Wales have beaten Queensland Reds to register their first win of 2024.
A late try from replacement scrum-half Kieran Hardy secured a one-point victory as Wales won 36-35. Wales scored six tries in all, but conceded five against the Super Rugby outfit.
Sam Costelow had a solid outing at fly-half, and despite missing a few kicks from the tee, he was strong defensively and it was his crucial cross-kick that set up Rio Dyer’s score.
Wales were denied tries after multiple turnovers from the Reds on their own whitewash. Reds hooker Richie Asiata bagged himself a hat-trick of tries, with winger Mac Grealy dotting down twice himself.
Billed as a dead rubber by some, the fixture certainly provided the drama and Wales were pushed to their limits.
You can see how the game unfolded below and read the match report here.
Queensland Reds: Jock Campbell (captain); Floyd Aubrey, Tim Ryan, Dre Pakeho, Mac Grealy; James O’Connor, Louis Werchon; Sef Fa’agase, Richie Asiata, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, Connor Vest, Ryan Smith, Seru Uru, John Bryant, Joe Brial.
Replacements: Replacements: George Blake, Matt Gibbon, Massimo De Lutiis, Josh Canham, Connor Anderson, Will Cartwright, Mason Gordon, Lachie Anderson.
Wales: Cameron Winnett; Rio Dyer, Nick Tompkins, Eddie James, Regan Grace; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies (captain); Kemsley Mathias, Evan Lloyd, Archie Griffin, Matthew Screech, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Taine Plumtree, Mackenzie Martin.
Replacements: Efan Daniel, Corey Domachowski, Harri O’Connor, Dewi Lake, Tommy Reffell, Kieran Hardy, Ben Thomas, Mason Grady.
18:48Key Event
That’s all folks!
Thank you very much for joining along with us for this match day live blog.
That’s it for the summer series now, and Wales finally have themselves a win in 2024.
We’ll see you in the autumn…
18:47Dylan James
Warren Gatland’s Q&A
Here’s everything Wales coach Warren Gatland had to say after the game!
14:53Dylan James
Warren Gatland admits he made Cory Hill mistake
Warren Gatland has admitted he made a mistake in naming Cory Hill as Wales captain this week.
The Wales coach had initially named the second-row skipper for the match with Queensland Reds in Brisbane, only for Hill to pull out before kick-off, citing personal reasons.
14:35Dylan James
No footage for 30 mins?!
If you tried tuning in just shy of 11, instead of watching Archie Griffin bundle over for Wales’ first try, you’d have been watching boxing star Vasily Lomachenko in action in the ring.
Well, this was because of today’s big drama – the Microsoft power outage.
It affected flights across the world and caused major disruption, and one of those disrupted was Sky’s feed of the game in Brisbane.
14:03Dylan James
Cardiff Rugby sign Aled Davies
In the middle of the Wales game, Cardiff announced they had signed Aled Davies from Saracens.
It’s also his 32nd birthday today.
13:49Dylan James
MATCH REPORT
Our man Ben James, who is out in Australia, has provided a report of the match.
13:36Dylan James
WALES PLAYER RATINGS
Our man Steffan Thomas is on the player ratings today.
Check out some of the ratings he dished out below. If you want to read them all, then click here.
Cameron Winnett 6
As composed as ever while he was solid under the high ball. His role as a distributor late on helped open up the Australia defence, while the 21-year-old was came close to scoring late up but was held up over the line.
Rio Dyer 7
His best game of the summer. The Dragons wing was a constant threat with ball in hand, putting Regan Grace over for a try while he claimed his own a few minutes later.
Nick Tompkins 6
Did extremely well to power over the line for a second-half try and the Saracens centre was also a threat in open play. But took a few questionable options in attack opting for long missed passes when it arguably should have gone through the hands.
80 minKey Event
GAME OVER! Queensland Reds 35-36 Wales
The first Wales win of 2024.
