Australia edge Wales in Cardiff thriller
Wallabies claim 32-29 victory in Pivac's first game as Wales boss
Australia held off a spirited Wales fightback to claim a thrilling 32-29 victory in Wayne Pivac's first game as Wales boss in Cardiff on Saturday.
The Wallabies led 26-12 at the break thanks to tries from Marika Koroibete, James O'Connor, and Taniela Tupou, but Wales rallied with three tries of their own in the second half to set up a tense finish.
Louis Rees-Zammit, Liam Williams, and Dan Biggar all crossed for the hosts, but it was not enough to prevent Australia from claiming a hard-fought victory.
Pivac, who took over from Warren Gatland after the World Cup, will be disappointed with the result but will take heart from his team's second-half performance.
Australia, meanwhile, will be pleased to have started their tour on a winning note.
Here's a more detailed look at the match:
- Australia started the game strongly and took an early lead through Koroibete's try.
- O'Connor and Tupou added further tries to give the Wallabies a comfortable lead at the break.
- Wales came out fighting in the second half and reduced the deficit through Rees-Zammit's try.
- Williams and Biggar both crossed for tries to set up a tense finish, but Australia held on for the win.
The victory is a major boost for new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, who is now unbeaten in his first two games in charge.
It is also a significant result for Australia, who have not beaten Wales in Cardiff since 2016.
For Wales, it is a disappointing start to the Pivac era, but there were some positives to take from the performance.
The team showed great character to come back from a 14-point deficit, and they will be confident of improving under Pivac's leadership.
