Sensational Wallabies smash Wales 52-20 to keep Grand Slam hopes alive

Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies entered uncharted territory as they dealt Wales a record-breaking hammering in Cardiff, with two players crossing for hat-tricks.

The Wallabies thumped Wales 52-20 in Cardiff. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

A ruthless Wallabies team powered to their biggest ever win in Cardiff, defeating Wales 52-20 to keep their Grand Slam hopes alive.

The record win could spell the end for coach Warren Gatland, whose bumbling team have now lost an unprecedented 11 successive Test matches.

Hat-tricks to fullback Tom Wright and hooker Matt Faessler spurred Australia to a half-century score, the first time they’ve breached 50 points in Wales and third biggest win over the Welsh of all time, behind a 63-6 win in 1991, and 56-25 triumph in 1996, both in Brisbane.

Tom Wright runs away to score for the Wallabies. Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Australia is 2-0 on the spring tour following last weekend’s win over England and has now compiled 94 points in the two outings.

Their attack is finally clicking under Joe Schmidt, and a brilliant man of the match performance from Wright led an all-round performance.

Aside from some scrum woes, this was another fine display that shows the Wallabies are evolving into a force that can compete against the British & Irish Lions next year.

But to do so, they’ll need to carry this momentum into Scotland and Ireland and attempt their first Grand Slam sweep since 1984.

This eight tries to two victory was sweet revenge after Wales scored 40 to essentially knock Australia out of last year’s World Cup.

Len Ikitau scores the Wallabies’ seventh try in Cardiff. Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images

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Wright and Faessler’s were the first hat-tricks by a Wallaby in three years, when Andrew Kellaway scored three against Argentina in 2021.

And the huge win came despite a red card to centre Samu Kerevi in his 50th Test.

Kerevi was sin-binned two minutes into the second half for a head on head tackle on flanker Jac Morgan, which upon review was upgraded to a 20-minute red card.

He was eventually replaced by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Wright sealed the statement win when he raced away for his third after the full-time siren, and as an angry Welsh crowd streamed out of the stadium the Wallabies held aloft the James Bevan trophy.

The Wallabies had jumped to an early 19-0 lead, before Wales cut that back to 19-13 by halftime.

But Australia were completely dominant in the second stanza.

Faessler’s second half double came on the back of confident calls from skipper Allan Alaalatoa to go for touch instead of kickable penalties.

His third in the 52nd minute gave Australia a 33-13 lead. Then a runaway intercept try to Wright, his second of the game, allowed Noah Lolesio to kick a conversion for 40 points.

Welsh centre Ben Thomas scored his team’s second try with 13 minutes remaining but that was the last time they troubled the score.

Len Ikitau’s in-and-out step try to beat Wales fullback Cameron Winnett sealed a major victory in Australia’s evolving progress.

A dejected Wales team after its mauling at the hands of the Wallabies. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

Faessler grabbed his three tries through rolling mauls.

In fact, Australia scored three tries in three completely different methods early in the first half.

First, Wright finished a set backline spread by beating his man one-on-one and flying away from the chasing defenders to score.

Next, a lost ball from Wales saw Max Jorgensen and Ikitau shift quickly to lock Nick Frost, who galloped 50 metres for a sensational try against the run of play.

Capping off a wonderful first quarter was a rolling maul try to Faessler, giving the Wallabies a 19-0 lead and stunning the Cardiff crowd into silence.

They finally had reason to cheer in the 25th minute when No.8 Aaron Wainwright barged over next to the posts after a long period of Welsh attack. Two extra penalty goals cut Australia’s deficit to six points.

That was as close as Wales got.

It will be an entirely different challenge in Edinburgh against a tough Scotland outfit, but the Wallabies are showing the attacking potency to give fans growing hope.