Wales face Australia today in the second Test of their tour Down Under.
After losing 25-16 in Sydney, Warren Gatland’s team will be desperate to secure victory in Melbourne.
There are just two changes to the team from last week. Josh Hathaway and Aaron Wainwright have been ruled out with injury. Cam Winnett comes into the side at full-back, with Liam Williams shifting over to the wing. James Botham is slotting in on the blind side flank, with Taine Plumtree moving to Number Eight.
There is one more fixture against Super Rugby club side Queensland Reds next week, but this is a must-win game for Gatland’s side, who have not won a Test match since they defeated Georgia in the Rugby World Cup pool stages last year.
There were signs of real promise in the performance last week, with Cardiff Rugby star Ben Thomas enjoying a solid outing at fly-half for the first time in the international arena. Wainwright’s ball carrying was impressive in the first Test and Wales will need someone to fill his boots now that he is out of the rest of the tour.
Kick-off is at 10.45am (UK time), with the game being shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action.
Stay up to date with the match as it happens by following along with our live blog below.
Australia: Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Josh Flook, Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; James Slipper (capt), Matt Faessler, Taniela Tupou, Jeremy Williams, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Charlie Cale.
Replacements: Josh Nasser, Isaac Kailea, Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Blyth, Langi Gleeson, Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch.
Wales: Cameron Winnett; Liam Williams, Owen Watkin, Mason Grady, Rio Dyer; Ben Thomas, Ellis Bevan; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake (capt), Archie Griffin, Christ Tshiunza, Dafydd Jenkins, James Botham, Tommy Reffell, Taine Plumtree.
Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Kemsley Mathias, Harri O’Connor, Cory Hill, Mackenzie Martin, Kieran Hardy, Sam Costelow, Nick Tompkins.
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7 min Key Event
TRY AUSTRALIA; Filip Daugunu
Completely against the run of play, Australia make the most of the counter-attack and the winger crosses in the right corner.
AUS 5-0 WAL
5 minDylan James
Great turnover
Wales turn the ball over through Liam Williams, and build through the phases nicely.
A bomb from Ben Thomas misses the target and finds touch.
AUS 0-0 WAL
3 MIN Dylan James
Wales pinged
Taine Plumtree is pinged at the breakdown.
Aussie scrum now as they ready themselves to put in.
AUS 0-0 WAL
1 min Key Event
KICK-OFF!
Wales v Australia is underway!
WAL 0-0 AUS
10:55Dylan James
Australian national anthem now…
Angela Scundi is providing the lyrical harmony for the Wallaby faithful.
10:52Dylan James
National anthem time
Elin Tomos is singing Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
Captain Dewi Lake is giving it the full beans.
It never gets old!
10:51Dylan James
‘Welcome To Country’ performed
‘Welcome To Country’ is now being performed at AAMI Park.
It’s a ceremony performed by a local Aboriginal person to acknowledge and give consent to events taking place on their traditional lands.
The teams are lined up on the field as the speech is being said.
10:47Dylan James
Kick-off imminent at AAMI Park in Melbourne
The teams are readying themselves to come down the tunnel.
Wales are in a team huddle in the changing rooms, as are the Wallabies.
10:26Dylan James
20 minutes until kick-off!
Wales lock horns with Australia in the second Test in just 20 minutes.
10:10Dylan James
FULL TIME: New Zealand 24-17 England
Steve Borthwick’s England pushed the All Blacks but they couldn’t quite get the edge over them in at the mighty Eden Park.
Beauden Barrett was fantastic when he came on and was instrumental in Mark Telea’s momentum-swinging try.
Attentions now turn to Wales v Australia, which kicks off in just over half an hour.
Stay tuned!
10:01Dylan James
Two changes for Wales
There are just two changes for the starting XV for Wales, and both are injury-induced.
Josh Hathway, the Gloucester winger who earned his first Test cap last week, has been ruled out. Cam Winnett comes in at full-back, with Liam Williams shifting to the wing position.
Aaron Wainwright has been ruled out of the rest of the tour due to a hamstring injury sustained last week. James Botham comes in on the blind, with Taine Plumtre at eight – as previously mentioned.
Ben Thomas holds his place at fly-half after a strong run out last week.
09:46Dylan James
James Botham ready to take his chance
Cardiff Rugby back-rower James Botham has been selected on the blind side flank today, after Aaron Wainwright was ruled out with injury. Taine Plumtree shifts from the blind to Number Eight.
“It has been great to be a part of the squad again. I hadn’t played for Wales for two years and then came back in against Scotland, had the one game and got injured,” said Botham.
“I think the hardest bit was knowing that I had done something in the game. It wasn’t a case of knee injury, take me straight off – it was kind of grumbling on in the back of my head, and then after the game it was hard.
“I’ve now got to show what I’m made of and try to cement my place in the side. It’s up to me now, really.”
09:15Dylan James
Wales have not beaten Australia in Australia since 1969
It was June 21, 55 years ago, when Wales last beat the Wallabies in their own back yard.
It was a 19-16 victory for the Welsh at Sydney Cricket Ground, and was a team that included the likes of Sir Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams – so it wasn’t bad!
Can Wales end all those years of hurt today?
08:53Mathew Davies
Half-time at Eden Park
It’s turning into another tense but exciting game between New Zealand and England.
At half-time, England lead 13-14, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scoring a superb try for Steve Borthwick’s side.
Second half should be a cracker.
08:35Mathew Davies
Gwyn Jones column
S4C pundit Gwyn Jones has penned his thoughts on the second Test and his reflections on the first game in Sydney. As usual, his views are forthright:
It’s frustrating to me that Wales are only prepared to play with any degree of risk once they are nine points behind and a few minutes left on the clock. If they had an intent to go out and score tries from the start and tried to play more positively, they would get better at it rather than their current ambition of dragging the opposition into a messy arm-wrestle.
08:08Mathew Davies
Good morning
Good morning, folks.
It’s second Test day in Melbourne.
Anticipation is building for this one, a big game for Wales and Warren Gatland in particular.
The men in red are winless in 2024 and would no doubt love to bring that run to an end today.
We’ll bring you live updates from Down Under and all the build-up. Stay tuned.