Australia win thriller to clinch series against Wales

Australia (23) 36

Tries: Daugunu 2, J Gordon, Alaalatoa Cons: Lolesio 2 Pens: Lolesio 3, Donaldson

Wales (14) 28

Tries: Lake 2, L Williams, Dyer Cons: B Thomas 3, Costelow

Wales suffered a ninth successive international defeat as Australia wrapped up the series 2-0 with victory in an eight-try thriller in Melbourne.

Two tries from Filipo Daugunu, further scores from Jake Gordon and Allan Alaalatoa and 13 points from Noah Lolesio's boot helped Australia achieve a successful start to Joe Schmidt's era following the 25-16 win in Sydney last weekend.

Wales responded with two tries from inspirational captain Dewi Lake, while wings Liam Williams and Rio Dyer also crossed.

Warren Gatland's side rallied from a sluggish start as they slipped to a 17-0 deficit inside 25 minutes, but left themselves with too much work to do.

Lake has been the Wales' success story of this tour with his tries coming from rolling mauls, which have proved the tourists' most potent attacking threat.

Gatland will find himself under pressure because of the wretched recent record with Wales having not won a Test match since the 2023 World Cup pool win against Georgia nine months ago.

They are now just one loss away from equalling the nation's worst losing sequence of 10 under Steve Hansen between 2002 and 2003.

This ninth defeat marks the longest number of matches without a Test win during Gatland's association with Wales that began in 2008, ended 11 years later and resumed ahead of the 2023 Six Nations.

Gatland has only won six out of 21 matches since his return and Wales have finished bottom of the Six Nations for the first time in 21 years and slipped to 11th in the world rankings, their lowest ever position.

Their losing record against the Wallabies in Australia has also extended to 13 consecutive defeats with no victory since 1969.

While there is a tour match to follow against Queensland Reds in Brisbane next Friday, Wales do not play another international until Fiji arrive at Cardiff's Principality Stadium in November.

That game launches an autumn schedule also featuring Australia and world champions South Africa, before Wales embark on a testing Six Nations campaign which begins against France in Paris, one of three away games in the tournament.

More to follow.

Australia: T Wright; Kellaway, Flook, Paisami, Daugunu; Lolesio, J Gordon; Slipper (capt), M Faessler, Tupou, J Williams, Salakaia-Loto, Valetini, McReight, Cale.

Replacements: Nasser, Kailea, Alaalatoa, Blyth, Gleeson, White, Donaldson, Pietsch.

Sin-bin: Salakaia-Loto 35

Wales: Winnett; L Williams, Watkin, Grady, Dyer; B Thomas, Bevan; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Griffin, Tshiunza, D Jenkins, Botham, Reffell, Plumtree.

Replacements: E Lloyd, Mathias, H O'Connor, Hill, Martin, Hardy, Costelow, Tompkins.

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)

Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (RFU), Paul Williams (NZR)

TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR).