Live Commentary: Australia 15-6 Wales - as it happened

Good afternoon and welcome the live commentary of the Rugby World Cup clash between Australia and Wales.

Both teams have already secured their place in the quarter-finals of the competition following their wins over England and Fiji last week. The sides have condemned the Red Rose to become the first host nation in the history of the tournament to crash out at the group stage. However, they will have a fierce battle today in an attempt to finish top of Pool A.

Wales were on the brink of a potential tournament-ending defeat to England two weeks ago, but Warren Gatland's men managed to overturn a 10-point deficit in the final 30 minutes of the match to claim a historic victory. The Dragons backed up their effort with a solid display in their win over Fiji, which was enough to secure their place in the last eight, due to Australia's victory over England. Injuries have hit Wales hard, but Gatland's side will be determined to win the Pool to lay down their credentials to win the tournament.

Australia staked their claim to win the tournament by dumping the hosts out at Twickenham with their largest win at the stadium. Bernard Foley put in the performance of his career by scoring 28 of his side's 33 points to end England's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals, while establishing the Wallabies as the team to contend with in the hunt for the Web Ellis trophy. Michael Cheika will be desperate for his side to clinch the Pool and defeat another quality outfit this afternoon.

We'll now take a look at the confirmed lineups for this afternoon.

AUSTRALIA: Sio, Moore, Kepu, Douglas, Mumm, Fardy, McMahon, Pocock; Genia, Foley, Mitchell, Giteau, Kuridrani, Ashley-Cooper, Folau.
Replacements: Polota-Nau, Slipper, Holmes, Simmons, McCalman, Phipps, Toomua, Beale

WALES: James, Baldwin, Lee; Charteris, Wyn Jones; Warburton, Tipuric; Faletau; Davies, Biggar, Liam Williams, Roberts, North, Cuthbert, Anscombe
Replacements: Owens, Jarvis, Francis, Ball, Moriarty, Lloyd Williams, Priestland, Hook

Full-back Israel Folau passed a fitness test during the week to continue for the Wallabies, despite struggling with an ankle injury. However, Rob Horne has been ruled out of the match due to injury, while flanker Michael Hooper misses out through suspension. Drew Mitchell comes into the side on the wing and Sean McMahon is drafted in at number seven.

Gareth Anscombe comes into the Wales lineup in one of six changes made by Gatland. Liam Williams comes back into the side on the wing, while George North moves inside into centre. Samson Lee and Paul James are fit again and come into the front row, while Luke Charteris returns in the second row replacing Bradley Davies. Skipper Sam Warburton moves from seven to six to accomodate Justin Tipuric at seven.

Gatland has admitted that he has not spoken to his side about their poor record against the Wallabies. Wales last recorded a victory over Australia in 2008, a run that stretches back five matches.

Gatland told BBC Sport: "We haven't spoken about it at all.

"The last five times there's been a score in it. We've been ahead in games and haven't been able to finish it off but you learn from that."

Cheika has demanded further improvement from his side, despite their resounding 33-13 victory over England last time out. The winner of the match will top Pool A and have a favourable quarter-final draw, which the Wallabies are determined to seal.

He told BBC Sport: "Every match in this tournament has required our team to step up to another level and we'll need to do that again against an undefeated Welsh team.

"Every player in our squad knows the improvements required.

"Saturday night at Twickenham is another opportunity for us to put in a solid performance and continue to build towards the next stage of the tournament."

In their last meeting, Australia recorded a narrow 33-28 victory over Gatland's men. Rhys Webb put the Welsh ahead in the second minute, but the Wallabies came roaring back with two tries from Folau and they had just enough to edge the contest, despite Wales's four tries at the Millennium Stadium.

Over the course of history, Australia have dominated the fixture recording 27 wins compared to the 10 of Wales, while one match has ended in a draw.

Scotland have defeated Samoa in the opening match of the day, meaning that the winner of this match will play Vern Cotter's men. Meanwhile, the losers will be forced to battle against South Africa for a place in the semi-finals.

The players are out on the pitch and we should be underway very shortly.

KICKOFF! We're underway at Twickenham.

Early scrum for an infraction on Wales, giving Australia the put-in midway in their own territory.

Wales steal the ball from the scrum and Warburton charges forward into space down the right. Davies recycles the ball out to the right where Roberts kicks for the line for the run of North, but after a scramble the centre gets held up just short of putting the ball down for the score. Scrum at the five-metre line of Australia.

Biggar puts the ball up for grabs with an up and under for Williams, but the ball sails out of play. However, play is brought back for a penalty, leaving Biggar with the chance to fire his side ahead.

Biggar sends his kick through the posts from close range and Wales have the lead.