An absolutely incredible match, the definition of ‘end-to-end’ rugby.
Wales needed that.
Stay tuned for all the post-match reaction.
12:39Key Event
TRY WALES! KIERAN HARDY
Wales re-take lead!
One minute to go at Suncorp.
No extras from Costelow.
REDS 35-36 WAL
75 minDylan James
Another crucial penalty
Reds with another crucial turnover after constant Wales pressure just millimetres from the Reds whitewash.
I think Eddie James was taken very high in the tackle in the midst of the chaos, and it should have been an advantage in the build up to that.
REDS 35-31 WAL
70 minKey Event
Try Reds! Mac Grealy
Now that is a sensational try.
A break through the middle, combined with expert offloading and support runners, sees the Australian club side LEAD over Wales going into the final 10 minutes.
Two more from the tee.
RED 35-31 WAL
67 minDylan James
Huge turnover from Reds
Right on their try line, the Reds erupt in jubilation after securing a crucial turnover.
Wales were barely a few feet away from scoring.
RED 28-31 WAL
65 minDylan James
Wales pressure
Very long advantage given for Wales, after a tip-tackle on Mackenzie Martin.
Wales can’t make it over the whitewash, so it comes back.
REDS 28-31 WAL
60 minKey Event
Try Reds! Mac Grealy
Excellent score from the club side.
However, it does appear there might have been a forward pass in the build up.
O’Connor gets two more.
REDS 28-31 WAL
59 MINDylan James
Grace defuses situation
Epic catch from the duel-code wing, extinguishing the Reds attack, which was gathering pace.
RED 21-31 WAL
56 minDylan James
Reds lineout
Great boot from O’Connor, sticking a constestable one into the heavens near the left touchline.
Rio Dyer can’t collect, touching it down with his boot and leading to a Reds lineout.
REDS 21-31 WAL
55 minDylan James
Replacements
Kemsley Mathias off for Corey Domachowski.
52 minKey Event
Try Reds! Richie Asiata
Hat-trick try for Richie Asiata.
The hooker is over after an unstoppable driving maul from the Reds.
Two more from the tee.
RED 21-31 WAL
52 minDylan James
Wales pinged
Wales are penalised for a high hit on Jock Campbell.
Reds sticking this one into the corner.
RED 14-31 WAL
50 MINDylan James
Trademark Gareth Davies!
Excellent intercept from Davies, exitnguishing a Reds attack.
However…
Wales are pinged at the subsequent breakdown.
REDS 14-31 WAL
46 minKey Event
Try Wales! Nick Tompkins
Wales go down the short side and Tompkins changes his direction in excellent fashion to dive between Reds players for a lovely score.
Costelow adds two.
REDS 14-31 WAL
44 minDylan James
Wales 50:22
Sam Costelow hammers a 50:22 into the left corner of the Reds.
Tshiunza off injured, Reffell on.
REDS 14-24 WAL
12:00Dylan James
Lineout maul well defended
Davies is told to use it and Costelow’s chip over the top if collected by a Reds player.
RED 14-24 WAL
43 MINDylan James
Reds pinged
No advantage for Wales as the Reds are pinged.
This followed up a great Welsh turnover after some sustained Reds possession.
Tshiunza on the deck right now, appeared to get hurt whilst trying to hold the ball in the tackle.
Costelow sending the penalty into the left corner.
RED 14-24 WAL
41 min Key Event
SECOND HALF KICK-OFF!
We are back underway at Suncorp.
RED 14-24 WAL
11:52Dylan James
HALF TIME PICTURES: Debut try for Regan Grace!
11:49Dylan James
Queensland Reds’ lock Ryan Smith’s half time thoughts
“I think those little errors, letting them back into it, and a few kick errors.
“I think if we just stick to our game, carry really hard, the guys in the backline are doing a really good job of cutting them up out wide.
“It’s going to go a long way if we can keep the ball in our hands.”
