Wales will bid to salvage their autumn international series with a win against Australia today, having already lost to southern hemisphere rivals New Zealand and South Africa.
Wales went down 20-15 to the Springboks, and led the All Blacks 9-6 at half-time before shipping 23 unanswered points in the second half last week. Their sole victory this month came courtesy of a largely second-string side over a woeful Canada team (34-13).
An Australian victory in the Millennium Stadium would cap off a highly successful end-of-season tour that has seen the Wallabies rack up wins over Italy (30-20), England (28-14) and France (18-13) and seeking a first unbeaten tour since 1996.
Beating a team from the southern hemisphere was one of coach Warren Gatland’s stated aims for this month’s Tests, but it’s something which has proved elusive for the Welsh.
Australia were Wales’ last southern hemisphere scalp, the Welsh running out 24-22 victors in November 2005 for only their second win (along with a 1999 win over South Africa) over SANZAR nations in 33 games since the advent of professionalism 13 years ago.
Australia coach Robbie Deans, predicted that Wales would pose his team the toughest test yet on their tour.
“We are well aware how keen they are to pick up a Tri-Nations scalp,” Deans said.
‘AWFUL PERFORMANCE’: Golden State were always chasing the game after failing to threaten from long range, making just eight of 33 three-point attempts Aaron Gordon on Monday scored 38 points as the Denver Nuggets shrugged off the absence of Nikola Jokic to halt the Golden State Warriors’ seven-game winning streak with a 114-105 victory over their Western Conference rivals. A dazzling display from Gordon inspired what was ultimately a comfortable win for Denver, who were missing regular starters Jokic and Jamal Murray from their lineup. The absentees were barely felt by Denver, who startled the Warriors early at San Francisco’s Chase Center and led for most of the game. The Warriors threatened to stage a late rally after slashing the Nuggets’ fourth-quarter lead from 15 points
The US’ bid for a fourth consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title came to a stunning end as they fell 1-0 to Panama after a stoppage-time goal from Cecilio Waterman on Thursday in Inglewood, California. Despite dominating possession, the US struggled to break down a resilient Panama side for long periods. Panama spent the bulk of the match defending, but pounced on a giveaway by the US before substitute forward Waterman sent a shot from the right side of the area to the bottom left corner late in stoppage time. Up next for Panama in tomorrow’s final is to be Mexico, who beat
Barcelona’s Ferran Torres scored twice on Sunday to help secure a late 4-2 comeback win at Atletico Madrid in a pulsating La Liga clash that took the Catalan side back to the top of the table. Barca have 60 points and a game in hand after last week’s postponement of their home game with CA Osasuna. They are level on points with Real Madrid, who won 2-1 at Villarreal on Saturday. “I am happy and proud of this team,” Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick told a news conference. “They never give up... It’s a great three points and we are happy to
Armand Duplantis will be among the reigning Olympic champions adding star power to the world indoor championships this weekend when the Chinese city of Nanjing hosts the first major global athletics meet since the Paris Games last year. The three-day event was originally slated for 2020 and faced multiple postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Nanjing’s Sports Training Center would finally welcome more than 570 athletes for the start of the showpiece today. One of the main attractions would be pole vaulter “Mondo” Duplantis, who soared 6.27m to break the world record for a staggering 11th time in Clermont-Ferrand last
RSS