Australia make their first press at the Wales line following a scrum in the Dragons' territory. Moore tries to drive his side forward, but he only succeeds into crashing into a wall of solid red shirts. The defence from Wales is resolute and forces the mistake from the Wallabies, which yields a penalty.

Biggar kicks for touch to alleviate the pressure on his side and to drive them into the Wallabies half of the pitch.

Wales make another surge forward and Warburton takes the carry to drive his side into the 22 before offloading to Roberts. The centre rides of a challenge and sends the ball to Anscombe, who gets rocked by a tackle from McMahon. Wales are held up on the five-metre line once again and a scrum ensues.

Resolute defending from Australia as they win the battle as the scrum by turning to the right, which brings the mistake from the Welsh forwards. Foley has the opportunity to clear to touch for the Wallabies.

Foley clears to touch and presents his side with an attacking lineout on the edge of their own half.

A rare mistake from Wales so far in the contest as Anscombe tries to kick down the sideline to release Cuthbert, but his effort goes out on the full and give Australia a lineout on the half-way line.

Charteris makes the leap at the lineout and Anscombe's blushes are spared as Wales win back possession.

Williams cuts back across the field and finds space inside the Australia half, but Foley makes a good tackle to stop his surging run before he can offload the ball to Cuthbert. The move stalls for Wales and Pocock makes a play at the ruck, which forces the mistake from the Dragons to hand Cheika's men the penalty.

Danger for Wales as Ashley-Cooper finds space down the left flank and raids towards the 22, but Biggar manages to get back to make the tackle. Australia are forced backwards and the momentum of the move is stalled.

Australia return with menace down the right as Mitchell tries to breakaway down the right side of the field, but once again Wales do just enough to quell the attack by winning a scrum due to a knock-on.

The Wallabies display their strength at the scrum by forcing Wales back towards their own tryline, and the referee awards the penalty, but allows Australia to play on from the breakdown. They try to muster an attacking move down the left, but settle for an attempt at the posts.

Foley continues his excellent World Cup by sending his kick through the posts from a difficult angle, but he judged the kick right, with just the right amount of curl. All square at Twickenham.

There's been a change in momentum in the match as Australia win another penalty and Foley kicks the ball depp into the Wales half. A lot of pressure being exerted on Gatland's men at the moment.

Moore sends the lineout in five metres from the Wales tryline, and the hooker is one of several players that try to crash over for the score. However, the Wales' line holds firm and forces Genia back towards the backs, which sees Foley try to weave his way past the wall of red shirts. However, the pressure finally tells as Justin Tipuric gives away a penalty.

Another solid kick from Foley as he has no problem firing his effort through the posts to put his side into the lead.

An error from Australia this time as a punt forward from Anscombe yields a mistake from Moore. Biggar has the chance to level the scores with a kick from distance.

Biggar levels for Gatland's men with another impressive kick from distance. The battle between the kickers could well decide the contest this afternoon.

Mistakes are creeping into the game now as Faletau is guilty of putting his hands in at the ruck off his feet. It gives Foley a chance to restore his side's lead immediately. A warning comes from the referee to Warburton that the next Wales player committing a blatant obstruction will go into the sin bin.

Foley hands Australia the lead once again with another fine kick between the posts.

Faletau atones for his error to earn his side a penalty, but putting the Australia ruck under pressure and it forces another mistake from the Wallabies. Biggar has the chance to level for his side before the break.

MISS! For the first time in the match the kick is missed by Biggar as he puts his effort just wide of the left upright. That could be costly for Wales.

The mistakes keep coming from Wales and it hands Australia a chance to extend their lead right before the break. The kick will be from the half-way line beyond the range of Foley, so Giteau will attempt the penalty.

MISS! The range proves to be too much even for Giteau as his kick drops a metre short of the posts and Wales clear the ball into touch to end the half.

Australia hold a narrow lead at the break in this Pool A decider thanks to three kicks from Bernard Foley. Both sides have made errors at the breakdown in the first half, but have displayed impressive defence, especially on their own trylines. Dan Biggar missed a kick just before the break, which would have brought Wales level and that could be costly for his side chances of securung the group.

RESTART! We're back underway at Twickenham.

Australia put Wales under pressure directly from the kickoff as they kick the ball deep towards the tryline. The Dragons manage to clear the danger, but Foley brings his side back inside the 22 with a weaving run. However, the Welsh defence proves to be solid once again to repel the Wallabies and force the mistake from Moore at the breakdown.

Wales come back with a surge of their own lead by North as he tries to crash through the middle of the Australia line, but the Wallabies hold firm. Davies sends the ball out wide in the direction of Williams, but the pass from Faletau goes out of play.

