‘We have to be better’: Flying Filipo saves blushes as Wallabies secure win over Wales

A relieved Joe Schmidt praised the Wallabies’ determination to secure a second win over Wales - and some rare silverware - in Melbourne but acknowledged the side must improve with tough Test rivals waiting around the corner.

A pair of opportunistic tries from flying winger Filipo Daugunu helped the Wallabies survive a fierce Welsh performance at AAMI Park, scoring a hard-fought 36-28 win in rainy conditions.

The victory continued the Wallabies’ unbeaten record under new coach Joe Schmidt, and in handing Wales their ninth straight Test defeat, Australia also retained the James Bevan Shield.

But it was anything but smooth sailing for the Wallabies, with Wales coming from 17-0 down and fighting all the way to the final stages. Having scored two tries from a rolling maul, the Welsh trailed by five points with six minutes left and had a chance to snatch their first win in Australia since 1969 with a lineout on Australia’s line.

The Wallabies contested the lineout and forced a Wales mistake however, and it ended up saving the day.

As in Sydney, the Wallabies were far from perfect, and if anything, they were even further away from perfection than a week earlier. The Wallabies’ kicking game was off, and so too their kick receipts. Compared to a week earlier, the Wallabies’ work in the contact zone was more passive and much of the attack was flat-footed.

Filipo Daugunu of the Wallabies scores his second try.Credit: Getty Images

Wales, by contrast, were hungrier and built plenty of pressure, with 60% territory for the game. But the difference in the end was the Wallabies’ superior ability to punish the Welsh for their mistakes, and they scored some spectacular, blink-of-the-eye tries.

Daugunu’s first came via a 98-metre play that started with an Andrew Kellaway chip-and-chase on his own line, under pressure. And Jake Gordon scored a superb try later in the first half via a dropped catch from Wales, which he toed ahead, picked up and scored.

Daugunu’s second try, with 13 minutes left in the game, was a canny play where he chased a Noah Lolesio linekick, and swooped when Liam Williams tried a risky tap back infield. The crowd of 21,932 roared but even after that try seemed to seal the game, Wales refused to stop fighting and Australia were flat-out holding them back in the final 30 minutes.

They got home, and after beating Portugal in their last World Cup win, the victory was a third straight for Australia; a feat last achieved in a five-win streak in 2021. The Wallabies play Georgia next Saturday in Sydney, and then host world champions South Africa in a two-Test swing in August.

“I’ll definitely say I’m relieved, but, boy, we’re going to have to be a lot better than that,” Schmidt said post-game.

“It’s nice to have clear things to work on, but we do know that Georgia beat Japan today and they’re going to be formidable and following that you’ve got South Africa coming here with a fairly physical sort of approach to the game.“

Schmidt said the Wallabies had played well in some patches, and been out-hustled by Wales in others. He paid credit to Warren Gatland’s side, who were shattered post-game.

“We were made to work by a group who were desperate,” Schmidt said.

“The margins aren’t massive in international rugby, and when you’ve got a team desperate, they’re on the back of a losing streak, they really rolled their sleeves up. So for us, yeah, sure, there are things that will be evident to everyone that we need to do better.”

Charlie Cale competes for the ball.Credit: Getty Images

Of Daugunu’s freakish tries, Schmidt said: “He’s capable of those things and it’s just a case of continuing to work on those elements. When you’ve got someone who’s working in behind the line like he does, that’s the package that you’re looking for really.“

Wallabies skipper James Slipper said the team were pleased to have grinded out another win, and banked more self-belief. But the veteran prop knows, too, that Australia are still very much a work in progress.

“It does build confidence. As Joe said, we’ve been trying hard for the last two, three weeks and to get a bit of pay out of it has been really great,” Slipper said.

Jake Gordon on his way to score a solo try.Credit: Getty Images

“I guess the confidence that we can build off those performances will only help us in the future. We’ve got some big games coming up and we know we’re going to have to be better as well. We kind of know where we are but we’re definitely getting confidence from how we’re preparing and what we’re producing. But we’re not at the perfect spot yet.“

Gatland, who will take Wales to Brisbane this week for a tour game against Queensland, said the young and inexperienced Welsh side would be a good team in the future, but had been naive in giving away cheap points.

“We’re just hurting ourselves at the moment, not sometimes by the pressure the opposition are putting us on, but some of our turnovers and mistakes that are allowing easy ins to the opposition team,” Gatland said.

“I think the frustrating thing for me was how hard we worked for our points and just how easy we conceded points. That, for me, was probably the disappointing thing. Probably at the moment, just given our growth and our experience, they’re probably a little bit more streetwise than we are.

“I can’t question the effort and how hard the players worked. I think we were just a little bit naive in a few things and not accurate enough.”

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