Penalty ends Wales drought over Wallabies
Wales ended a 13-match losing run against Australia as Dan Biggar kicked a late penalty for a 9-6 win in Cardiff.
In an attritional game dominated by penalty kicks, the most crucial one came with three minutes left when Biggar bisected the posts with his first contribution after coming on as a replacement.
The Australians’ last loss against the Welsh came a decade ago.
It was 3-3 at halftime but Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny reclaimed the lead with a penalty in the 68th, only for Matt Toomua to tie the game seven minutes later.
Biggar kicked what proved to be the winning points in a 9-6 victory.
South Africa 29 France 26
France cracked right at the end as South Africa scored a try deep into injury time to win 29-26.
Poor composure again cost Les Tricolores.
With the match petering out, South Africa earned a surprise lineout near the French line following a mistake from France winger Damian Penaud. He stepped out of bounds taking a high catch with about 10 seconds left.
The French looked terrified and then relieved when winger Aphiwe Dyantyi’s try was ruled out by referee Nigel Owens for a forward pass.
But the Springboks had time for another lineout, and replacement hooker Bongi Mbonambi bundled through after France’s forwards were too easily rolled over.
Captain Guilhem Guirado and center Mathieu Bastareaud scored a try each for France while scrumhalf Baptiste Serin missed only one of his kicks, landing four penalties and converting both tries.
Flyhalf Handre Pollard was perfect for the Springboks, landing five penalties and converting the other try
from right winger Sbu Nkosi.
Scotland 54 Fiji 17
Scotland used a clinical second half to blow away Fiji by a record 54-17 at a sold-out Murrayfield.
Scotland reinforced with its exiles after losing to Wales a week ago, and the likes of backs Grieg Laidlaw, Finn Russell, Sean Maitland, and Stuart Hogg starred on the back of a dominating pack featuring Fraser Brown, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie and new cap Sam Skinner.
By practically living in the Fiji half and enjoying 70 per cent of the ball, they posted a record score.
But Murrayfield was silenced for a while when Fiji, who won their last matchup 17 months ago, led 17-14 after half an hour.
Then yellow cards to Fiji locks Tevita Cavubati and Leone Nakarawa for persistent fouls under sustained pressure from the Scots, led to 13 men conceding the go-ahead try in injury time to winger Tommy Seymour — the first of his hat trick — and 14 men giving up Maitland’s try to start the second half.
Ireland 28 Argentina 17
Ireland got the scrap they wanted as they had to grind past Argentina 28-17 at Lansdowne Road.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt warned his side not to look forward to the world champion All Blacks next weekend, and the Pumas slapped any remaining slumber out of the Irish with a combative effort that kept the match close for more than an hour.
With Ireland up by one, Peter O’Mahony stole a Pumas throw-in on their try-line. As the resulting scrum collapsed, No. 8 CJ Stander passed to Luke McGrath, who ducked inside Argentina captain Pablo Matera and dived over. Sexton’s conversion made it 25-17. A late Sexton penalty capped the scoring in a match with five lead changes.