Wallabies: Wright brilliance helps Australia to tough win over Wales as host of new faces debut
A piece of individual brilliance has helped Australia to a 25-16 win against Wales in Sydney, as the Wallabies welcomed a host of debutants. Find out how they performed inside.
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It took one moment of individual brilliance from Tom Wright - and just one match for Joe Schmidt and his new-look Wallabies team - to remind Australia’s lost generation of rugby supporters why there’s always some hope worth clinging to.
Saturday’s 25-16 win over a heavily-weakened Wales team at Allianz Stadium won’t go down as one of the sport’s all-time classics but for a once proud national team that has struggled to beat any of their opposition for most of the past eight years, even the ugliest victories can seem beautiful.
“A great result,” Wallabies skipper Liam Wright said.
“We have put in a good few weeks of work. The squad is really tight. We weren’t perfect…but a lot of guys were getting their first crack and did everyone proud.”
Schmidt has clearly got his work cut out turning the Wallabies into a side capable of challenging the combined might of the British and Irish Lions when they tour Australia next year.
But that’s for another day, because this win over Wales was a rare moment of celebration for a code that has been stuck in purgatory for far too long.
Currently ranked 10th in the world, Wales have become the unlikely yardstick by which the Wallabies now measure themselves after they humiliated Australia 40-6 at last year’s World Cup in France.
That was when the slippery Eddie Jones was still calling the shots as coach - and yet to bid everyone sayonara - leaving Schmidt to clean up his mess.
One game into his tenure, Schmidt is already rolling up sleeves and getting on with the job.
“Love the result. Lots to do around the performance,” the New Zealnder said..
“I thought the first 20 minutes we did some good things.
“We sense the support of the crowd. We know we have to earn their support.”
Admittedly, the Welsh team that ran out in Sydney contained only three starters from the side that broke the Wallabies’ hearts in Lyon last year, but that remains a moot point because the Australians were the architects of their own demise on that horrific night.
For all his bluster about discipline, defence and executing under pressure, the lasting memory of Jones’ team was they were a rabble that made themselves easybeats by playing some of the dumbest rugby ever seen by men wearing the gold jersey.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case under Schmidt, whose young lineup went back to basics, waiting patiently for their opportunities to arise.
Captaining his country for the first time, Wright led the Wallabies to their first win at Allianz Stadium in a decade.
“It was special. I didn’t have to do many things to different,” he said.
“So many guys helped out. They put in their two cents and I think we made good collective decisions.
“They showed, a lot of grit in the second half, the guys who started getting through 80 minutes, they showed a lot of grit and the detail is there and that is what we are trying to do as a squad, get that connection.”
It wasn’t always pretty and the Wallabies committed far too many errors for anyone to give them anything more than a pass mark but they did get their just rewards with front rower Taniel Tupou burrowing over from close range for the opening try after 20 minutes.
Down a man after loosehead prop Gareth Thomas was yellow carded for repeated infringements, the Welsh hit back with a penalty try after Fraser McReight pulled down a maul and earned himself a stint in the sin bin from French referee Pierre Brousset.
Wales drew level at 13-13 early in the second half before Filipo Daugunu broke though the Welsh defensive line and slid over for the Wallabies second try.
The visitors managed to get back within two points before Wright sealed the win with a spectacular solo 70 metre try nine minutes from the end that sent the crowd wild.
Wrighty goes himself! 💨#Wallabies#AUSvWALpic.twitter.com/0WGlJ3Waoc
— Wallabies (@wallabies) July 6, 2024
Wales captain Dewi Lake said: “We were resilient but unfortunately resilience doesn’t win games.
“We are a young team and we’ve got to learn how to win games. We’ve got to learn to put points on the board and see games out.
“Credit to Australia, they put points on the board, made us chase the game.”
In the women’s test, Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp recorded her first win since taking over this year as the Australians demolished Fijiana 64-5.
Desiree Miller was the standout, scoring four tries to match Ruan Sims’ record from 2006.
“It’s an accumulation of all the hard work that everyone’s put in at this point,” Yapp said.
“There’s still so much growth still out there but really pleased for the girls that they got that win tonight in the way that they did.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
FULL TIME - AUSTRALIA 25 DEF WALES 16
The Joe Schmidt era is off to a positive start after Australia’s 25-16 win against Wales.
A piece of Tom Wright brilliance put the exclamation point on a good night for the Wallabies, who welcomed seven debutants to the fold.
Wales had their moments but the Wallabies wre too ultimately too efficient in taking advantage of their opportunies.
DEBUT - AUSTRALIA!
