Wallabies set 116-year first as records fall in Wales demolition job

The Wallabies have wowed world rugby with a demolition job on Sunday morning that had Aussie legends blown away.

The Wallabies were on fire.

The Wallabies have smashed records in a stunning 32-point thrashing of Wales on Monday morning.

Tom Wright and Matt Faessler both scored hat-tricks as Australia showed they are back under coach Joe Schmidt following a thrilling win over England last week.

The match in Cardiff ended in ugly scenes as the Welsh crowd booed coach Warren Gatland. Spectators were also seen heading for the exit before the final whistle sounded on the 52-20 demolition job.

The win consigned Wales to the country’s worst ever run — an 11-match losing streak.

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Records fell late as Australia scored five tries in the second half to reach the 50-point mark.

It was the Wallabies’ highest score against Wales on their own soil, an 116-year first since the teams first faced off in Cardiff in 1908.

It was also the Wallabies’ third-highest score ever against the Welsh.

The result kept Australia 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.

The Wallabies were on fire.

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

For Australia, it was smiles all around with Wright being named man of the match.

“That was an awesome 80-minute performance,” he said.

“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.”

Aussie rugby commentators were highly impressed by the Wallabies’ performance.

Justin Harrison described it as a “very, very complete performance”.

Tim Horan said on Stan Wales were “not in the same postcode”.

Wallabies legend Matt Giteau wrote on Twitter: “Didn’t love the fact it was against Wales as I love that country & ppl but so good the boys with a great win and the grand slam is still alive!

“Schmidt yeah fellas, unreal performance”.

Commentator Andy Rowe also posted: “I’m getting genuinely excited about where this Wallabies side is heading under Joe Schmidt”.

It was very different in the other dressing room.

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 told Welsh broadcaster S4C.

Gatland appeared to suggest after the game he may consider stepping down.

Tom Wright was everywhere. Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images.

“This is challenging at the moment,” he said.

“I’m only human so I ask myself if it’s the right thing to do. But I’m happy doing it.

“Whatever the best decision for us to make a change, to get some positivity in the game, you know, I’d support that 100 per cent so if that means me, then I’m comfortable.

“But I definitely still want to be a part of it.”

Tom Rogers was on hand to deprive Samu Kerevi of a try in his 50th Test after Wright and Max Jorgenson 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 full-back 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 Principality 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.

Rob Valetini of Australia lifts the James Bevan Trophy. Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images.

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.

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.

Australia next faces Scotland at Murrayfield Stadium.

— with AFP

Originally published as Wallabies set 116-year first as records fall in Wales demolition job