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The Joe Schmidt era is off to an unbeaten start.
Schmidt’s Wallabies were pushed all the way by Wales at AAMI Park but came away victorious with a 36-28 scoreline, making it two from two for the new coach.
“Another step in the right direction for Joe Schmidt and the Wallabies,” Wallabies great Tim Horan said on Stan Sport.
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The Wallabies were first on the board with a sensational try when Andrew Kellaway chip and chased inside his own 22.
The winger pushed the ball to Fraser McReight who ran 60 metres before passing to Filipo Daugunu who scored first.
Filipo Daugunu of the Wallabies celebrates with after scoring a try. Getty
In the 15th minute, the Wallabies went further ahead to 10-0 with a Noah Lolesio penalty goal.
A missed penalty from Ben Thomas moments later hurt Wales as Jake Gordon scored in the 25th minute, putting up a kick which was dropped by Cameron Winnett before grubbering ahead and getting the ball down.
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Wales hit back through captain Dewi Lake who scored off a rolling maul.
It was 20-7 to the Wallabies in the 31st minute after a Fraser McReight pilfer led to another penalty goal.
The home side were disadvantaged when Lukhan Salakaia-Loto received a yellow card for head contact with five minutes to go.
It was Lake scoring again straight after the incident through another rolling maul.
However, the Wallabies regained momentum right on half time when a big hit from Rob Valetini on the kick off brought about a penalty goal to make the score 23-14.
It was Wales scoring first after the break when they put 13 phases together with Liam Williams going through a hole close to the line.
A massive stoppage came in the 50th minute when Williams confronted Charlie Cale before Salakaia-Loto threw the Wales winger to the ground.
The TMO then reviewed the incident with Williams penalised.
“Took a while to get to it,” Horan said.
“Not sure we needed to get to it either,” Justin Harrison added.
The Wallabies got back on the board when Allan Alaalatoa crashed over for his first Test try to make it 28-21.
The craziest try came in the 68th minute when Noah Lolesio kicked for touch off a penalty and Williams managed to keep the ball in play. Unfortunately for him, Winnett wasn’t paying attention and Daugunu caught the ball before running away to score his second.
“That is outrageous,” commentator Sean Maloney said.
“He was the only player chasing the ball … Filipo could not believe it,” Horan added.
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Despite the excitement, Wales hit back immediately when Rio Dyer scored in the corner to make it 33-28.
Five-eighth replacement Ben Donaldson sealed the victory for the Wallabies though, slotting a 78th minute penalty.
