Wales kick 82nd minute penalty to defeat Wallabies

Sat, Nov 20, 2021, 7:33 PM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
A brave showing in Cardiff from the Wallabies

An 82nd penalty to Wales has sealed a heartbreaking 29-28 win over the Wallabies.

The visitors fought for the majority of the match down 14 after Rob Valetini was red carded for a high shot in the 16th minute.

Click here to vote for Michael Hooper and Samu Kerevi for World Rugby Player of the Year

They looked to have sealed a remarkable victory when Kurtley Beale kicked a 40-metre penalty with 90 seconds to go.

However, one final attack for Wales resulted in a penalty, with Rhys Priestland slotting it to secure the win.

The Wallabies were desperate for victory and found instant success through the boot as Nic White’s chip broke the Welsh defence open for Hunter Paisami.

Paisami would then produce his own grubber for Andrew Kellaway, who scored his ninth try of the season.

The game would turn in the 16th minute when Valetini was sent off for a high tackle.

Looking to set the tempo, the number eight collided with Wales lock Adam Beard in a nasty head clash.

Scottish referee Mike Adamson ruled there was no intention to drop his tackle height, issuing the red card.

The visitors would remarkable find themselves down to 13 eight minutes later fullback Kurtley Beale pinged for a deliberate knockdown.

This allowed Wales to strike from the resulting line out through Ryan Ellis to take the 13-10 lead.

James O’Connor kept the Wallabies in the contest via the boot, however, a late Dan Bigger penalty saw Wales go into the break up three.

As the Wallabies pushed to retake the lead, a crazy sequence of play saw Nick Tompkins cross untouched to extend their lead to 23-13.

In an incident resembling Beale’s yellow card, Tompkins was deemed to have knocked it back, allowing him to race away for the try.

The numbers would even up in the 57th minute as Gareth Thomas was sin-binned for a high cleanout on Allan Alaalatoa, shades of the incident that saw the Wallaby yellow carded against Scotland.

With momentum on their side, Kurtley Beale turned back the clock, breaking the line to find Len Ikitau, with Nic White finishing the play for the try.

As Dan Bigger extended the margin with a penalty, the Wallabies were buoyed, continue to rally with a man down.

Hunter Paisami broke the line with his final touch of the game, with some sharp hands finding Filipo Daugunu in the corner.

They would take an unlikely lead with 90 seconds to go as Will Skelton earned a penalty, getting his towering frame over the breakdown.

Kurtley Beale nailed a penalty from 40 metres out as the Wallabies looked set for a famous

In the end, one final attack from Wales on the goal line resulted in a penalty, with replacement Rhys Preistland slotting the kick to break the hearts of Australian fans.

WALES 29

TRIES: Ellis, Tompkins

CONS: Bigger 2

PENS: Bigger 4, Preistland,

WALLABIES 28

TRIES: Kellaway, White, Daugunu

CONS: O'Connor 2

PENS: O'Connor 2, Beale

Share
Super Rugby Pacific Round Six Preview
Force 'heart and soul' Pomare set to reach rare Super W milestone
Michael Hooper is excited about the challenge of playing Sevens in Hong Kong. Photo: Nick Holland/RA Media
'Rookie' ex-Wallabies skipper Hooper ready to step up Sevens unknown
'Brumbies DNA': Wallabies selections on the line for Reds clash - Larkham