| Wales (20) 34 |
| Tries: Morgan 2, Faletau, Dyer Cons: Anscombe 4 Pens: Anscombe 2 |
| Australia (13) 39 |
| Tries: Fainga'a, Nawaqanitawase 2, Penalty try, Lonergan Cons: Donaldson, Lolesio 2, Pens: Donaldson 2 |
The position of Wales head coach Wayne Pivac is hanging in the balance.
Wales had built a 34-13 lead with the help of two tries and two scores from JacMorgan.
Australia scored 26 unanswered points as they capitalized on the yellow cards of Wales captains.
Pivac's demise could be proved by defeat.
Mark Nawaqanitawase was the catalyst for the change.
There was more than one score, including a penalty try and the winning score from Lonergan.
Morgan scored two tries for the second week in a row but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.
Wales produced a better performance in the first 60 minutes against Australia, but could not hold on.
Pivac's position as head coach is in question after three autumn defeats and a single win against Argentina.
His role is under intense scrutiny after only three victories in 12 games this year.
The capitulation against Australia will be a problem for Pivac.
The Welsh Rugby Union will hold a review into the autumn campaign while Pivac is in France.
Gatland was watching the Australia game from the sideline.
He has not been contacted by the WRU, despite being tipped for a return in an interim position.
After Wales won the Grand Slam and finished fourth in the global tournament in Japan, Pivac became the new head coach.
Wales have won 13 games, lost 20 and drawn one during Pivac's three years in charge.
The Six Nations title was sandwiched in between two poor years.
His achievement of becoming the first Wales coach to win a Test in South Africa in July 2022, has been overshadowed by the losses against Italy and Georgia.
After an eight-try defeat by New Zealand, Wales responded with a hard-fought victory over Argentina.
The Georgia and Australia losses demonstrated the consistency issues Pivac's side have had throughout his reign.
Both sides were missing personnel because the Australia match was played outside the international window.
Pivac turned to experience with the likes of Anscombe, Dyer, Alun Wyn Jones and Faletau.
Halfpenny had a back spasm and was replaced at full-back by Adams.
Jones left out for Argentina and Georgia after being used as a replacement against New Zealand.
Faletau had 95 Wales caps and five British and Irish Lions Test appearances.
At the other end of the scale, the injured Owen Watkin was replaced by the 20-year-old Hawkins, who gave a creative influence on his debut.
Australia faced their 14th Test since July and fifth in a row as they were without injured and unavailable players.
They still found a way to win despite the absence of many established names.
There was a technical fault which left a gap of three metres which allowed the rain to come in.
Ben Donaldson scored a try after Adam Beard dropped the kick-off and Gareth Thomas gave a scrum penalty.
Flanker Morgan powered over for a third try in two games after Wales responded with a well- worked try.
Williams was taken to the hospital with a head injury.
The opening quarter was an encouraging one but also saw a penalty for a high tackle.
Anscombe was able to extend the lead with a penalty.
Anscombe gave a classy conversion and slotting over a second penalty after Faletau provided an expert finish on the right wing.
Adams saved a try with a tackle on Australia flanker.
The hooker scored a try after a rolling maul.
Australia scrum-half Jake Gordon was shown a yellow card for a cynical offside offence after Wing Dyer almost scored but was hauled down just short of the line.
There was a period of scrummaging superiority for Wales, but they were not able to take advantage and the game ended in a stalemate.
Tom Robertson was sent to the sin-bin for his team's persistent penalties in the scrum after James Slipper was forced to leave the field with a head injury.
Morgan was again at the center of the attacking maul as he was driven over for his second try after the visitors were reduced to 13 men.
Clinical Wales scored their first try with a well- worked one.
Anscombe was forced off with a serious shoulder injury.
An impressive wing named Nawaqanitawase scored a try for the Aussies.
Captain Tipuric was shown a yellow card for a cynical trip on Pete Samu and Nawaqanitawase capitalized with a set piece try.
Wales were reduced to 13 men when Elias was shown a yellow card for pulling down a maul.
Pivac took off 267 caps' worth of experience, with Jones and Faletau leaving the field when Tipuric was in the sin bin.
Australia took advantage of their numerical advantage to win the match.
The two teams will face each other again in the World Cup pool in September of next year.
Wales: Adams, Anscombe, T Williams, G Thomas, Owens, D Lewis, Beard and Alun Wyn Jones.
R Jones, Carter, Macleod, and Priestland are replacements.
Australia: Wright; Petaia, Ikitau, Hodge, Nawaqanitawase, Donaldson, Gordon, and Slipper.
Replacements include Lonergan, Robertson, and Campbell.
The referee is Matthew Carley.
Chris Busby is an assistant referee for the IRBU.
There is a person named Joy Neville.
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