Australia 25 – 16 Wales

Taniela Tupou, Filipo Daugunu, Tom Wright scored tries as Australia won the opening Test of head coach Joe Schmidt’s title vs Wales in Sydney; Wales score a penalty try low through driving maul; Watch the action of the southern hemisphere summer tour live on Sky Sports

Tom Wright scored a fine solo try with 11 minutes left as Australia secured victory over Wales in Sydney

Tom Wright’s stunning late try proved crucial as Australia beat Wales 25-16 in Sydney to go 1-0 up in the summer series, continuing. Sky Sports.

The Wallabies scored more tries through tighthead prop Taniela Tupou and wing Filipo Daugunu in either half, but failed to shake off a stubborn Wales team in a tight contest.

Indeed, the Welsh driving maul proved strong throughout the Test, earning a penalty try to collapse the Wallabies in the first half, and James Botham’s match-levelling score with 23 minutes remaining – only to be ruled out by the TMO for fouling.

The boots of the young fly-halves Noah Lolesio and Ben Thomas kept the team in the game, with only two points separating the teams approaching the last 11 minutes. It was up to full back Wright to score a fine solo try from deep in transition to ensure victory.

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Wright ghosted through the Wales defense to dive over untouched after playing the ball back from his own half

The story of the match

Wales took the lead in the opening three minutes, after vastly experienced Australian loosehead James Slipper was penalized for tackling without hands and Cardiff fly-half Thomas impressively struck over from distance.

A clever tactical kick into the Wales 22 by Thomas’ opposite number Lolesio finally earned the concession of a penalty broken by the visitors in response, allowing Lolesio to level the game.

Noah Lolesio kicked two penalties and a conversion from the tee in the win

A linebreak led by Andrew Kellaway saw Wales pushed up offside by their own 22 before long, but Lolesio produced a shocking miss from the tee to take the lead.

The Wallabies continued on top, however, and when a dominant scrum drive against the head – with both Tupou and Slipper power forward – brought another penalty, Lolesio did a simple effort this time for a 6-3 lead.

With the Welsh penalty totting up and providing Australia with an easy 22 access, Gatland’s side were finally punished again when a series of Wallabies pick-and-go carried out near the try-line gave way to support Tupou forcing his way through from a yard out.

Wallabies tighthead prop Taniela Tupou proved too powerful from close range, scoring the first try

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Australia’s Tupou buried it from close range for the first try of the game against Wales

Welsh loosehead Gareth Thomas was also sin-binned after this attempt was awarded for the freedom of another penalty during the move, but it was the man in red who went on the attack despite having less players.

A TMO review for the possibility of Wales trying to rule the scrum-half Ellis Bevan has beaten the first, but it does not matter because the 14-player Wales kicked to the corner and the dominant maul collapsed by the Wallabies pack before the try. -line to try clear punishment.

Wales, despite going down to 14 men after Australia’s opening try, responded with a strong drive to force a penalty try.

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Wales worked their way back into the game courtesy of a penalty try

Openside Fraser McReight was sin-binned for action, but Wales could not add more points before half time as Dewi Lake’s hooker knocked in 22 after Liam Williams 50:22 had given a good chance.

Wales leveled six minutes into the second half, though, as Thomas struck over while the Australians were penalized for failing to play away.

Lock Christ Tshiunza won a huge turnover breakdown over his own try-line soon after, as Wales’ Tommy Reffell got away with intercepting the ball, but the Wallabies soon finished for a second try.

Wing Daugunu was the man to score when he went around the front, picked up Mason Grady at speed, and was a bit lucky to slide on the wet surface within four meters of reaching the line.

Filipo Daugunu spun from the opposite wing to score Australia’s second try

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Daugunu shot through the gap to go all the way for the try that gave Australia the lead

Wales thought they were level almost immediately when another maul saw Botham go over the try-line, but the TMO’s review showed a problem in his maul formation.

With 14 minutes to play, Thomas reduced Australia’s lead to two points with a penalty that crept over the post, but Wright then stepped up for the moment of the match: collecting the ball inside his own half, before running and accelerating through. and passed several defenders in front of him to score.

Tom Lynagh – son of former Wallabies Michael – converted the score. Wales could not respond, bringing victory to new Australian head coach Joe Schmidt in his first Test in charge.

What’s next?

Wales now travel to Melbourne for the second and final test of the series against Australia on Saturday 13 July. Sky Sports Action from 10.30am (10.45am kick-off) – with England vs New Zealand live on the same channel as before.

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