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Autumn Nations Series: Wales v New Zealand

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 22 November Kick-off: 15:10 GMT

Wales head coach Steve Tandy admitted he could not watch Jarrod Evans’ last-gasp penalty that snatched a 24-23 win against Japan.

Tandy enjoyed a first success of his reign in dramatic fashion in Cardiff thanks to the Harlequins fly-half staying cool with the clock in the red.

Evans slotted a penalty to the delight of the Principality Stadium crowd – whose roars let Tandy know that a 10-Test losing streak on home soil had been ended.

“I was hiding away in the side,” said the head coach. “I could see the crowd and I could see him going to take the kick, but not the posts.

While there was delight in the Wales coaching box – with Tandy embracing Welsh Rugby Union head of performance Dave Reddin before going back to his management team – there was anguish in Japan’s.

“It was terrible, I wanted to kill somebody,” said head coach Eddie Jones. “That is what I felt like – anybody I could find!

“When you lose the game in the last minute at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff it’s tough.

“The atmosphere is electric, the ground lights up and you have to handle that pressure.

“In the last five minutes we did not do that well. We had a lead and should have been able to keep that for the rest of the game.”

Japan would have gone above 12th-placed Wales in the world rankings with victory before December’s World Cup draw.

Evans was memorably the hero at the death when Cardiff beat Leinster at the Arms Park in 2022 and he also conquered the Galway wind for a success at Connacht in 2017.

The 29-year-old from Pontypridd now has a Test moment to add to his highlights reel.

“I’ve experienced it for my club, but it’s the first time that I have done it for my country,” said Evans.

“I was pretty relieved that it went over, but that’s why you put all those hours and hard work in.”

The replacement fly-half was only called onto the pitch in the 79th minute with Wales pinned in their own half and needing something special.

“The longer the time goes on the more you think that you might not get on, but you have to be ready to impact the game,” said Evans, who came on for Dan Edwards.

“I am just the guy that is fortunate to get that moment at the end, but I was more proud with how we worked our way up the field.

“We retained the ball and didn’t cough it up, which we probably did for large parts of the game to give Japan a leg up.”

A penalty just out of range meant that Evans kicked to the 22 and the pack almost ensured his right foot was not needed.

“The forwards were unbelievable with the maul and rolled us all the way – we were unlucky not to come away with the try.

“We did think about a quick tap, but then I took the decision out of the boys’ hands.”

Wales now prepare for New Zealand next Saturday, knowing that their performance level needs to go up dramatically.

“We’ll be tough on ourselves,” said Tandy. “There’s never a lack of effort whenever I’ve watched this group and you can build on that.

Quilter Nations Series

Ireland (19) 46

Tries: Hansen 3, Doris, Baird, Henshaw Cons: Prendergast 2, Crowley 3 Pen: Crowley Drop-goal: Prendergast

Australia (14) 19

Mack Hansen scored a superb first-half hat-trick to help lift Ireland to a comprehensive win over Australia in an entertaining Test at Aviva Stadium.

Starting an Ireland game at full-back for the first time, Canberra-born Hansen starred in a slick Irish attack on his return from a foot injury with three tries inside the opening 30 minutes.

The Wallabies – coached by former Ireland boss Joe Schmidt – stayed in touch at half-time thanks to Len Ikitau and Fraser McReight tries.

But after Sam Prendergast stretched Ireland’s lead with a drop-goal and Tommy O’Brien had a try ruled out for a knock-on, Caelan Doris’ 70th-minute try ensured a comfortable Irish victory.

Despite losing Nick Frost to a yellow card for his hit on Thomas Clarkson during the Doris score, Billy Pollard went over for Australia’s third try.

However, the hosts surged to the finish line as late Ryan Baird and Robbie Henshaw scores capped a much-improved Ireland performance and a fifth successive win over Australia.

Saturday’s game presented an opportunity for both sides to deliver a much-needed statement performance, with the wounded Wallabies chasing a first win in Dublin since 2013 after bruising defeats by England and Italy.

