How they rated
LIAM WILLIAMS
Couldn’t stop a thunderous carry from Kerevi during the build-up to Adam Ashley-Cooper’s try. But Williams showed typical pluck and will never make a more important turnover than the one in the final seconds, lifting the siege and securing victory.
GEORGE NORTH
Sam Warburton had called for Wales to unleash North and in the early stages they did all they could to do that. The big man made further inroads with another powerful run down the right early in the second half. Just failed to collect a Rhys Patchell cross-kick to touch down as game hit boiling point. But the big wing stuck to his task.
JONATHAN DAVIES
Samu Keerevi powered past him on one occasion and throughout the game the threats were coming from everywhere.
But Davies stayed calm and organised and had the brains and skill to get Wales out of trouble more than once.
HADLEIGH PARKES
The only member of the back five who didn’t cross the whitewash against Georgia, Parkes outjumped Marika Koroibete to score after 13 minutes this time.
Did his best to shackle
Kerevi and acted as a roadblock on countless occasions, even if it was a roadblock that didn’t always stop some seriously heavy-duty traffic. Showed huge resolve.
JOSH ADAMS
Australia kept a close eye on Adams, but he is now up to six clean breaks in the tournament after one searing effort here. Ticked off by the referee for a dodgy tackle, but Adams kept at it and made a telling contribution around the field.
DAN BIGGAR
Started well with a try assist, a dropgoal and a conversion and saved a try by stopping Kerevi in full flight, a true test of courage that left Biggar unable to continue after taking a crack to the head. Earlier, Michael Hooper had been lucky to escape a yellow card after a cheap shot on the Wales No. 10. But it was 28 minutes of skill and bravery from Biggar.
GARETH DAVIES
Just when the coaches would have been starting to fret over the number of Davies missed tackles — four in the first 35 minutes — the scrumhalf snaffled a loose Will Genia pass to race 60 metres for a trademark try. Was never less than dangerous and frightened Australia whenever he had the ball.
WYN JONES
Helped hold up an Australian ballcarrier for a possession turnover in first quarter, but the Welsh scrum was smashed seconds later. Was in the thick of it during his 48 minutes on the field, though. A solid effort.
KEN OWENS
Owens’s counter-rucking paved the way for an early Aaron Wainwright turnover and not long after the hooker improbably made an outside break. There were a couple of line-out throws picked off but he played a key role in playing Hooper and Pocock off the ball at ruck time. Stubborn and unyielding.
TOMAS FRANCIS
Forced an early scrum penalty out of Scott Sio, but the Australian had Francis in trouble minutes later. But there wasn’t a lot in it at the scrums and nor did Francis spare himself in defence, putting in 12 tackles.
JAKE BALL
Like Owens, also did what he could to power Hooper and Pocock off the ball at the breakdown, while he tackled strongly and looked to achieve go-forward. Could make no impact on the Australian line-out, but that didn’t stop him trying.
ALUN WYN JONES
What can be said? In this mood he would make Spartacus run for the hills. Made 23 tackles on the day he became Wales’s most capped player. Is there any debate that he is Wales’s greatest ever forward? No, there is not.
AARON WAINWRIGHT
Won a turnover after just 14 seconds and also assisted in a possession shift later on by holding up an Australian ball-carrier. A couple of missed tackles heralded his withdrawal after 48 minutes, but the youngster gave it his all against top-drawer back-row opponents.
JUSTIN TIPURIC
There appeared four Tipurics on the field early on. When Wales needed someone to slow down Australian ball at the breakdown, the man from Trebanos stepped forward.
Few opportunities in the wide channels, but he did the gritty stuff as well as anyone, with 17 tackles.
JOSH NAVIDI
Without have head-on been his tackle in contribution trouble. on One Wales would Koroibete epitomised his courage. While around him was a raging inferno he kept it his all. calm Navidi and is a essential 15-0 tackle to return this side. says
REPLACEMENTS
Rhys Patchell deserves a medal for putting himself in harm’s way as Kerevi charged at him, forearm to the fore. The Scarlet had an excellent game, while Tomos Williams’s acrobatics were also crucial and there was a key rip from Owen Watkin. The Welsh scrum wasn’t a beacon of solidity late on, but the front-rowers grafted around the field.