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International rugby matches can be decided by fine margins and at the highest level, a team’s mistakes are often punished by the opposition.
These are two lessons Wales’ young players learned in abundance in Melbourne on Saturday as Warren Gatland’s side suffered a ninth consecutive defeat.
Wales did plenty of good things at AAMI Park. They scored four tries, two of which came from their outstanding captain Dewi Lake via the profitable source that was their rolling maul.
But after each of those efforts, as well as Liam Williams’ second-half try, Gatland’s team conceded crucial penalties that allowed Joe Schmidt’s Australia to hit straight back.
It sucked the momentum out of the attempted Welsh revival.
Warren Gatland (pictured) and Wales suffered their ninth defeat on the bounce against Australia
Wales would succumb to a 36-28 defeat by Australia, in their second Test match in Melbourne
Joe Schmidt’s side started strong in the match running in two tries in the opening 25 minutes
‘We worked so hard for our points and showed some inexperience by gifting them points,’ admitted Gatland, whose team’s winless run is now just one short of the country’s worst ever.
Wales lost 10 straight matches between 2002 and 2003. Gatland’s current crop will equal that run if they lose to Australian domestic side Queensland Reds on Friday.
Gatland has won only six of 21 Tests since he returned to Welsh rugby’s top job at the end of 2022 and he added: ‘That was disappointing because there were a number of points they didn’t have to work too hard for. I can’t fault the effort. We’ve got a group of young men who need to learn from these experiences. There were six points from two kick-offs when we haven’t exited.
‘They are big moments. I’m telling you this is going to be a really good team. There’s a great buzz within this group. The difference is they (Australia) are probably a little bit more streetwise.’
Wales fell 17-0 down after 25 minutes as the Wallabies crossed through Filipo Daugunu and Jake Gordon. The second of those scores came from another Welsh mistake when Cameron Winnett failed to claim a high ball. Daugunu finished off a length-of-the-field attack started by Andrew Kellaway. Lake responded with a brace and Australia lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Archie Griffin, but Noah Lolesio’s boot helped the Wallabies stay in control at 23-14.
They would ultimately go on to win the series and the James Bevan trophy, having lost eight of their last 10 matches
Dewi Lake (right) would score twice for Wales, but stated after the match that ‘little inaccuracies cost his side’
Liam Williams (left) would add to Wales’ score in the second half with Rio Dyer touching down in the 70th minute
Australia’s Jake Gordon (centre) would also score for the home side, beating several Wales players to slide over the whitewash
Hunter Paisami crashes into the Welsh defence, as Australia punished the tourists for several errors
When Williams crossed at the start of the second period and Ben Thomas converted after previously missing a simple penalty with his first attempt of the day, Wales were within two points and sensing a first win on Australian soil since 1969. Such a success would have been invaluable for the confidence of Gatland’s next generation.
But straight from the restart, Williams gave away a penalty which handed Australia the field position from which Allan Alaalatoa rumbled over. Then came the game-defining moment.
It was another case of Wales shooting themselves in the foot. When Australia kicked to touch, there looked little danger. Williams jumped acrobatically in the air to keep the ball in play and tap it back to replacement Kieran Hardy. But the two weren’t on the same page and home wing Daugunu was following up and raced clear to score.
It was an Australia score gift-wrapped in red from Wales. You simply can’t expect to win Test matches if you hand teams tries like that.
Gatland’s side will now have a nervous time preparing for the Reds. Lose to a club side and the knives are likely to be sharpened further.
Lake, James Botham and Griffin were Wales’ standout performers in Melbourne and did offer hope for the future.
‘Losing is always a bitter pill to swallow, especially when you put such hard work in. Unfortunately, we did it to ourselves by letting them get ahead,’ said hooker Lake.
‘We have a never-say-die attitude, but that has to go for 80 minutes. Little inaccuracies cost us.’
Wales were given late hope by Rio Dyer’s fine finish. But, predictably, more poor discipline allowed Australia to close out the game. Wales must also look at their line-out.
Wales will return back to the UK and will reconvene as a squad ahead of their Autumn Tests against Fiji, Australia and South Africa in November
Schmidt said he was ‘relieved’ after claiming victory, adding: ‘I love the way Lake leads them and when you go 17-0 up, you want to maintain that on the scoreboard’
Two key throws from Lake’s replacement Evan Lloyd didn’t hit their mark late on.
It meant Australia ended their first series under new head coach Schmidt as 2-0 winners.
‘I’m just relieved. I thought the Welsh were super,’ Schmidt said. ‘I love the way Lake leads them and when you go 17-0 up, you want to maintain that on the scoreboard.
‘But from there he (Lake) led them (Wales) back in and after that it turned into an arm wrestle. We had to work hard. Our scores were a bit fortuitous.
‘I still think we’ve got a lot to learn about each other.’
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