Wales face Australia in Sydney this morning in the first of two summer international Tests against the Wallabies.
Warren Gatland’s side come into the game off the back of seven straight defeats, having lost all of their matches at the Six Nations earlier this year and then falling to a 41-13 defeat at the hands of South Africa in June.
And they face an Australia team who have had similarly poor fortunes of late, with new head coach Joe Schmidt taking over after Eddie Jones led them to a humiliating elimination at the pool stage of the 2023 World Cup.
Both of these sides faced off in that tournament, with Wales running out 40-6 victors in September, though injuries and retirements mean that this time round, Gatland’s squad is weaker than he’d have liked heading into the tour.
Follow all the latest updates and reaction during the first test below, as well as all the reaction to New Zealand v England:
Australia 13-10 Wales, 34 minutes
Wales have a penalty after Hathaway was taken out in the air.
The game has just broken up a little bit, and Wales have not been very impressive in the scrum so far.
Try-scorer Tupou was limping after the scrum, and the Wallabies will be keen to keep him on the field after his injury in the World Cup hurt their chances.
Sonia Twigg6 July 2024 11:39
Australia 13-10 Wales, 34 minutes
Wales are back to full strength.
But it’s an Australia scrum, and they have the penalty.
Sonia Twigg6 July 2024 11:37
Australia 13-10 Wales, 30 minutes
Liam Williams produces a better kick and gets a 50-22 at a tight angle.
Hathaway got involved but it was knocked forwards and the ball goes back to Australia, after it was spilled by Lake.
Sonia Twigg6 July 2024 11:35
Australia 13-10 Wales, 30 minutes
Both sides now have 14, but Wales will be back to full strength sooner.
The game has just started to get a little scrappy as Australia boot the ball clear.
A lot of the play is being played in the central third, and both sides have resorted to kicks.
Sonia Twigg6 July 2024 11:33
Australia 13-10 Wales, 27 minutes
There is a hold up as Australia were preparing to take a penalty. It looks like there was a tackle on the lower leg, Plumtree was tacked in the leg, but it has been judged as thigh, and the game will continue.
Sonia Twigg6 July 2024 11:29
Penalty try! Australia 13-10 Wales, 26 minutes
Penalty try: This game has completely turned on its head.
Despite being a player down in the forwards, Wales won three penalties in a row and drove the ball over the line with a strong maul to take the penalty try!
Australia have also been shown a yellow card of their own, and have not looked the same since scoring their first try.
Sonia Twigg6 July 2024 11:27
Australia 13-3 Wales, 25 minutes
Ben Thomas had a probing chip through just hoping someone could get on the end of it.
There is a check to see if there was a touch before Dyer swooped onto the loose ball, and he did, so the ball will go back to Wales for an earlier penalty.
Sonia Twigg6 July 2024 11:25
Australia 13-3 Wales, 23 minutes
Wales have a penalty and Thomas has kicked the ball into touch after a yellow card was shown in the aftermath of the try.
The advantage is with Wales, who are being pushed back in the maul, and Dyer pounced on a loose ball over the line. This will be checked!
Sonia Twigg6 July 2024 11:23
Conversion! Australia 13-3 Wales, 22 minutes
Lolesio had missed a kick earlier, but makes no mistakes from that one, it was close to the posts, and the Wallabies are now in a healthy lead against Wales.
Sonia Twigg6 July 2024 11:21
Try! Australia 11-3 Wales, 20 minutes
Wales have yet to make it into Australia’s 22, while the Wallabies break in for the third time in the match.
They are trying to drive the ball over the line, but Wales are just about pegging them back as they creep closer.
And they make it! Taniela Tupou scores his 7th try for the nation as he kept low to fall just over the line.
Sonia Twigg6 July 2024 11:21