40 minKey Event
HALF TIME: REDS 14-24 WALES
That’s it for the first 40.
Great to see the driving maul making another blinding appearance for Wales. Sam Costelow, despite that conversion, has been solid. The Scarlets man put in his some hard defensive hits and knocked an inch-perfect cross-field into Dyer for his score.
Reds have shown that they are up for the challenge.
11:39Key Event
Try Wales! Christ Tshiunza
Another excellent driving lineout maul from Wales this summer.
Mackenzie Martin was absolutely buzzing with that one. Great work from Screech to ensure that was undefendable.
Costelow shanked the conversion to the right.
RED 14-24 WAL
37 minDylan James
Couple of Reds errors
Funny five minutes for the Reds.
Kicked out on the full and knocked on a tap-and-go, now it’s time for Wales to capitalise on their mistakes.
Evan Lloyd back on the field for the Welsh scrum.
RED 14-19 WAL
33 minDylan James
Wales scrum
After sustained Reds attack, Wales win the penalty.
In the midst of the last five minutes, Evan Lloyd has left the field, so Gareth Davies ended up throwing a lineout. He was pinged for it not being straight, but in truth it was a pretty bang on effort.
Efan Daniel has now entered the field of play.
RED 14-19 WAL
29 minKey Event
Conversion: James O’Connor
Reds fly-half O’Connor grabs two more.
RED 14-19 WAL
27 minKey Event
Try Reds! Richie Asiata
A powerful rolling maul off the back of a lineout sees the Reds get their second score.
RED 12-19 WAL
25 minKey Event
TRY RULED OUT!
O’Connor’s try has been ruled out.
He knocked it on as he grounded it. Cue some jeering from the crowd at Suncorp, but they can’t have much to complain about, it was pretty clear separation.
RED 7-19 WAL
24 minKey Event
Try Reds! James O’Connor
The 64-cap Wallaby is over in the left corner, for an immediate hit back from the Reds.
Rio Dyer couldn’t halt the big fly-half from close range.
RED 12-19 WAL
22 minsKey Event
Try Wales! 7-19
The Reds fail to deal with a high ball and Mackenzie Martin almost races away from 40 metres out.
He’s dragged down in the 22, but Wales are playing with a bit of confidence.
They go to the other touchline, before Sam Costelow picks out the man who’s played more for Wales than any other this year, Rio Dyer, with a crossfield kick to score out wide.
Nicely-worked and it all started with Dyer’s work to chase the initial kick.
19 minsKey Event
Try Wales! 7-12
Wales keep the ball in hand following the maul and work some space down the left wing with sharp passing.
Rio Dyer draws his man and Regan Grace has a run-in for his first try in the Welsh jersey.
That’s exactly what he’ll have wanted early on!
18 minsBen James
Welsh penalty
Reds overplay near midfield following the kick-off and that hands Wales a penalty to move them downfield.
Welsh lineout just outside the 22 is on target, although the home side don’t let them drive too far with the maul.
15 minsKey Event
Try Reds! 7-5
Finally, that pressure from the Reds pays off.
This time, the maul rumbles over, with Richie Asiata scoring.
O’Connor converts and the Reds lead.
13 minsBen James
More bad discipline
From the Reds lineout, Plumtree tries to disrupt the maul but just topples head first over the Welsh players.
That’s another penalty to the home side, with some pushing and shoving to follow.
The Reds win the lineout five metres out, but their maul doesn’t go anywhere.
The home side spread it, with Regan Grace doing well to drag down Campball.
But there’s another Welsh penalty to follow and Gareth Davies gets a talking to from the referee.
11 minsBen James
Offside
Reds getting a little more threatening.
Nice hands works some space for Jock Campball but his offload doesn’t stick.
However, Wales are pinged for offside.
9 minsBen James
Good turnover
Reds steal a Welsh lineout and carry into midfield.
O’Connor tries to step his way through, before Plumtree does a nice job of forcing a turnover.
