Francis suffers Test defeat

By Mark Stevens
5/11/16

Exeter Chiefs prop Tomas Francis won his 15th international cap, but he could do little to prevent Wales from slipping to a heavy 32-8 defeat at the hands of Australia.

The 24-year-old was used as a second half replacement for Samson Lee in the first of their Autumn internationals at the Principality Stadium.

By then the game had already gone for the Welsh, who trailed 20-3 at the break following a powerful opening 40 minutes from the Wallabies, who were without former Chiefs skipper Dean Mumm because of a one-game suspension.

Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani, Reece Hodge, Stephen Moore and Bernard Foley all scored tries for the visitors with fly-half also kicking two conversions and a penalty.

In reply, Scott Williams claimed Wales’ only try, while Leigh Halfpenny – on his international return – kicked a penalty.

Wales will face Argentina in Cardiff this Saturday before tackling tackle Japan (Nov 19) and South Africa (Nov 26) in the coming weeks.