Australia ended their dismal tour of the northern hemisphere on a high with an emphatic 33-12 victory over Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
The Australians, who have struggled for form throughout the autumn, put in a virtuoso performance including four tries to completely outclass a lacklustre Wales. Australian fly-half Matt Giteau banished the memories of his Murrayfield nightmare last weekend with a man-of-the-match performance which included 13 points.
Wales never established a firm foothold in a match which will leave big question marks as to their level of progression during the autumn. Despite being favourites with the bookies going into the game, they were second best in every department.
The major blow for Wales leading into the match was the loss of captain Ryan Jones to a training ground back injury. The 21-year-old Newport-Gwent Dragon Dan Lydiate replaced him to make his first international start at blindside flanker with Andy Powell shuffling to number eight. Gethin Jenkins took over the captaincy. Dwayne Peel came in to win his 72nd cap in place of Gareth Cooper behind the scrum, and Jonathan Thomas was retained at inside centre despite Tom Shanklin recovering from a broken nose.
Australia, reeling after their humbling at Murrayfield seven days ago, made three changes. Youthful exuberance edged out experience in the back row with up-and-coming flanker David Pocock replacing George Smith. Dean Mumm came in for Mark Chisholm in the second row and Digby Ioane replaced Ryan Cross at centre.
Wales had the dubious pleasure of the 'favourites' tag going into the game but Warren Gatland had done all he could to play down expectations in the week, warning his players of a 'wounded animal'-like backlash from the Australians after their Murrayfield disappointment.
Matt Giteau, fresh from missing his last minute penalty decider against Scotland, put the first kick of the game straight into touch. But from the resultant scrum Wales were penalised and Giteau made amends, slotting a penalty from 50 metres. First blood to Australia.
And they continued to be on top. Scrum-half Will Ginea and then wing Peter Hynes cutting through the Welsh midfield with ease. Wales looked rattled. Again and again the Wallabies broke the gain line.
The pressure told. A perfectly weighted grubber from Giteau found acres of space behind Leigh Halfpenny on the Welsh right wing and Digby Ioane collected and scored. A perfect response from Giteau to those who questioned his mettle after last weekend's nightmare.
Australia 8-0 up inside ten minutes. Wales had left their gameplan in the dressing room, the 'favourites' tag seemingly weighing heavily on their shoulders.
After fifteen minutes, Wales finally put some phases together and after some ill-discipline from Peter Hynes, Leigh halfpenny opened Wales account with a sweetly struck penalty.
But straight from the restart Wales' vulnerability was exposed again. Austraila sweeping from right to left for Drew Mitchell to release big lock James Horwill to rumble over in the corner. Wales looked decidedly out of sorts and Australia, with a new found ruthless edge, were making them pay.
Against the run of play Stephen Jones slotted another penalty to keep Wales in touch.
The Australian half-back combination of Ginea and Giteau were on song and from a wonderful catch, break and chip ahead from Ginea Australia went through the phases before 21-year-old flanker David Pocock stretched successfully for the line. Giteau's conversion made it 20-6.
Wales were saved only by the bounce of the ball soon after, as a Quade Cooper kick rolled dead as two Wallabies bore down on it unchallenged. Wales were looking ragged in defence while Australia had found a togetherness and a ruthlessness so lacking on the rest of their tour.
Wales' first meaningful foray into the Australian 22 came in the 35th minute, but Jamie Roberts knocked-on when the line loomed.
Two late penalties from Stephen Jones and one from Matt Giteau made the half time score 23-12 to Australia.
Australia started the second half the stronger with intelligently varied kicking keeping Wales deep in their own half. Wales' lack of possession hampering their brand of expansive rugby and Gatland's promise to move away from the 'kicking ping-pong' was as yet unfounded.
James Hook missed an opportunity to bring Wales within touch with half-an-hour to go missing a penalty left of the uprights. A Tom James kick and break earned Wales another penalty immediately after, but again Wales squandered the chance, this time Stephen Jones missing the kick.
Among a raft of changes, Jonathan Thomas came on to win his 50th cap. Wales had a new vigour and the crowd sensed it as Jamie Roberts crashed into the Australian 22. This was where Wales needed to be. But half-break after half-break was not enough, and Australia cleared.
The Australian scrum, perhaps the only area of encouragement for them so far this autumn, was again impressive and an almighty shove ripped the Welsh front row apart and earned another penalty, which Giteau gratefully slotted.
Another nail was banged into the Welsh coffin minutes later, as a wonderful outside break from Giteau set up replacement hooker Tafatu Polota-Nau for a clear run-in. Australia continued to find gaps with alarming ease. Giteau's conversion stretched their lead to 33-12.
Wales did get up to the Australian line, but dogged work on the ground by the Australian forwards meant the ball was turned over at the crucial moment. Wales lacked direction and purpose behind while Australia looked completely comfortable in defence.
The last ten minutes were played in slow motion. Australia knew they had won and frustratingly for the Welsh fans, it looked like Wales knew they had lost.
The nature of the defeat draws a sharp halt to the Welsh momentum built up over the autumn series. Being the favourites going into big games has never sat well with the Welsh, and so it proved.
For the Australians, it was a case of it all coming good in the end. This was by far their most complete performance of the tour and while their autumn series will still go down as an undisputable failure, their performance today in Cardiff will at least make the champagne on the long flight home taste a little sweeter.
