Match Centre: Wales 34-39 Australia

Wales 34-39 Australia, Principality Stadium

Lachlan Lonergan scored a last-gasp try that Noah Lolesio converted as Australia went on to edge out Wales 39-34 in their final game of the November series at Principality Stadium on Saturday.

The result also marks a scrutiny on Wayne Pivac's future with the Wales side as they managed a solitary win against Argentina in the autumn internationals from four matches and also suffered first home defeats against Italy (Six Nations) and Georgia this year.

Australia looked down and out at one stage when they were trailing by 36-13 but went on to score 26 unanswered points capitalising on yellow cards to Justin Tipuric and Ryan Elias.

An early scrum penalty from Gareth Thomas helped Australia get off the mark with a Ben Donaldson penalty goal that came in the fifth minute but Wales responded back with a one-hand pass from Alun Wyn Jones allowing Jac Morgan to touchdown. Gareth Anscombe kicked the conversion right to make it 7-3.

The gap between the sides continued to remain at four as Donaldson and Anscombe exchanged penalties in the remainder of the opening quarter before Taulupe Faletau collected an offload from winger Rio Dyer to dot down. Anscombe kicked the extras and followed with a three-pointer to extend Wales' lead to 20-6.

Folau Fainga’a's try that came at the end of a line out drive in the 34th minute led Australia's fightback and Donaldson improved it to reduce the gap down to seven points. Australia suffered double setbacks on either side of the break as scrum-half Jake Gordon yellow-carded for deliberate offside while Tom Robertson was sin-binned for a scrummaging infringement.

With the numerical advantage on their side Morgan scored their second try that came at the back of an attacking driving maul and Anscombe's conversion to make it 27-13. Rio Dyer scored Wales' fourth try in the 53rd minute and Anscombe kicked the conversion before leaving the field with an injury to make it 34-13.

Wales lost Tipuric to yellow card in the 66th minute for a cynical trip on replacement Pete Samu with Mark Nawaqanitawase scoring tries on either side to reduce the gap down to nine points. The visitors' momentum was further boosted with Wales also losing Elias to yellow card for pulling down a maul that also resulted in a penalty try for the Wallabies making it 34-32.

With still the numerical advantage on their side, the match-winning try came from replacement Lonergan as Australia completed the tour with a victory.

Team line up:

Wales: Adams; Cuthbert, North, Hawkins, Dyer; Anscombe, T Williams, G Thomas, Owens, D Lewis, Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Morgan, Tipuric (capt), Faletau.

Reserves: Elias, R Jones, Francis, Carter, Macleod, Hardy, Priestland, Costelow.

Australia: Wright; Petaia, Ikitau, Hodge, Nawaqanitawase; Donaldson, Gordon; Slipper (capt), Fainga'a, Alaalatoa, Frost, Neville, Holloway, McReight, Gleeson.

Reserves: Lonergan, Robertson, Talakai, Hanigan, Samu, McDermott, Lolesio, Campbell.