But Australian confidence was further punctured by a fired-up Ireland, who immediately set about atoning for their sluggish start in last week’s uninspiring win over Japan with renewed intent and aggression.

After the Japan game, Farrell told his players to “get over themselves” and, led by the irrepressible Hansen, they took his words to heart.

Having already claimed his first high ball with ease, Hansen finished a couple of sharp Irish attacks under the posts, the first coming after neat offloads from Sam Prendergast and Stuart McCloskey, whose game was ended prematurely by a recurrence of a groin injury.

Prendergast, restored at fly-half ahead of Jack Crowley, was the chief architect of the second, his quickly-taken kick to the corner forcing a knock-on from the retreating Max Jorgensen as the full-back tried to prevent a 50:22.

From there, Ireland quickly worked the ball to Hansen for his second.

With 28 minutes on the clock, he had his hat-trick when he darted through a gap in the Wallabies defence after Tommy O’Brien did well to claim a Prendergast kick under pressure from Jorgensen.

Hansen’s second and third tries came either side of Australia’s opener, scored by returning centre Ikitau, who made a spell of sustained Wallaby pressure count when he barged past Prendergast under the posts.

Ireland were initially frustrated in the first half. While Prendergast – who like Hansen was given a standing ovation when he was replaced – nailed a drop-goal, Dan Sheehan was held up on the try line by Harry Potter.

Then, after a wonderful piece of Prendergast playmaking, O’Brien’s celebrations were cut short when his try was ruled out for a knock-on from James Lowe.

But after replacement fly-half Jack Crowley slotted over a penalty, Hansen caught a ball inside Australian territory to launch the attack that ended with Doris – who missed out on facing the Wallabies with the British and Irish Lions because of injury – crashing over.

Pollard then scored in the corner for Australia, but as they faded, Ireland raced clear as Baird and Henshaw both crossed to put gloss on the scoreline and fuel Irish confidence before next week’s meeting with the Springboks.

Ireland: M Hansen, T O’Brien, R Henshaw, S McCloskey, J Lowe; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; P McCarthy, D Sheehan, T Furlong ; J Ryan, T Beirne; R Baird, C Doris (capt), J Conan.

Replacements: R Kelleher, A Porter, T Clarkson, C Prendergast, N Timoney, C Casey, J Crowley, B Aki.

Australia: M Jorgensen; F Daugunu, J-A Suaalii, L Ikitau, H Potter; J O’Connor, J Gordon; A Bell, M Faessler, A Alaalatoa, J Williams, T Hooper; R Valetini, F McReight, H Wilson (capt).

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)

Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR) and Adam Leal (RFU)

Television match official (TMO): Ian Tempest (RFU)

World Cup qualifier: Wales v North Macedonia

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Tuesday 18 November Kick-off: 19:45 GMT

There are few stadiums in the world with as picturesque a backdrop as Liechtenstein’s Rheinpark Stadion, a compact little ground in the shadow of the awe-inspiring, snow-flecked Alps on the banks of the river Rhine.

There are some striking vantage points for watching games in these parts too. In Vaduz Castle, perched on a mountain that towers over one of the stands, the Prince of Liechtenstein, Hans-Adam II, might even be able to catch a glimpse of a match if he was to squint hard enough.

When Wales visited for a World Cup qualifier on Saturday, head coach Craig Bellamy had to watch from a new position – up in a gantry on the opposite side of the stadium to his coaching staff – because he was suspended.

He would not have liked what he saw.

Wales made hard work of their 1-0 win over a Liechtenstein team ranked 206th in the world and predominantly comprised of part-time players.

In as much as the result kept Wales on track to finish second in their group and secure a home play-off semi-final in March, it was a case of job done.

But there was no hiding the fact that this was an uninspiring performance. Plenty of possession, precious little creativity or quality in front of goal.

Bellamy’s ban meant he could not communicate with his coaches or players during the game, nor could he conduct his media duties before or after the match.