Gatland's men work the ball down the right and Faletau races down the flank, but a covering tackle from Folau saves Australia and forces the offload from the number eight. Baldwin takes the ball into a tackle and yellow shirts swarm the ruck to force the penalty.

Folau gets away with a late hit on Anscombe as he tries to close down the full-back following his up and under into the 22. The resulting kick into touch from Biggar is somehow kept alive by Mitchell on the sideline with great acrobatics to keep the ball in play. Australia break forward down the right, but Baldwin makes an important stop for Wales by breaking an attacking move.

Australia have the ball at scrum and try to work the ball over to the right, but Wales manage to turn the ball over at the breakdown by charging through the ruck. However, call from the official on the sideline stops the counter and hands Foley at kick right under the posts for an infraction against Faletau.

Kicks do not come much easier for Foley as he sends strike between the posts.

The Dragons attack with numbers down the left as North crashes through a tackle and Davies whips the ball out to the right. Roberts has support outside him and instead of taking the contact, he opts for an ambitious throw to Cuthbert, only to see the ball sail into touch. A waste from the centre.

Wales win the lineout and Davies spreads the ball quickly to Biggar. However, the Wallabies mass in numbers on the edge of their 22 to slow down the speed of the Wales attack. A scrum is called by the referee on the edge of the 22.

YELLOW CARD! Genia goes into the sin bin for the Wallabies as he tries to slow down a Wales attack down the left. It was cynical and Craig Joubert had no option. Huge opportunity for the Dragons to try to push for the line.

Wales go for the lineout right on the edge of the Australia tryline. Several of the forwards push for the score, but the Wallabies hold firm despite the immense pressure. Faletau makes a dive for the line and appears to ground the ball. However, replays show that he lost control when he tried to ground it over the line, and the try was chalked off. However, Wales still have a penalty.

YELLOW CARD! Another player in the bin for Australia as they are reduced to 13 men after Dean Mumm brings down the lineout. Huge opportunity for Wales to notch a try here.

A huge stand right on the tryline from the Wallabies as they soak up all the pressure from the Welsh forwards from the lineout once again, despite their numerical disadvantage. Wales work the ball to their backs and gets driven back out of the 22, but Roberts offloads to Cuthbert, who in turn finds North. The centre goes for the line, but is somehow prevented from touching down by Folau and Foley with desperate defence. Huge stand by Australia.

Incredible defence from Australia as Wales throw everything they have at the Wallabies by working the ball across the pitch, but the gold shirts show no sign of wiliting despite the immense pressure. Roberts and North both crash towards the line, before Williams tries to twist his way over, but once again Wales are held out as they go for the score.

Australia are bolsted by the introduction of Phipps, who comes on at scrum-half as Genia's time in the bin is over.

Wales win a penalty from the scrum and then the lineout. Davies sends the ball out to Biggar, but he gets hammered by Ashley-Cooper and swarmed by gold shirts, who win the ball at the breakdown through a penalty as North holds on. Incredible defence from Australia.

The Wallabies break upfield from their lineout and Folau shakes off a tackle to raid inside the 22. The offload from Phipps at the breakdown finds Foley, who weaves his way back inside the Welsh defence before he gets brought down by Anscombe. Australia work the ball to the left, but Kuridrani loses the ball forward. However, a penalty comes their way from an offside decision against Wales and Foley has the chance to put the game beyond the reach of the Dragons.

Foley sends yet another kick through the posts and Australia should have enough to see the game out.

Australia earn the chance to put the game beyond the reach of Gatland's as they win a penalty from the scrum. Foley sends his kick deep into Welsh territory to help the seconds tick off the clock.

Despite knocking the ball on, but they overpower the Welsh from the scrum and send the ball out to the right. Cuthbert slaps the ball down to prevent Beale from raiding down the left, which has been penalised by Joubert.

YELLOW CARD! Cuthbert goes to the bin and Foley has the chance to effectively end the game for the Wallabies.

MISS! Foley misses his first kick of the match, and it wasn't even close to the posts. If he was going to miss one in the tournament best miss one that does not matter that much.

Australia have the chance to end the game as they win a scrum, where they have dominated this afternoon.

What a game! Australia seal their place as Pool A winners with one of the best defensive performances you will ever see in a rugby match. Wales pounded the tryline with their big hitters for 10 minutes in the second half and with 13 men the Wallabies held firm to secure the match. An incredible effort from Michael Cheika's men, who have confirmed their showdown against Scotland in the quarter-finals and their status as favourites for the tournament.

Wales will be wondering how on earth they have lost this game. They threw everything at the Australians, but could not break through their defensive barrier and will settle for second place in the Pool, which leaves them facing South Africa in their quarter-final clash next week at Twickenham.

Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Stay with Sports Mole for our coverage of England's match against Uruguay coming up shortly.