Australia hooker Matt Faessler and fullback Tom Wright both scored a hat-trick of tries as the Wallabies thrashed a tired-looking Wales 52-20 to condemn the home side to their worst run of results.
It was an unprecedented 11th successive defeat for Wales, who last won at the World Cup 13 months ago, and the result will add significant pressure onto veteran coach Warren Gatland, whose tenure had already been under scrutiny.
Australia, who had a poor run of results themselves this year, continued their upturn in fortunes as they won a second successive test after last weekend’s 42-37 victory over England, with lock Nick Frost and centre Len Ikitau also scoring tries and Noah Lolesio kicking six conversions.
Wales’ points came from tries from Aaron Wainwright and Ben Thomas and eight from the boot of flyhalf Gareth Anscombe and a Sam Costelow conversion.
Follow all of the latest from the Principality Stadium in our live blog below:
Wales fall to all-time low as pressure mounts on Warren Gatland
Wales suffered a record 11th successive Test match defeat as Australia demolished them 52-20 in Cardiff and ramped up the pressure on head coach Warren Gatland.
Wales fell to an all-time results low in their 143-year international rugby history, and Gatland has now presided over 17 losses from 23 Tests during his second stint at the helm.
Australia overcame a 20-minute red card for centre Samu Kerevi as hooker Matt Faessler and full-back Tom Wright each scored a hat-trick of tries, while lock Nick Frost and centre Len Ikitau also claimed touchdowns, with fly-half Noah Lolesio landing six conversions.
Wales briefly fought back from an alarming early 19-point deficit through an Aaron Wainwright try, plus two Gareth Anscombe penalties and a conversion, with centre Ben Thomas scoring a late try that Sam Costelow converted, but there was no escaping another comprehensive setback.
Jamie Braidwood17 November 2024 18:36
Warren Gatland ‘comfortable’ with ‘best decision for Welsh rugby’
“Whatever the best decision for Welsh rugby is I am more than comfortable with that,” Gatland said. “Whatever the best decision is, and whether that’s to make a change to bring some positivity back into the game, I would support 100 per cent.
“If that means me, I am comfortable with that.”
Asked if he still had the fight in him, Gatland added: “Absolutely. I do it because I love being involved in the game. I have so many good memories of my time in Wales.
“I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in the past, particularly in terms of World Cups. It’s challenging at the moment. I am only human, so I ask myself if it’s the right thing to do. But I am happy doing it.
“I am more than comfortable supporting the best decision the Welsh Rugby Union will make. It’s about talking to the right people and making the right decisions, whether that’s from the union perspective or my family.”
Jamie Braidwood17 November 2024 22:30
Warren Gatland ‘comfortable’ with ‘best decision for Welsh rugby’
Wales head coach Warren Gatland says he is comfortable with “whatever the best decision for Welsh rugby is” as speculation about his future intensified following a 52-20 defeat against Australia.
Gatland said he had spoken with Welsh Rugby Union executive director of rugby Nigel Walker and WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood in the changing room after the game.
While he did not give details of those conversations, Gatland said he did not know when asked at his post-match press conference if he thought he would be in charge for next Saturday’s clash against world champions South Africa.
Wales slumped to a record 11th successive Test match loss – the worst results sequence in their 143-year international rugby history – while Gatland has overseen just six wins from 23 Tests since returning for a second stint as head coach.
Jamie Braidwood17 November 2024 21:00
Wales captain Dewi Lake after an 11th consecutive defeat: “We feel the same as everyone does at home.
“We’re disappointed with the run that we’re on, with the result today. We want to win games; we train hard, we work hard to win games, but we’re not there yet.
“I don’t think anything needs to change, we just need to click. In key moments in that game, half-time we were six points down, we went into the half with the momentum and came out thinking we’re in this game. One try and we would’ve been ahead, but the game got away.
“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel here, we just need to take our points.”
Jamie Braidwood17 November 2024 19:23
Warren Gatland speaks on Wales future
Warren Gatland says he will talk with his family and make a decision on his future, after admitting Wales’ run of defeats is his most challenging period in his coaching career.
He told TNT Sports: “It’s the most challenging time I’ve ever known as a coach and what will be, will be. I will chat to a few people as to what happens from here.
“I am passionate about Welsh rugby but there’s a lot of negativity around the game right now and we want to make sure what happens is the best for Welsh rugby, not about me. I will respect the decision.
“It hurts. We got ourselves back into the game. But to me, we’re a man up and conceded three tries – 21 points – that’s really disappointing.
“From our point of view, we had a chance to put them under pressure, we probably just forced things – some turnovers, some penalties, so that was disappointing.
“I felt we had the chance to get ourselves back into it and kind of just shot ourselves in the foot.”
Jamie Braidwood17 November 2024 18:44
FULL TIME! Wales 20-52 Australi
The conversation around Warren Gatland kicks off as Dan Biggar questions whether it’s time for a change at the top.
The former fly-half says on TNT Sports: “You do wonder when is enough enough? But would changing the head coach going to make this team better and suddenly go and win games?
“We are down to 11th in the world and have South Africa and France to face next, so the question on everyone’s lips is when does the run stop?
“A change in head coach wouldn’t harm things because they can’t be worse.”
Jamie Braidwood17 November 2024 18:27
FULL TIME! Wales 20-52 Australia
Player of the match Tom Wright, speaking to TNT Sports. He’s very gracious, despite a 52-20 win.
“That was an awesome 80-minute performance,” he says. “Ebbs and flows, we gave a lot of momentum to Wales at stages, we made it difficult for ourselves, but those are games you like to be a part of.
“There was a lot of ball in play, Wales were really up for the content and really made us earn all those points.”
Jamie Braidwood17 November 2024 18:19
FULL TIME! Wales 20-52 Australia
No punches pulled from Dan Biggar, speaking to TNT Sports.
“It’s eight tries with a 20-minute red card. They looked like a team bereft of ideas at the end, the confidence looks shot. I don’t know where they go from here, with South Africa next week and France away at the start of the Six Nations.”
Sam Warburton, another former Wales captain, adds: “This is where Wales are at the minute. Welsh fans have to realise we are in a dark place and it might take a while to get out of it.”
Jamie Braidwood17 November 2024 18:16