So it was left to his assistant coach Piet Cremers to lead the team and tell the gathered media in Vaduz how Bellamy had viewed proceedings.

“I didn’t see him during the game. He was calm and composed, like I know him, after the game,” said Cremers.

“It’s that’s that type of game where everyone expects you to win 5-0, 6-0 or 7-0. As a coaching staff and players, we demand a good performance as well.

“When you don’t get that second or third goal, it becomes a little bit more tricky. The players start wanting to force things a little bit more.

That next game is an important one.

Wales need to beat North Macedonia in Cardiff to finish second in Group J and guarantee a home play-off semi-final.

Fail to win at Cardiff City Stadium and Bellamy’s side will still make the play-offs thanks to their Nations League success, but they will be away for their semi-final.

They will need to improve on their performance in Liechtenstein and they will be without Ethan Ampadu and Jordan James – captain and goalscorer respectively in Vaduz – who are suspended after receiving their second yellow cards of the campaign on Saturday.

At least Wales will be travelling home after a win, though.

Before beating Liechtenstein, they had lost three games in succession and four of their previous five.

The performance in Vaduz will not have impressed many people, but the result keeps them in contention to qualify for next summer’s World Cup.

“One game at the time, we knew we had to take care of today. We did that, and now our focus goes to North Macedonia,” said Cremers.

“I thought we played really well over there [the 1-1 draw in March], creating some really good opportunities.

England manager Thomas Tuchel said he has not spoken to his players about the World Cup qualifying record they could set in Sunday’s game against Albania.

If Tuchel’s side beat Albania and keep a clean sheet, they will become the first European side to win all their qualifiers without conceding.

With a place at next year’s World Cup secured, Tuchel’s only focus is to continue building towards the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.

“We need to get the foundation right to have a chance to have these records.

“Just by thinking about it or by talking about it, nothing will change.

“We need to deliver again. The feeling and the trust is absolutely there because I witnessed this in camp. I trust my players to perform again.”

Albania will finish second in the group and enter the play-offs for the World Cup regardless of Sunday’s result.

Despite there being nothing on paper to play for, Tuchel said his players are still showing the motivation and hunger that he craves.

“We made sure yesterday we had the training session that we had. The quality and mentality of the guys who didn’t play was on the highest level, which was pure pleasure to watch and be part of,” he said.

“It showed me again that we are building and growing in the right way. Everyone is ready to play. Everyone is desperate to start. The competition is still on. The hunger is on to be on the pitch tomorrow. That is most important.”

The match against Albania is the last that England will play this year and will mean there is only one more international break before Tuchel names his squad for the World Cup next summer.

And the German wants his side to deliver a performance that shows the developments made since he officially took charge in January.

“In general I just hope and I feel the hunger for us to win, and to achieve something is bigger than the fear of losing and the fear of maybe losing a record of clean sheets,” Tuchel said.

“These things just happen. We are well aware that we put a lot of effort in to defend as a team and it’s only possible to have so many clean sheets because we defend properly as a team, which is the case, but you also need a bit of luck in certain moments.

England captain Harry Kane said remaining unbeaten without conceding provides extra motivation for players.

“The last game in an England shirt for the year is always important to win for momentum,” the 32-year-old said.

“We also know we have qualified and Albania are into the play-offs, but we still have not conceded and I think that is a great motivation.

“Not conceding any goals through the campaign would be special motivation.

“It is also about reaching our level, and if we do we feel we can beat any team in the world, it doesn’t matter who the opposition is.”

Kane, who played under Tuchel at Bayern Munich, said the manager has an “aura” which helps players on and off the pitch.

“He’s done a really good job,” Kane said. “Coming in to being England manager is never easy, especially after Gareth (Southgate), who was one of our most successful managers.

“He’s tried to stamp his own feel into training, into meetings. He comes with a lot of enthusiasm.

“Tactically we are really precise going into every game. He’s been building different ideas leading up to next summer.

“From now until then there will be more he would like to add. Tactically he has been fantastic.

“He brings a personality – he brings an aura that represents an England manager.