LIVE: Aussie star sends rival flying with vicious move as Wallabies begin promising new era

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The Wallabies have made a promising start to life under Joe Schmidt as they lead Wales 25-16 at Allianz Stadium.

Wales took an early lead via the boot of Ben Thomas after James Slipper was penalised for a dangerous tackle.

MATCH CENTRE: Scores, stats and more!

However, the Wallabies then piled on 13 unanswered points with eight coming from Noah Lolesio.

Taniela Tupou scored the only try so far when he finished off a sustained spell of pressure from the Wallabies, burrowing his way over the line from just a few metres out.

Wales were also reduced to 14 men when prop Gareth Thomas was shown a yellow card in the 22nd minute after the team was warned by French referee Pierre Brousset for repeated infringements.

The Wallabies then lost a man when Fraser McReight was sin-binned midway through the first half when trying to pull down a maul, with Wales subsequently awarded a penalty try.

Further ill discipline began to creep into the Wallabies’ play after the Welsh try, conceding seven penalties all up in the first half to the visitors’ eight.

Wales levelled the score just five minutes into the second half via a penalty goal from Thomas after Wallabies captain Liam Wright was penalised at a breakdown.

But it didn’t take long for the Wallabies to re-take the lead as winger Filipo Daugunu finished off a sweeping move, bursting towards the right corner.

Although Daugunu was brought down before the line, his momentum helped him slide over for Australia’s second try of the game.

Tom Wright then had the crowd on its feet when he dashed 65 metres down the right before unleashing a vicious side-step that sent Wales centre Mason Grady sliding as the Aussie fullback scored an absolute blinder.

Joe Schmidt will look to make a winning start to his time as Wallabies coach. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

STARTING TEAMS

Wallabies (15-1): Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Josh Flook, Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Liam Wright (c), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Jeremy Williams, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, James Slipper

Bench: Billy Pollard, Isaac Kailea, Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Blyth, Charlie Cale, Tate McDermott, Tom Lyngah, Dylan Pietsch

Wales (15-1): Liam Williams, Josh Hathaway, Owen Watkin, Mason Grady, Rio Dyer, Ben Thomas, Ellis Bevan, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Taine Plumtree, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (c), Gareth Thomas

Bench: Evan Lloyd, Kemsley Mathias, Harri O’Connor, Cory Hill, James Botham, Kieran Hardy, Sam Costelow, Nick Tompkins

Follow all the action from the Wallabies’ clash against Wales in our LIVE BLOG below!

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