Australia 25-29 Wales: Rugby World Cup 2019 – as it happened

And here’s Robert Kitson - our eyes at the stadium with his full-time assessment:

One of our Guardian rugby correspondents Bret Harris has written in:

It looks like Michael cheikas master plan falling apart. Wales playing smart. Wallabies making dumb mistakes. Wallabies whingeing about refereeing backfiring. Cheika made shock changes to team that beat Fiji. Was part of a long term plan but team lacking cohesion. Look confused at times.

It’s a tough assessment - do you agree with that, Australian supporters?

For the Welsh, plays like the opening minute drop goals in both halves were too smart, too calm. Their tryline defence was immense - when do you see three consecutive rolling mauls defended from a tier one nation?

It’s a relieved and appreciative captain, Alun Wyn Jones, who is interviewed post-game. He knows his side was in a battle today, but what confidence will they draw from that performance - especially with the influential Dan Biggar out of the contest so early on after that courageous try-stopping tackle on the human wrecking ball Samu Kerevi.

My emails are lighting up with (presumably) southern hemisphere fans with accusations of northern hemisphere bias against referee Romain Poite.

Look. There were some little calls here and there (and I’ll confess to momentary frustration over one or two myself) but it’s hard to suggest on the balance of play that Wales did not deserve that win.

For Australia, there were patches of mercurial brilliance, but far too many sloppy errors, poor decisions and head-scratching plays.

You cannot miss touch with a penalty in the championship minutes, you cannot throw intercept passes, you cannot drop the ball cold.

Whew! Take a breath. Raise a glass, Welsh fans - what a dramatic victory, and what another pulsating clash we’ve seen already at the Japanese World Cup.

South Africa v New Zealand, France v Argentina, Japan v Ireland, and now - Wales v Australia. That’s some high quality pool-stage drama.

79 min: There’s about thirty seconds to play, and Wales have turned it over!! A runner got isolated, and the men in red and running it down.

78 min: It’s a Welsh lineout feed, about 25-3om out from their line. The men in red win the ball, but somehow Australia have turned it over!

They look to set something up, building the phases. They’re about 20m out Australia.

77 min: And now a penalty against Wales, for standing in the scrum.

Australia look for touch - but it’s brilliantly kept in by Wales! That was like the fielder that skips the four rope to flick back to a colleague and prevent a six. Excellent from Wales - but how Australia missed touch at such a crucial point in the game!

75 min: We reset for a scrum. Romain Poite holds court, but an increasingly frustrated Australian forward pack rues the lost seconds at this stage of the match.

Penalty against Australia for hitting early in the contact. Great experience from Wales’ forwards. They’re locking the clock up brilliantly after a long period of Australian dominance in this second half.

74 min: We set for a scrum - a reminder that it’s France, Argentina or England awaiting these teams, should they qualify from Pool D - with the top spot proving crucial if a presumptive clash with England is to be avoided.

73 min: Australia look to spread wide, but it’s Beale who adjudged to have thrown a forward pass! A key error from the Wallabies’ experienced fullback.

70 min: Great claim from Tipuric, and they earn a penalty for Rodda jumping across in the lineout!

Patchell looks for the crossfield bomb - and again North out-jumps Koroibete. Didn’t this bloke play in the NRL? It’s a prodigious leap the Welshman has on him - but he can’t plant it cleanly on this occasion. He gets to his feet gingerly, hopefully no injury for North, he’s been one of Wales’ best today.

68 min: Penalty against Australia as Rodda attempts the chargedown - but his compatriot Kepu is pinged for offside. Wales kick to touch, it’s a good opportunity for some attacking possession. We haven’t seen much of this for the men in red in this second half.

65 min: There’s been a big swing of momentum in this game. Australia were by and large a little disjointed and lacked cohesion in that first forty, but they’re looking a much better prospect after the break. Wales for their part appear to have gone into their shell a little in the past 10 minutes.

A knock on by Wales, and they’re starting to look under pressure.

64 min: Australia dart down the right, it’s Haylett-Petty with a chip and chase after White’s fine run. It’s not a great connection and the kick gives him everything to do - but it’s a gold knock on. A much-needed breather for both squads, but with Australia ascendent, you’d imagine the Welsh forward pack enjoy it more.

