Wales 28-33 Australia: Warren Gatland praises 'positive rugby'

Full-back Israel Folau runs clear from the Welsh defence after intercepting a pass from Rhys Webb.

Wales coach Warren Gatland praised his team's "positive rugby", despite a 10th defeat in a row against Australia.

The Welsh led by a point going into the final 10 minutes, but a drop-goal and penalty by Brendan Foley clinched a 33-28 win for the Wallabies.

Gatland expects his team to improve for forthcoming matches against Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa.

"We've scored four tries to three and I thought we went out there and played some really positive rugby," he said.

"To be honest I'm pretty positive about the performance.

"I look back on the tries they scored and we missed a couple of one-on-one tackles, which is disappointing, and we've thrown an intercept so a huge number of positives for us to build on that performance.

"We tend to start the first game in the autumn pretty slowly against a team that's been together for a long time, so you know we can really build on that."

Wales trailed 27-21 midway through the second half of an open and entertaining game at the Millennium Stadium.

But forward pressure told when referee Craig Joubert awarded a penalty try to the home team after a series of scrums in the shadow of the posts.

Substitute Rhys Priestland's conversion put Wales a point ahead with 13 minutes remaining.

However, Wales were again unable to secure a rare win over southern hemisphere opposition as fly-half Foley kicked a drop-goal in the 73rd minute, and then made Wales pay for an indiscretion at a maul by drilling a penalty to open a five-point gap with two minutes remaining.

As in recent previous meetings, Wales were unable to claim a match-winning score.

Gatland's team have now lost 25 of their 26 meetings with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Wales skipper Sam Warburton was bitterly disappointed with the defeat and said: "It's hard to find the words.

"It was very good in parts but wins are what we want now. I'm sure it was a great match if you were a neutral but it's the same heartache for Wales."

Wales face Fiji in Cardiff on Saturday, 15 November and will have injury concerns over full-back Leigh Halfpenny and fly-half Dan Biggar who both left the field with injuries.

Biggar's thigh injury appears to be of greatest concern, with Gatland hinting that he would call a new fly-half into the squad before the Fiji game.

He also said there will be a number of changes to the Wales starting line-up, with the players on the bench against Australia likely to start against the South Sea Islanders.