanced during the first ten minutes, the Wallabies will quickly take the advantage with the first try from fullback Tom Wright, one of the great figures of this game well launched by Noah Lolesio (0-5, 13' ).
Three tries conceded in less than ten minutes
The Welsh are in difficulty and will suffer repeated attacks from the Australians. James Botham loses control of the ball and Max Jorgensen, the hero of the match against England after his try in the 84th minute, serves his second line Nick Frost on the counter. After a solitary rush of almost 60 meters, the one who pairs with the La Rochelle colossus Will Skelton comes to score the second try of the match, quickly imitated by Matt Faessler after a carried ball which collapses in the in-goal ( 0-19, 23').
With three tries conceded in less than ten minutes, the Leek XV can only show a better face. A few moments after the return kick, Ellis Bevan throws Aaron Wainwright high, who breaks the tackle to finally unlock his team's counter (7-19, 26'). The Principality Stadium wakes up and the Wallabies are dominated in turn. Wales can count on the sure footing of their fly-half Gareth Anscombe to return to the locker room with less than a converted try behind (13-19, 40').
Despite numerical superiority, the Welsh sink
Returning from the locker room, the locals left with the same determination as at the end of the first period, and the Wallabies quickly found themselves in doubt after the yellow card – transformed into red by the bunker a few minutes later – against Samu Kerevi, guilty of a head-to-head collision with Jac Morgan. At 15 against 14 for the next 20 minutes, with the new rule introduced of temporary red cards after the call from the bunker, the Welsh are in a position of strength and can believe in this success which they have been waiting for over a year ( 13-19, 42').
But with one less player, it is the Australians who will take the game into their own hands. Matt Faessler comes to score his second and third personal tries following two carried balls well negotiated by the Oceanian forwards (13-33, 54'). And even if Warren Gatland brings his entire bench on before the hour mark, that won't help things for Wales. Sam Costelow's skipped pass to Cameron Winnett lands directly in the hands of Tom Wright, who only has to dive into the goal to score Australia's sixth try of the evening. The bill is steep, and the supporters are already starting to leave the Principality Stadium (13-40, 62').
The Wallabies confirm their revival
After spending 20 minutes in numerical superiority, it was at 15 against 15 that the Welsh finally woke up, thanks to Ben Thomas' try. Despite 20 points behind and 10 minutes to play, hope remains for the locals (20-40, 70'). But Australian center Len Ikitau will decide otherwise, after mystifying Cameron Winnett with this overflow framing and then going into goal (20-47, 76'). The last try against Tom Wright, who also scored the hat-trick, perfectly served by Tate McDermott, will seal the fate of this meeting (20-52, 82').
With two successes in a row in this fall tour, the Wallabies confirm that the renewal brought by Joe Schmidt is bearing fruit. Another great duel will await them next weekend, at Murrayfield against Scotland, before going to the Aviva Stadium to challenge Ireland on November 30. Wales, for their part, conceded this dreaded eleventh consecutive defeat and plunged a little further into doubt, for what was the Welsh's biggest defeat in this interminable series. Warren Gatland's men will try to avoid the pass of twelve next Saturday, but will have a lot to do with the reception of South Africa, double reigning world champion.