They set the scrum, win it, and then clear their lines with a thumping kick upfield.

60 min: Latu feeds, Australia set up the maul, but it goes nowhere. They spin wide and Hooper’s eyes light up. Sio looks to pick and drive - they’re a metre short of the line, Australia. This is courageous stuff - they’re inching ever so closer, the Wallabies - can they find a way over?

58 min: It’s a better claim and they set up the maul once more, Australia, but again the Welsh wall remains unbreachable. Excellent defence. They look to pick and drive, the Wallabies.

Wales penalised for offside, great rugby this. Incredible defensive effort - but it’s set to continue. Australia go to another lineout.

57 min: Australia with a lineout in a promising area - big opportunity here. They set up the maul, but the Welsh defend brilliantly - no forward momentum there.

Toomua looks crossfield for Haylett-Petty with the kick, but he’s overhit it and it sails into touch. We come back for a penalty. Do they take the three? No, they’ve elected to kick for touch.

55 min: Genia makes way for Nic White, meanwhile just two replacements since the break so far from Wales, Wyn Jones and Wainwright making way for Nicky Smith and Ross Moriarty.

54 min: Scrum feed for Wales, after another turnover. It’s won by the men in red before a huge tackle from Hooper bundles the runner, Gareth Davies into touch! Huge work from the Australia skipper, you sense he’s a little frustrated out there.

Matthew Dony writes in:

Lovely shot of Nicky Wire in the crowd reacting to that drop goal. He’s already writing lyrics about it...

Look, I’ll confess I have no idea who that is, but we cater to all audiences here at the Guardian play-by-play.

52 min: Genia looks to shift wide, they’re building phases Australia as they move around 10m out from the Welsh line. One of the first times all game any side has build ten phases.

But they butcher it, Australia! O’Connor tries to pop the short pass and he’s given Koroibete little chance to hold that.

51 min: In the interest of avoiding more talking points - we’ll just say if you give the penalty against Kerevi, then you give the penalty against Adams, as Romain Poite has there, as the winger is accused of going a little high in the tackle.

All we can ask is consistency, so fair play to the refereeing team.

50 min: Australia with a chance to build some momentum - but it’s Gareth Davies who rushes out of the line once again, and he almost takes a miraculous intercept! So close for Wales, a terrific read from the scrum half, he was unfortunate not to hold that. Brilliant anticipation.

47 min: It’s a huge early replacement from Cheika as Foley is sacrificed, and Toomua has immediate effect. Kurtley Beale enters the fray in place of Ashley-Cooper. Is it a concession that not all of the coaches’ shuffles worked?

41 min: It’s a very fine carry from Latu who gets some forward momentum for Australia, but it’s a cold drop from Foley who causes the turnover. Wales to set for a scrum.

Second half!

40 min: Still, time and tide wait for no man - and we recommence! What can Australia come up with to try and salvage this match. And is it conceivable that this very reliably Welsh side will allow them any glimmers of hope to get back into the contest?

Well, it’s a game of opinions and there’s plenty of divergence from you, the good readers, on both the Hooper/Biggar incident and Kerevi v Patchell:

David Sweet has written in:

Kerevi’s not meant to hold his hands - and head - in a way that put the opponent at risk of a smashed windpipe. People used to hold the ball around the ribcage/solar plexus. There’s absolutely no reason to hold it that high. As the commentators remarked, the player himself knows he’s lucky to still be on the pitch.

I don’t accept the “he took his mouthguard out therefore he knew he was about to get a yellow card” line - players do that on most long breaks in play to regain their breath. But I think many would agree with the rest of that statement, David.

Minor turning points aside, it’s hard to argue that Wales have been the better side across that first 40.

It’s the hoary chestnut of inconsistency in decisions that makes rugby fans around the world explode, though. And I imagine there are many supporters in gold still feeling a little aggrieved about losing Hodge for three weeks for an incident that should have been dealt with in-game.

Some half-time reading from the earlier Pool D clash:

Some warning signs there for Fiji and Australia - they’ve bounced back very well from their opening round trouncing, Georgia.

36 min: Oh my. We’re coming back for another TMO, with Kerevi accused of leading with the forearm. My days. Do these blokes get paid by the minute for how long they can interrupt the flow of a match?

