daniel chigunwe
TOM Wright and Matt Faessler scored a hat-trick of tries each as Australia thrashed Wales 52-20 in Cardiff on Sunday to consign Warren Gatland’s team to a national record of 11 consecutive test losses.
The result kept Australia, however, on track to emulate the 1984 Grand Slam-winning Wallaby tourists who swept past all four home nations, after their impressive opening 42-37 victory over England and with tests against Scotland and Ireland to come.
But the defeat will only increase speculation about Gatland’s future. The New Zealander has just six wins from 23 tests in his second stint as Wales coach.
The team now has to regroup before playing double world champions South Africa next week on a six-day turnaround.
A loss to the Springboks would mean a calendar year without a victory for Wales, something that last happened in 1937.
“That was an awesome 80-minute performance,” said man of the match Wright.
“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.”
Wales prop Gareth Thomas admitted his team failed to live up to their planning.
“When we were training in the week we looked sharp, there was a real confidence in the group. Soon as there was a bit of pressure on us we weren’t good enough,” he told Welsh broadcaster S4C.
Tom Rogers was on hand to deprive Samu Kerevi of a try in his 50th test after Wright and Max Jorgenson combined with smart offloads that cut the Welsh defence to ribbons.
Wright then showed a clean pair of heels down the right wing, stepping inside Blair Murray with ease for the opening try of the game.
Gatland could be seen grimacing at the defensive lapse and things quickly worsened. Nick Frost crossed for Australia’s second just minutes later, the lock galloping in from 50 metres.
Noah Lolesio converted but spurned a penalty shot after Wales full-back Cam Winnett was caught in possession after the restart to go for the corner.
A second penalty saw Australian persistence rewarded as Faessler was driven over from a rolling maul off an attacking line-out with the visitors in total ascendancy, 19-0 up after 22 minutes.
Wright knocked on from the kick-off, handing Wales a rare visit into the Wallaby half, to the delight of the 56 188 crowd at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, well down on the 74 000 capacity.
The home side made it pay, No 8 Aaron Wainwright crashing over on a short ball for a try converted by Gareth Anscombe.
Then followed a passage of play controlled by Wales, their domination resulting in two Anscombe penalties that suddenly saw the Welsh back within six points going into halftime. — SuperSport.
Online Reporter