Wales look to run it from deep, but eventually they opt to clear their lines.
6 minsKey Event
Try Wales! 0-5
I thought they were checking for a potential Reds penalty, but Wales get the call and the men in black are into the Reds’ 22.
After the maul is stopped, Costelow and Gareth Davies both nearly sneak over before Archie Griffin forces his way over from close range.
Good strength from the prop, with Dafydd Jenkins helping drive him over.
Costelow misses the extras from the angle, hitting the post.
3 minsBen James
Scrappy start
Taine Plumtree breaks away from a lineout, getting Wales on the front-front.
However, things get scrappy as Wales work it wide and they spill the ball forward.
We’re now got a TMO check – not sure why just yet.
2 minsBen James
Not releasing
Reds into the Wales 22 with an attacking lineout.
However, it comes to nothing as they’re pinged for not releasing after the first phase.
1 minKey Event
Kick-off!
We’re underway in Brisbane.
New captain Gareth Davies immediatley pinged for a late tackle on James O’Connor.
10:31Key Event
Cory Hill pulls out of Wales team
Cory Hill has pulled out of the Wales team to face the Queensland Reds in Brisbane for personal reasons.
Second-row Hill was due to captain Wales in the uncapped match, but has now been replaced by Dafydd Jenkins in the starting side. Tour captain Dewi Lake will come onto the replacement bench. The news was announced 25 minutes before the match was due to start.
Scrum-half Gareth Davies, who had initially been named vice-captain, will now serve as captain instead for Wales’ final game of the season.
Earlier this week, the Japan-based lock had contentiously been chosen to lead Wales in the uncapped game at Suncorp Stadium.
Hill, who came off the bench in both Test matches against Australia, had not featured for Wales prior to this tour since an incident in 2021 when he was named as among a group of men who damaged a woman’s house in May 2021.
At the time of the incident, the woman said she feared for hers and her children’s safety. Hill never charged by police for the incident and issued an apology through a representative.
This week’s press conference was the first time Hill had addressed the incident publicly, when the 32-year-old admitted he had made a mistake and was sorry.
“There’s always going to be negative reaction to mistakes someone has made in the past,” said Hill on Wednesday.
“I’ve been honest and open here. The issue was dealt with by the club and authorities three years ago. It was a mistake. I hold my hand up and I am sorry for what happened.”
With no other second-row options fit, Lake will likely cover the back-row – with starting back-rows Taine Plumtree and Christ Tshiunza both capable of playing lock.
10:06Key Event
Wales are playing in black today
Wales will be wearing their black and yellow kit against the Reds today.
The Welsh Rugby Union confirmed it on social media this morning.
09:35Dylan James
So, how good are Queensland Reds?
If you are unfamiliar with Super Rugby, we’re here to provide a little context on how good this side are.
The short answer is – they’re pretty damn good.
—
The Super Rugby season concluded on June 22, with Blues defeating Chiefs 41-10, the same day that Wales lost to South Africa at Twickenham at the start of the tour.
In a league which features some of the best club sides on the planet, along with many of the starring All Blacks, Wallabies and Fijians from the past few years, Reds finished fifth in the table out of 12, qualifying for the play-offs.
They scored 69 tries over the course of the campaign, the fourth-most out of any team, and the most by any Australian side. They also finished with +104 points difference for the season.
However, they will be without a number of their Wallabies for this Test.
Despite all of this, Wales will be expected to win, given they are an international side.
09:24Dylan James
Where is the match taking place?
Wales v Queensland Reds is being played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
It is a three-tiered venue that holds a maximum 52,500 spectators, and played host to the deciding match of rugby league’s ‘State of Origin’ series earlier this week.
State of Origin, for those unfamiliar, is a three-match series played between two Australian representative sides – Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues.
Blues won the decider 14-4, and many Wales rugby players were in attendance at the venue as they soaked up the atmosphere.