It’s a penalty against Australia. Honestly, I don’t know what Kerevi’s meant to do there - he has his hands raised to protect the ball and Satchell comes in too high in the tackle. It’s arms to chest, that rise for a secondary, indirect contact to the head.

Hooper argues the toss with Poite “that’s just terrible tackle technique” - he’s not the most loveable in world rugby, but it’s hard to argue with that assessment.

35 min: Good work from Wales, they rush out of the line and pressure O’Connor and it’s ball to ground.

There’s talk of “greasy conditions”, which means a first reference to Warren Gatland and baby oil (drink!)

33 min: O’Connor thumps downfield. No Reece Hodge, obviously, how much will they miss his booming kicking game today.

We set for an Australian lineout - it’s won and Kerevi bumps the first tackler again. What a game he’s having. Ach, a poor pass out of the halves from Foley, but Hooper scrabbles to retain. They pick and drive, but Wales are defending well.

30 min: A big ten minutes to close this half. Owens with a lineout feed, which Wales win but it’s a poor pass out of the halves and Patchell does very well to pick up off his bootlaces. They build the phases, the Welsh continue to probe, and it’s Hooper who’s eventually penalised for coming in over the top.

No Biggar, who’s off for an HIH after that mammoth tackle on Kerevi. Patchell will line up for a shot at three.

26 min: Australia push wide, and it’s George North who gives away a penalty. They play on, and it’s Kerevi with another monster run - he drops the goose step and palms off a would-be tackler, before Biggar comes across with a crucial try-saving tackle!

We come back for the penalty.

24 min: It’s some sustained possession for Wales who continue to look dangerous in attack. Kerevi just does enough defensively, but we set for another lineout.

But it’s deflected towards the men in gold! A huge lineout pinch.

Some more predictions trickling in:

While Phil Withall chimes in:

It’s a fair point, Phil. We saw Australia play a little too exuberantly to start against Fiji, before returning to a more composed form of rugby. Will we see the same again, today?

Alastair Connor writes in:

Hi Richard. As A Kiwi living in France, I’m divided as to who I support. As a NZer, I would naturally back Satan’s XV against Aus, but as a new Frenchman, I would marginally prefer Wales in the semis. It goes without saying (shh) that England will beat us in the group match. Cheers!

A good point though - I forgot to mention in the build up that this match has potentially huge ramifications for what comes later in the tournament - and that team, England, looms very large for whoever loses this one today.

18 min: Wales kick to touch and set the lineout - but its pinched! Good response, from the men in gold. Wales keep the defensive runner up, and the maul goes nowhere. It’s another turnover!

17 min: It’s been a lively start from French referee Romain Poite, who is calling the play back for an alleged late tackle by Michael Hooper.

Goodness gracious. If we’re going to stop rugby games to come back for incidents like this, we may as well just make the halves 60 minutes.

No card, but it’s a penalty to Wales.

16 min: Liam Williams returns and drives a thumping kick 60m down field. Koroibete returns like a wind-up clock-cum-fridge.

Wales now on the attack, Wainwright with some big metres midfield, they push left but run out of real estate.

Biggar looks for another drop goal - it sails the distance.. but it’s wide!

14 min: Welly, well. First close up of Cheika in the coaches box. Watch that gently simmer over the next 64 minutes, at this rate.

Australia with ball in hand about 10m into the Welsh half. Kerevi with a solid run, and he bumps off his opposite number. But it’s the skipper Hooper who drops it, again!

9 min: Wales look to spread, but it’s a forward pass. A poor turnover - they’ve started by far the brighter, the World Number 3 side. We set for another scrum, Australia’s feed, just shy of halfway.

7 min: But it’s a double knock-on! Wales first, and Australia’s line remains intact. They showed some southern hemisphere running rugby there, Wales, but only desperate defence brought North down, as the try line was within sight.

They set the scrum, and Australia wins before Genia clears their lines.

5 min: Wales with a lineout feed, Tipuric is raised and claims, Haylett-Petty takes the kick well and returns with some good metres. Kerevi almosts breaks the line but he’s held, just, by the shorts elastics!

