Wasteful Wales defeated by 14-player Wallaroos

Australia (8) 25

Tries: Stewart, Karpani, Cramer, Wong Con: Dallinger Pen: Dallinger

Wales (7) 19

Tries: Phillips, penalty try, K Jones Con: Bevan

Wasteful Wales ended their debut WXV campaign winless after failing to beat 14-player Australia in Auckland.

Kelsey Jones’ late score ensured a dramatic finish, but Wales were once again left to rue missed chances.

They finish a largely disappointing tournament bottom of the table.

Australia meanwhile can celebrate two wins over Six Nations teams having beaten France last weekend.

Wales went into this game having never beaten Australia in five previous meetings, while also seeking to avenge last year’s Rugby World Cup defeat.

It was the Wallaroos who broke the deadlock on the 15 minute mark, when some weak Welsh tackling allowed the ball to be shipped out wide for Maya Stewart to cross.

Stewart was back in the side after suffering a concussion in the opening round against England.

Wales had a chance to respond 10 minutes later but were penalised for being off their feet with the try line in sight.

They kept piling on the pressure and scored from a five metre lineout, Carys Phillips emerging from the base of the maul as she so often does.

Scrum-half Keira Bevan converted to give Wales the lead.

But Wales found themselves back under the cosh straight from the re-start after Bethan Lewis knocked-on what should have been a simple take.

They conceded another penalty for being off their feet which allowed Carys Dallinger to restore Australia’s lead from the tee.

Wales were lucky not to concede on the stroke of half-time, with the Wallaroos brought back for obstruction.

Jasmine Joyce went for a head injury assessment after Siokapesi Palu’s dangerous tackle

Australia were reduced to 14 players shortly after the break, with Palu given her marching orders for a high tackle on Jasmine Joyce – her shoulder in direct contact with Joyce’s head.

Wales spent the next five minutes camped in Australia’s 22 and Phillips was on her way to scoring a second when referee Hollie Davidson headed for the posts to award a penalty try.

Sera Naiqama was also shown a yellow card for illegally collapsing the maul.

Wales should have taken advantage of two extra players, but instead found themselves defending a five metre lineout.

Last week’s hat-trick hero Eva Karpani was able to touch down in the corner despite there being no jumpers in the lineout.

Wales then brought on their impact players, but it was Australia with all the possession and territory.

Wales’ narrow defence gave Australia numbers out wide and allowed Lori Cramer – the same player who kicked Australia to victory in last year’s World Cup – space to go over in the corner.

Ivania Wong crossed on the opposite wing soon after when Sisilia Smith got on the outside of Lleucu George and handed an easy scoring pass.

Replacement hooker Jones pulled one back for Wales in the dying minutes, again from Wales’ driving lineout, while Robyn Wilkins’ conversion hit the posts.

George gave the Welsh one last chance to attack with one of her trademark 50-22 kicks. Wales took the lineout cleanly and threw everyone behind the driving maul, but they were held up agonisingly short of the line.

It sparked an ugly scrap between the two sides before Davidson blew the final whistle.

Line-ups

Australia: Faitala Moleka; Maya Stewart, Georgina Friedrichs, Arabella McKenzie, Ivania Wong; Carys Dallinger, Layne Morgan; Brianna Hoy, Tania Naden, Eva Karpani, Sera Naiqama, Michaela Leonard (capt), Siokapesi Palu, Emily Chancellor, Kaitlan Leaney.

Replacements: Adiana Talakai, Bree-Anna Cheatham, Bride O’Gorman, Atasi Lafai, Ashley Marsters, Jay Huriwai, Cecilia Smith, Lori Cramer.

Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Hannah Bluck, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipolotu, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Kate Williams, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis.

Replacements: Kelsey Jones, Abbey Constable, Cerys Hale, Alisha Butchers, Sioned Harries, Meg Davies, Robyn Wilkins, Kerin Lake.

Officials

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

Assistants: Sara Cox (RFU), Tiana Anderson (NZR)

TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)