Gareth Anscombe kicked 23 points as Wales piled more misery on Australia with a resounding World Cup Pool C win in Lyon on Sunday night.
A second successive defeat following last week’s 15-22 reverse against Fiji puts the Wallabies’ participation at this year’s tournament in jeopardy, while victory at the OL Stadium saw unbeaten Wales become the first team to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
Wales drew first blood when scrumhalf Gareth Davies crossed the whitewash in the fourth minute. Flyhalf Dan Biggar added the extras, but opposite number Ben Donaldson closed the gap to one point with two penalties before the close of the first quarter.
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Captain Jac!
Jac Morgan and Gareth Davies got their team off to a flying start!#RWC2023 | #WALvAUS pic.twitter.com/veUeiKwnS2
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 24, 2023
However, the Welsh went into half time with a dominant 16-6 lead after Anscombe – on for Biggar, who came off nursing what looked to be a shoulder injury – split the uprights three times from the kicking tee.
A drop goal, a conversion and three more penalties from Anscombe, along with tries from inside centre Nick Tompkins and skipper Jac Morgan in the second half helped Warren Gatland’s men secure a 40-6 win.
The Australians will conclude their campaign against Portugal next Sunday in Saint-Etienne, while next up for Wales is a clash versus Georgia on 7 October.
Photo: Sebastien Bozon/AFP