Table of Contents
- 1 The Wallabies also advance to Cardiff with hat-tricks from Faessler and Wright and tries from Frost and Ikitau. Eleventh consecutive defeat for Gatland’s XV
- 2 wrong impression
- 3 triplet
- 4 What strategies did Australia employ during their victory against Wales that could be beneficial for future matches?
The Wallabies also advance to Cardiff with hat-tricks from Faessler and Wright and tries from Frost and Ikitau. Eleventh consecutive defeat for Gatland’s XV
November 17, 2024 (change at 7.35pm) – MILAN
Australia overwhelmed Wales 52-20 in Cardiff in the match that completed the program of the third weekend of the Autumn Nations Series, the November international. Thus comes the second victory for Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies, who a week ago had surprisingly beaten England (42-37) at Twickenham. Now Australia still has two commitments left in this tour of the British Isles, with Scotland next Sunday and with Ireland on Saturday 30th. For Wales coach Warren Gatland, who suffered their 11th consecutive defeat (a record), instead yet another suffering, given that the reigning two-time world champions South Africa will arrive in Cardiff next Saturday.
wrong impression
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The try that uncorks the match is Australian, scored in the 13th minute by Tom Wright: the fullback receives from the excellent hands of Noah Lolesio, discards the opposing winger Blair Murray inside and opens the way for the dive in the try. 3 minutes pass and the second arrives too: the Welsh approach 10 meters in attack, but lose the ball, Max Jorgensen starts the attack with a great layup, the ball arrives in the hands of the gigantic second line Nick Frost who with a sprint very heavy but inexorable it flies away all alone towards the posts. In the 22nd minute hooker Matthew Faessler leads the maul past the uncertain Welsh defense and then smashes. Lolesio misses the first, but makes the next two conversions to make it 19-0. The match would seem to have already been decided, but never has the impression been more wrong. Because between 25′ and 34′ Wales put it back on its feet. From a good possession in the 22, with the backs spreading the play well, it is then the forwards who wear down the Australian defense in front of the posts, with Aaron Wainwright receiving from the midfielder Ellis Bevan and smashing into the hole that his teammates have opened for him. Gareth Anscombe converts it and then also scores two free throws to make it 13-19 which leads to halftime.
triplet
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The second half began with the yellow card for Australian center Samu Kerevi for a high and disorderly tackle on Jac Morgan. Yellow which shortly afterwards is transformed into red (no mitigating factor with respect to the danger of the contact): according to the new rules, Australia will be able to replace him after 20 minutes of inferiority. But despite the man less, between 47′ and 52′ Australia even manages to find two tries, both with Faessler and always to close the overflowing work of the maul from the touchline at 5 meters: a sensational hat-trick for the hooker. Lolesio converts both and brings his team back to +20. Wales, incredibly, manage to nullify the first half comeback with an unjustifiable blackout. and in the 61st minute it was Wright who secured the victory, who in his 22 minutes intercepted a banal pass from Sam Costelow (who replaced Anscombe) and ran away alone to score the brace (Lolesio converted). Wales struggled to regroup and in the 68th minute they scored a goal with center Ben Thomas, who from a quickly taken free kick from 5 meters, received it from James Botham and broke through (Costelow converted). In the 75th minute Australia responded with a very long attack that eroded meters and wore down the Welsh defence, until the ball reached wide for Len Ikitau, who with a feint left fullback Cameron Winnett in place and headed for the goal. And right at the end, from a possession in his own 22, Tate McDermott slips through the meshes of a now frayed Welsh defense and then offers Wright the sprint for the hat-trick. Lolesio converts the first and not the second and it ends 52-20.
What strategies did Australia employ during their victory against Wales that could be beneficial for future matches?
1. What are your thoughts on Australia’s performance in the Autumn Nations Series, particularly their victory against Wales?
2. Can you discuss the factors that contributed to Wales’ struggles during the match, despite their strong second-half comeback?
3. How has the new mauling rule impacted the dynamics of rugby matches, and what are its implications for teams’ strategies?
4. What do you think are the key takeaways from this match for both Australian and Welsh teams going forward?
