Cardiff: The Wallabies have pulled off one of their greatest comebacks in stunning fashion to beat Wales after trailing by 21 points in the second half.
Lachlan Lonergan was the hero for the Wallabies as the men in gold registered a 39-34 victory on their final match of a bizarre spring tour thanks to a five-pointer two minutes from full-time and a crucial steal at the death from the reserve hooker.
Australia players celebrate victory against Wales.Credit:
The last-gasp win means the Wallabies have avoided registering their worst calendar year since 1958, where 10 or more matches have been played.
With just over 22 minutes remaining in Cardiff, Australia looked completely done. Trailing 34-13, they were in all sorts of trouble and staring down the barrel of a humiliating end to a tour of what-ifs.
However, Australian spirit prevailed as the Wallabies somehow got themselves back in the contest with two five-pointers from Mark Nawaqanitawase, who announced himself as a future star, and a controversial 73rd minute penalty try.
With Wales on the back foot and down to 13 men, reserve hooker Lonergan swooped on a loose ball down the right wing to put the men in gold ahead. Noah Lolesio’s conversion made the buffer five points.
With just two seconds remaining, and in possession, Australia conceded a penalty.
Forced to defend their line like their life depended on it, with a wild crowd at Principality Stadium roaring in their ears, Lonergan got over the ball, yanked it back towards Australia’s line, and kicked it out to seal a hugely relieving five-point win.
It was Australia’s second win of the tour from five Tests, after three straight losses to France, Italy and Ireland.
The emotion on the faces of Australian players said it all.
Down to 13 men in the second half, courtesy of yellow cards to Jake Gordon and Tom Robertson, Australia looked bereft of answers but bagged four late tries to stun Wales.
The match was supposed to be played under the roof at Principality Stadium but a technical fault meant there was a three-metre gap where rain poured onto the middle of the field.
Back-rower Langi Gleeson’s first Test start began with a bang as he crunched Josh Adams with a bone-rattling tackle but the youngster limped off early in the second half.
New No.10 Ben Donaldson eased the nerves with a penalty before Wales No.6 Jac Morgan capitalised on quality front-foot ball to put the home side ahead 7-3.
The Wallabies had not beaten Wales in Cardiff since 2017 and a demolition job looked on the cards as Wayne Pivac’s side drew ahead 20-6 after 27 minutes.
But a rolling maul try in the 34th minute would have brought a huge smile to the face of forwards coach Dan McKellar.
It was Folau Fainga’a who finished the job off, prompting an Aussie spectator in the crowd to yell out “Go the Brumbies”.
What wouldn’t have pleased Wallabies coaches was Gordon getting yellow-carded for the second time in three matches. Penalised for being offside, as Wales came hard at Australia’s line, Gordon shook his head in disbelief.
No one would have had Donaldson playing halfback on their bingo card at the beginning of the tour but that’s what took place, moments before Robertson was sent off for 10 minutes due to a scrum infringement.
Donaldson was serviceable but just couldn’t get into the game and was replaced by Noah Lolesio at the 55-minute mark.
What took place in the last 25 minutes was barely believable.
