Rhys Priestland kicked a penalty after full time to give Wales a one-point victory over a Wallabies team reduced to 14 men in the first half in Cardiff on Saturday.

In what will be seen as a heartbreak defeat for Australia as much as a thrilling win for Wales, it was the home side that pulled through victorious after an incredible second half of rugby.

The Wallabies opened the scoring through wing Andrew Kellaway’s try, but were reduced to 14 men when Rob Valentini was shown a red card for what was deemed to be a head-high no-arms tackle.

Wales were able to take a 16-13 lead into the break, thanks to three penalties from Dan Biggar and a converted try from Ryan Elias.

In an enthralling second half, Wales extendeded their lead when Nick Tompkins scored an controversial yet opportunistic try, as the TMO ruled he had knocked a Wallabies pass backwards before gathering the ball and racing through to score.

The Wallabies kept fighting and hit back through well-worked tries from scrumhalf Nic White and wing Filipo Daugunu, which came just after Wales prop Gareth Thomas fortunately avoided a red card and was only shown yellow for a shoulder charge at a breakdown.

Dave Rennie’s team looked to have grabbed a win when Kurtley Beale slotted a long-range penalty, but Wales worked their way into Australia’s 22 and won a penalty, which Priestland held his nerve to convert.

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