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Image caption, Wales have lost their last 11 tests against the Wallabies in Australia Item information
- Author, Gareth Griffiths
- Role, BBC Sport Wales
- Reporting from Sydney
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4 minutes ago
Wales arrived in Australia to eradicate 55 years of pain.
Warren Gatland’s side face the Wallabies over two tests, starting on July 6 in Sydney and a week later in Melbourne, before ending the tour against Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
The last time the Welsh national seniors beat the Wallabies in Australia, Harold Wilson was Prime Minister, the Beatles were at number one in the charts with ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’, and it would be another month before Neil Armstrong took the throne mounted. the first man to set foot on the moon.
Although Gatland’s team has lost their last seven Test matches, Wales have been struggling in Australia for more than half a century.
It was June 21, 1969 when Wales last defeated the Wallabies in Australia, with a 19-16 win at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
It was a Welsh team led by captain Brian Price, featuring legends such as JPR Williams, John Dawes, Gerald Davies, Barry John, Sir Gareth Edwards, Delme Thomas and Mervyn Davies.
That was Wales’ first away test in Australia and remains their only win in 12 attempts.
Since then they have suffered 11 defeats, some of which rank among the darkest days in Welsh rugby history.
Dawes, Ron Waldron, Kevin Bowring, Steve Hansen and Gareth Jenkins are some of the Wales coaches who have tried in vain to break through to Australia.
Gatland hopes to break the trend in the coming weeks.
Wales reaches new low
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Image caption, In addition to the disastrous 1991 tour to Australia, Wales would also lose to the Wallabies in the World Cup that year
Wales’ tour to Australia in 1978 was exciting, but the visitors were not the same without Edwards and Phil Bennett absent, as they lost in Brisbane and Sydney.
The bad feeling in the second Test came when Graham Price’s jaw was broken by a blow from behind by Steve Finnane.
There was a gap of 13 years before the disastrous 1991 tour, which damaged Welsh rugby both on and off the field.
Amid turmoil and infighting within the squad, Wales were defeated 71-8 by New South Wales and then 63-6 in the Brisbane Test.
Worse still was to follow at the official post-match dinner, where knives, plates and food were reportedly thrown across the room, while centre Mike Hall required stitches in his hand after being cut by glass trying to separate the warring Neath and Llanelli factions.
A Queensland official described it as “the most disgraceful scene I have seen from a group of players”.
Coach Waldron retired after the tour due to ill health, while captain Paul Thorburn retired with immediate effect.
Wallabies continue their dominance
Image source, Huw Evans Photo Agency
Image caption, Cardiff winger Chris Czekaj broke his leg during a match in Brisbane in 2007
Wales was put on probation again in 1996. Under Bowring’s leadership, Wales won 56-25 in Brisbane and 42-3 in Sydney.
Rugby league convert Wendell Sailor produced a devastating early two-try burst as Australia defeated Wales 30-10 in Sydney in 2003.
Wales became increasingly competitive and four years later a last-ditch try from substitute Stephen Hoiles prevented Wales from securing their first Test victory in Sydney.
The 2007 tourists stormed into an early 17-0 lead with tries from Jamie Robinson and captain Gareth Thomas, who won a then-record 93rd cap.
But lineout problems allowed Australia to hit back, with tries from Wycliff Palu, Nathan Sharpe and Matt Giteau making it 22-20.
James Hook’s late drop goal looked to have sealed victory for Wales but a final all-out attack saw Hoiles score in the corner.
Wales then suffered defeat in Brisbane as Australia won 31-0 in a match that went down in history for the horrific injury suffered by Cardiff winger Chris Czekaj.
So close, yet the same old story
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Image caption, Australian Mike Harris celebrates his winning kick against Wales in 2012
Wales arrived in Australia in 2012 as Grand Slam champions after winning the Six Nations title in March that year.
A month later, Gatland suffered a freak accident at his beach house in New Zealand. He fell off a ladder while cleaning his windows. He broke both heels and had to undergo surgery.
It was an injury that forced him to hand over the reins to assistant Rob Howley to initially take charge of Wales’ three-Test tour.
Gatland joined the squad for the final two games, a year before he would lead the British and Irish Lions to success in Australia.
Wales lost the series 3-0, but they were all close games. The difference between the two teams in the three tests was only 11 points.
In the last two internationals, Wales led just before the end, but Australia won both times, with Mike Harris and Berrick Barnes scoring the decisive goals in consecutive games.
Wales’ tale of woe in Australia
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Image caption, Sam Warburton captained Wales on the last tour to Australia in 2012
- 1978 – Australia 18-8 Wales (Brisbane)
- 1978 – Australia 19-17 Wales (Sydney)
- 1991 – Australia 63-6 Wales (Brisbane)
- 1996 – Australia 56-25 Wales (Brisbane)
- 1996 – Australia 42-3 Wales (Sydney)
- 2003 – Australia 30-10 Wales (Sydney)
- 2007 – Australia 29-23 Wales (Sydney)
- 2007 – Australia 31-0 Wales (Brisbane)
- 2012 – Australia 27-19 Wales (Brisbane)
- 2012 – Australia 25-23 Wales (Melbourne)
- 2012 – Australia 20-19 Wales (Sydney)
Wales can win in Australia
Wales players have had recent success in Australia and against the Wallabies.
Gatland’s side finally ended a run of 13 consecutive defeats against Australia in November 2018 with a 9-6 win in Cardiff.
Wales have since beaten Australia in the last two World Cups, including the record 40-6 victory in Lyon in October 2023.
The national team also won World Cup matches in Australia against other opponents in 1987 and 2003.
Wales also defeated the Wallabies 37 years ago in a play-off match for third place at the World Cup, but that took place in the New Zealand city of Rotorua.
And there were 10 Welsh starters when the Lions beat Australia in the decider in Sydney in 2013.
It is that victory from Wales against a team playing in green and gold on Australian soil that has remained elusive since 1969.
Two years ago, Wayne Pivac secured a first men’s victory against the Springboks in South Africa and a second Test win in Bloemfontein.
His fellow New Zealander Gatland wants to do something similar in Australia.
