Australia complete series win over Wales with 36-28 win in Melbourne

Australia 36-28 Wales, Melbourne

Australia completed a 2-0 series whitewash victory over Wales as they sealed a 36-28 win in the second Test in Melbourne.

This is ninth successive Test defeat for Wales leaving them to just six wins from 21 Test matches since Warren Gatland took over for the second time.

Australia opened their account in the 7th minute as Andrew Kellaway and Fraser McReight combined to send Filipo Daugunu over the line in the 7th minute for his first try and Noah Lolesio kicked the conversion and followed with a penalty goal to make it 10-0.

Ben Thomas had a chance to open the account but his penalty goal drifted wide but soon the Wallabies extended the lead further with Jake Gordon kicking past Cameron Winnett and eventually touched down for their second try and Lolesio kicked the conversion to make it 17-0.

Wales eventually got their breakthrough in the 30th minute as Dewi Lake dotted down at the back of a line out and Thomas improved to make it 17-7 before an infringement from Winnett allowed Lolesio to kick a three-pointer making it 20-7.

The 35th minute saw Australia reduced to 14 players temporarily with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto sin-binned for shoulder to head tackle on Archie Griffin and shortly Lake scored his second at the back of a powerful maul to reduce the arrears to eight points but Lolesio kicked another penalty of his own at the stroke of half time to ensure Joe Schmidt's men completed the opening half with a 23-14 lead.

Wales showed better intent at the start of the second half as Thomas sent a perfect pass for Liam Williams to touchdown and the fly half also kicked the extras to make it a two point game.

Nevertheless, his effort was cancelled out with Allan Alaalatoa barged over following a powerful maul and Lolesio's conversion ensured the scoreline became 28-21 and shortly Daugunu completed his second in the 67th minute.

With 10 minutes left in the game, Rio Dyer who collected a pass following a charged down kick to reduce the gap down to five points but an offside from the visitors allowed Australia to get away with an eight point victory following a three-pointer from Ben Donaldson.

Team line up:

Australia: Wright; Kellaway, Flook, Paisami, Daugunu; Lolesio, Gordan; Slipper (c), faessler, Tupou, Williams, Salakaia-Loto, Valetini, McReight, Cale.

Reserves: Nasser, Kailea, Alaalatoa, Blyth, Gleeson, White, Donaldson, Pietsch.

Wales: Winnett; Williams, Watkin, Grady, Dyer; B Thomas, Bevan; G Thomas, Lake (c), Griffin, Tshiunza, Jenkins, Botham, Reffell, Plumtree.

Reserves: Lloyd, Mathias, O’Connor, Hill, Martin, Hardy, Costelow, Tompkins.