Dylan Pietsch became the 15th Indigenous man to represent the Wallabies after being introduced to the game for the final five minutes.
The NSW Waratahs winger, a proud Wiradjuri man, recently spoke about how he wants to inspire a new generation of Indigenous athletes to aspire to wear the gold jersey as rugby union falls well behind rugby league and AFL in participation.
The last Indigenous Wallaby debutant was Anthony Fainga’a, who played his first Test in 2010.
The Wallabies lead 25-16 with a few minutes left on the clock.
TRY - AUSTRALIA! AUSTRALIA 25-16
Tom Wright has scored the try of the night with an outstanding piece of individual brilliance.
Fed early ball by Tom Lynagh, Wright summed up the three-on-three situation in front of him and opted to feed the Welsh a dummy - which they swallowed whole.
Wright went straight through, then totally wrong-footed the last defender to score a memorable try,
Lynaugh converted from a tough position to set a nine-point margin in the final 10 minutes.
PENALTY - WALES! AUSTRALIA 18-16
The margin has been reduced to just two points after Ben Thomas slotted a third penalty for the evening.
It’s been a tough, back-and-forth clash between the sides, and with every point a premium - and with such a reliable kicker like Thomas at their disposal - it was with little wonder Wales took the points on offer rather than push for a try.
Meanwhile, the crowd has been confirmed as just shy of 36,000.
DEBUT - AUSTRALIA!
Tom Lynagh is the latest to have made his international debut for the Wallabies, replacing Jake Gordon with just under 20 minutes to go.
His father Michael is an all-time great of the game, having played 72 Tests for the Wallabies, and in taking the field the Lynaghs become the 12th father-son pair to represent Australia.
The young and rising star of the game has shown what he’s capable of for the Reds in Super Rugby, and this last segment of the match could be a very good look at the Wallabies’ future.
NO TRY - WALES!
James Botham celebrated a try seconds into his first apperance for Wales, but it struck off moments later for obstruction.
The grandson of English great Ian Botham crossed when Wales won a lineout and worked a rolling maul towards the try line just before the hour.
Botham’s introduction almost overshadowed that of Wallaby debutant Charlie Cale, who entered the field for his first appearance for Australia.
Cale, regarded a breakout star of the Brumbies’ successful 2024 campaign, replaced captain Liam Wright, who put in a superb knock in his first game as skipper.
Brumbies star Allan Alaalatoa appeared to take over the on-field captaincy in Wright’s absence.
TRY - AUSTRALIA! AUSTRALIA 18-13
The Wallabies are back in front after Filipo Daugunu somehow slid his way over.
Daugunu ran a brilliant wrap from the blindside and slipped through a gap, running a sublime line angled towards the corner post.
Initial contact in a tackle about 5m out suggested he might fall short, but momentum carried him over for the five points.
DEBUT - WALLABIES!
Isaac Kailea is on for his debut, replacing James Slipper at the 50-minute mark.
Kailea is a half Tongan, half Chilean rookie who has only been playing in the front row for four years, but he has earned his opportunity to represent the Wallabies - and Joe Schmidt called his number.
He’s got a great story, coming through the junior ranks as a back-rower before making the move to prop just a few years ago.
PENALTY - WALES! 13-ALL
Wales have drawn level after Ben Thomas slotted his second penalty of the night, capitalising on a superb start to the second stanza for the visitors.
Just 50 seconds after the restart and Wales earned a scrum just 5m from the Wallabies’ line.
They went on the attack early, unafraid to test the Wallabies’ defence on the edge.
Wales had the numbers advantage as they went right, and Tom Wright had no choice but to ground an attacking kick in-goal as the chasers loomed.
Wales are threatening, putting the Wallabies’ defence under a serious test.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies are wearing black armbands to remember Peter Crittle.
A Wallabies Hall of Fame member with 15 caps as a player, Crittle spent decades in rugby and played a role in the careers of several Wallabies.
WALLABIES MUST EARN THE RIGHT
Wallabies assistant coach Laurie Fisher said the game is in Australia’s hands as they prepare for the second half against Wales.
Both sides have scored a try each - Taniela Tupou for Australia and a penalty try for Wales - though Noah Lolesio has kicked two penalties to Gareth Thomas’ solo effort.
While the Wallabies were better over the 40 minutes, they can be much better with a few simple fixes, according to Fisher.
“We need to tighten up a little bit,” Fisher said
“Our game is to be tighter off nine and those backs ... they’re up in our passing lanes out wide.