Foley throws a speculator - and it’s intercepted - too easy for Wales. Now it’s the men in red who spread wide! They’re pulled down 10m short of the line.

4 min: Penalty missed! Mine eyes! Biggar from near the touchline, but he slots it just to the left. A let off for Australia. 6-0 could have been a harsh start.

2 min: Haylett-Petty almost breaks the line, but he can’t maintain control and ball goes to ground. Wales advance, and it’s a penalty against Australia - Ashley-Cooper accused of being off his feet.

And there’s the anthems - belted out with gusto. More red than yellow in the crowd, you’d argue perhaps. But irrespective of who you’re supporting, this is going to be an absolute cracker.

A prediction in early from Andrew Battershill:

Australia are smarter than Wales. They will outscore by 2 clear tries, with a win by 3-6 points.

Ooph. A more confident man then me, I believe Andrew. I’m leaning Welsh composure for this one. And Biggar’s boot.

But what a game we have in store, either way. As Alun Wyn Jones leads the men in red onto the pitch for a record 130th time - kickoff’s not far away, as the players emerge to a chorus of drums and gongs.

Superb atmosphere.

So - the danger men today? The areas where it will be won and lost?

Breakdown: Hooper and Pocock. What solutions do Wales have to stop the dynamic duo?

Kicking: Leali’ifano’s profligacy from the set piece could be a part factor to his dropping out of the side, while Foley comes in as a man in, let’s be fair, pretty scratchy form. Whereas Biggar on the other hand? You run out of panegyrics for a guy who performs under pressure as regularly as Wales’ No 10.

Settled side v horses for courses: There’s no doubting Wales are a solid, cohesive unit. They know each others’ game and they can rely on the man next to them. But Australia? It’s a new halves pair again - albeit the experienced duo of Foley and Genia - and shifts at fullback and wing. They should still be well-drilled, but if anything goes wrong early, it could drive a wobble or two.

If you need a quick refresh of how the pools are placed at the end of this morning’s Georgia v Uruguay clash:

And if you missed Paul Ree’s preview for today’s huge cross-hemisphere-battle, cast your eyes over this:

So, without ado, to team news.

It’s an unchanged fifteen for Wales:

Wales: (15-1) 15 L Williams; 14 North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Parkes, 11 Adams; 10 Biggar, 9 G Davies; 8 Navidi, 7 Tipuric, 6 Wainwright, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Ball, 3 Francis, 2 Owens, 1 Wyn Jones.

Bench: 16 Smith, 17 Dee, 18 Lewis, 19 Shingler, 20 Moriarty, 21 T Williams, 22 Patchell, 23 Watkin.

While for Australia it’s a dramatic mix-up from Michael Cheika - with four changes (yes, four). Genia and Foley return to the halves, a suspension-enforced reshuffle as Reece Hodge drops out for Haylett-Petty, with Michael Cheika also wielding the axe on Kurtley Beale. The defensive presence of veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper preferred instead.

Australia: (15-1) 15 Haylett-Petty; 14 Ashley-Cooper, 13 O’Connor, 12 Kerevi, 11 Koroibete; 10 Foley, 9 Genia; 8 Naisarani, 7 Hooper (c), 6 Pocock, 5 Arnold, 4 Rodda, 3 Alaalatoa, 2 Latu, 1 Sio.

Bench: 16 Uelese, 17 Slipper, 18 Kepu, 19 Coleman, 20 Salakaia-Loto, 21 White, 22 To’omua, 23 Beale.

Fresh news from the earlier Pool D clash, where Uruguay’s Los Teros were unable to sustain their heroics against Fiji, going down 33-7 to Georgia. A strong result for a proud rugby nation that keeps their progression hopes alive. At the very least it shows they’ll be highly competitive with Fiji and Australia to come.

We’ll have a match report on that one, shortly.

Hi all! Salutations to you and yours from wherever around the world you’re following our coverage. Is it the seaside town of Borth or the fabled national park Snowdonia, trying to chase the last rays of the northern hemisphere? Or perhaps anywhere on the scorched southern continent, where it appears there’s no longer a concept such as winter.

Wherever it is, please drop us a line to join the coverage - via email or tweet. Your predictions ahead of this one? We’re all about quips, stats and insights here. Or maybe poetry? Get in touch.