International rugby matches can be decided by narrow margins and at the highest level, mistakes by one team are often punished by the opposition.
These are two lessons Wales’ young players learnt in abundance in Melbourne on Saturday as Warren Gatland’s side suffered a ninth successive defeat.
Wales did a lot of good things at AAMI Park, scoring four tries, two of which came from their excellent captain Dewi Lake via the profitable source that was their rolling maul.
But after each of those attempts, as well as Liam Williams’ second-half try, Gatland’s team conceded crucial penalties, allowing Joe Schmidt’s Australia to hit back immediately.
It took the momentum out of the attempted Welsh revival.
Warren Gatland (pictured) and Wales suffered their ninth straight defeat to Australia
Wales would go on to lose 36-28 to Australia in their second test match in Melbourne
Joe Schmidt’s team started the match strongly, scoring twice in the first 25 minutes
“We worked so hard for our points and showed our inexperience by gifting them points,” admitted Gatland, whose team are now just one point away from their worst ever winning streak.
Wales lost 10 games in a row between 2002 and 2003. Gatland will equal that tally if they lose to Australia’s Queensland Reds on Friday.
Gatland has won just six of the 21 Tests since returning to the top job in Welsh rugby at the end of 2022 and he added: “That was disappointing because there were a couple of points where they didn’t have to work too hard. I can’t criticise the effort. We’ve got a group of young men who need to learn from those experiences. There were six points from two kick-offs when we didn’t go out.
“Those are big moments. I’m telling you this is going to be a really good team. There’s a great buzz within this group. The difference is they (Australia) are probably a bit more streetwise.”
Wales trailed 17-0 after 25 minutes when the Wallabies passed Filipo Daugunu and Jake Gordon. The second of those scores came from another Welsh error when Cameron Winnett failed to claim a high ball. Daugunu finished off a lengthy attack started by Andrew Kellaway. Lake responded with a brace and Australian lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was booked for a dangerous tackle on Archie Griffin, but Noah Lolesio’s boot helped the Wallabies retain control at 23-14.
They eventually won the series and the James Bevan Trophy, after losing eight of their last ten games.
Dewi Lake (right) went on to score twice for Wales but said after the match that ‘little inaccuracies cost his team’
Liam Williams (left) would add to Wales’ lead in the second half when Rio Dyer scored in the 70th minute
Australia’s Jake Gordon (centre) would also score for the home side, beating several Wales players and sliding over the whitewash
Hunter Paisami clashes with the Welsh defence as Australia punish the tourists for several errors
When Williams scored early in the second period and Ben Thomas converted after having missed a simple penalty earlier, Wales were within two points and looked set to secure their first victory on Australian soil since 1969. Such a success would have been invaluable for the confidence of the next generation of Gatlands.
But immediately after the restart Williams gave away a penalty, giving Australia the field position that Allan Alaalatoa ran over. Then came the decisive moment.
It was another case of Wales shooting themselves in the foot. When Australia touched the ball, there seemed little danger. Williams leapt acrobatically into the air to keep the ball in play and tapped it back to replacement Kieran Hardy. But the two disagreed and home wing Daugunu followed suit, racing clear to score.
It was an Australian score wrapped in the red of Wales. You just can’t expect to win Test matches when you give teams tries like that.
Gatland’s team will now have a nervous time preparing for the Reds. Lose a club team and the knives are likely to be sharpened further.
Lake, James Botham and Griffin were Wales’ best players in Melbourne and offered hope for the future.
“Losing is always a bitter pill to swallow, especially when you’ve worked so hard for it. Unfortunately, we brought it on ourselves by letting them get ahead,” said hooker Lake.
“We have a never-give-die attitude, but it has to last 80 minutes. Small inaccuracies cost us our heads.”
Wales were given a late boost of hope by Rio Dyer’s fine finish. But, as expected, more poor discipline allowed Australia to decide the game. Wales also need to look at their line-out.
Wales return to the UK and reconvene as a squad in preparation for their Autumn Tests against Fiji, Australia and South Africa in November.
Schmidt said he was ‘relieved’ after claiming victory, adding: ‘I love how Lake are leading them and when you’re up 17-0 you want to keep that on the scoreboard’
Two key throws from Lake’s replacement Evan Lloyd missed their target in the closing stages.
That meant Australia won their first series under new head coach Schmidt 2-0.
“I’m just relieved. I thought the Welsh were great,” Schmidt said. “I love how Lake is leading them and when you’re up 17-0 you want to keep that on the scoreboard.
“But from there he (Lake) led them (Wales) back and then it was an arm-wrestling match. We had to work hard. Our scores were a bit fortunate.
‘I think we can still learn a lot from each other.’