Wallabies overwhelm Wales 32-8 to begin grand slam tour

“We made errors and they punished us”, said Wales’ most capped player, with 127.

It was predicted the presence of Pocock in the unfamiliar blindside flanker role would hinder Australia’s lineout, but that didn’t eventuate – with Australia winning all eight lineouts contested in the first half, largely thanks to the 208cm frame of Rory Arnold.

“Cheika added: “[Genia] had a great Rugby Championship, there’s no doubt about it but Phipps has played well these past two games.

It can not be ignored that Wales went into battle without five front-line players – Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones, Taulupe Faletau, Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams – while scrum-half Rhys Webb now appears a fitness doubt for the remaining three November games after suffering an ankle injury. “I’m sure he’ll enjoy his time in camp”. “We need to have the confidence and the ability to do that work on the field on a Saturday, and not perhaps go into our shells”.

“Whatever 23 players Wales put out at the Principality Stadium, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with”. “For us there is a lot of external noise, and there has been this year, and it’s something that we’ve had to put up with”, Foley said.

While Wales have the Six Nations to further improve their standing, the Wallabies have just this series of matches to prove their worth.

This 32-8 defeat could have…

Biggar did a brilliant job, averaging 11 points a Test during that spell, but Halfpenny is now ready for his return to the front line.

Pocock, who has won more than 60 caps in the Wallabies back-row, takes over from a suspended Dean Mumm.

Michael Cheika didn’t want to talk up the win, instead sticking to the party line. “I know what he can do”, Pocock said.

I said “mate, I didn’t pull you off”.

Wales: L Halfpenny, A Cuthbert, S Williams, J Roberts, G North (H Amos 60), D Biggar (S Davies 63), R Webb (G Davies 64), G Jenkins (captain, N Smith 58), K Owens (S Baldwin 58), S Lee (T Francis 58), B Davies (C Hill 63), L Charteris, D Lydiate (J King ), J Tipuric, R Moriarty.

“I think it’s irrelevant because right now the only game where the grand slam is up, is Scotland. I just felt like our preparation was really solid”, Moore said.

“It wasn’t really a very good Test against Australia because we didn’t have enough ball, but there were a couple of things we did that paid off and there’ll be a few more things we try next week and the week after”.

The Wallabies head to Edinburgh on Sunday, ahead of a November 12 clash against Scotland. They were then comprehensively beaten 37-10 in the third Bledisloe Cup match by New Zealand at the end of October.

Tevita Kuridrani replaced the injured Samu Kerevi at outside centre, and New South Wales hooker Tolu Latu could make his debut from the reserves because regular backup James Hanson broke his jaw in training on Tuesday. Six of the last 11 matches were heart-breakers lost by five points or less, and Wales would have won their Rugby World Cup pool match previous year with a pinch of composure and vision.