“We need to tighten it up, start working towards softer shoulders and doing those hard yards through the middle and bring them into us rather than us finding those open spaces.”
HALF TIME - AUSTRALIA 13 WALES 10
Taking the opportunities.
It’s as cliche as it gets, and it’s the most basic concept in most sport, but they are the three words Wallabies scrumhalf Jake Gordon used at halftime to sum up their first 40 minutes.
The Wallabies have had 65 per cent of the ball, 73 per cent of territory, but hold only a slender three-point lead after letting several opportunities at points slip.
“It was pretty match a test match, a bit back and forth,” Gordon said.
“Probably taking the opportunities that present themselves is pretty important.”
Consider the moments before halftime, when a handling error-turned-offside penalty gifted Australia the opportunity at points before the break.
But a few phases later the Welsh forced a turnover courtesy of a dropped ball, and the visitors went into the sheds just one penalty kick down.
Australia has played well, they have been the better side, but they need control the game more than what they have, and convert their chances into points. .
PENALTY TRY - WALES! AUSTRALIA 13-10
The margin is back to three after a penalty try to Wales.
Fraser McReight was shown a yellow card after being deemed to collapse Wales’ rolling maul as the visitors pushed for their first try of the game.
It leaves it as 14 on 14 for the next seven minutes before Gareth Thomas returns for Wales.
The visitors had their first decent opportunities deep in Wallabies’ territory for the first time this game and they threatened the whole time.
A kick in behind the Wallabies’ defence was defused after a Wales knock-on, though they got the ball back due to advantage being played.
They scored not long afterwards.
Can’t stop Nela that close to the line 💪
— Wallabies (@wallabies) July 6, 2024
Our first try for 2024 ✅#Wallabies#AUSvWALpic.twitter.com/zz1Px3KWxb
TRY - AUSTRALIA! AUSTRALIA 13-3
Taniela Tupou has capped an impressive opening 20 minutes with the first try of the game.
The Wallabies have built enormous pressure over the opening the quarter of the contest, forcing the Welsh into numerous back-to-back infringements.
Australia hammered their try line via their forwards, and Tupou couldn’t be stopped as the Wallabies opened the biggest lead of the game.
Lolesio converted for a 10-point lead.
If things weren’t already bad for Wales, it just got worse after Gareth Thomas received a yellow card and 10-minute stint in the sheds.
PENALTY - AUSTRALIA! AUSTRALIA 6-3
The experience of Wallabies’ starting props James Slipper and Taniela Tupou and their relatively fresh Welsh counterparts has shone through, allowing the Wallabies to hit the front.
Australia’s forwards were able to force the Welsh scrum into error, winning a penalty which was duly slotted by Noah Lolesio.
It is shaping up as a big night for Slipper, who becomes the most-capped prop in Wallabies history with tonight’s appearance.
The Wallabies have taken control of this first Test on the back of their discipline and dominating the breakdown.
PENALTY MISS - AUSTRALIA! 3-ALL
The Wallabies have let a golden chance to it the front slip through their fingers after Noah Lolesio missed a penalty about 10 minutes in.
A few plays earlier, Andrew Kellaway found his way in space after some good lead-up work with the footy.
A crossfield kick found newly-named captain Liam Wright on the wing, and while there was hope he could open his tryscoring account for the season, he was cut down relatively quickly.
Rob Valentini received some treatment before Lolesio missed to the right.
PENALTY - AUSTRALIA! 3-ALL
The Wallabies have struck back a tick as the clock approached seven minutes.
The Wallabies were handed a penalty within kickable range but opted against taking the points as they chased a try instead.
It didn’t pay off immediately, but a penalty right in front a few metres out was too good to pass up, and they made no mistake from the tee to lock it up.
PENALTY - WALES! WALES 3-0
A James Slipper indiscretion has allowed Wales the opportunity to open the scoring witha penalty from 40m out.
The long-range effort by Ben Thomas sailed between the sticks to open a 3-0 lead within the first two minutes.
KICK-OFF: We are under way at Allianz Stadium and healthy crowd has welcomed the Wallabies to Sydney for their clash with Wales.
Wales kicked off, giving the Wallabies first use of the ball, but the visitors showed within the first 66 seconds they’re not afraid to run the ball or chance their hand in possession.
PRE-GAME
The teams are just minutes away from making their way out to the centre of Allianz Stadium, as Wright leads the new-look Wallabies out for the first time as captain.
There are seven new faces in the squad, while a much more familiar name in Michael Hooper was presented to the healthy crowd after announcing his retirement.
It will be a tough test for the Wallabies, who start short favourites against the Welsh.
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