Australia dominated possession and territory but let themselves down with poor handling in a rusty performance as the Welsh made a mockery of pre-match predictions of a pushover to blaze away to a 17-0 lead early in the match courtesy of two opportune tries against the run of play.

The Wallabies worked their way back into the match with tries to Wycliff Palu and Nathan Sharpe to trail 17-12 at half-time, and then hit the front in the 61st minute with a Stirling Mortlock penalty after a converted try to Matt Giteau had brought the home team to within one point.

But the plucky Welsh line-up, playing without 18 internationals, dug deep and regained the lead with nine minutes to go via a drop goal to man-of-the-match, flyhalf James Hook.

But the Wallabies broke Welsh hearts when they got out of jail with a try in the corner much to the delight of the 40.872 fans on hand in Sydney.

Wales got off to the best possible start with a try to skipper Gareth Thomas in just the second minute of play after Wales winger Chris Czekaj picked up a loose ball on his own 22 and sprinted downfield.

As the cover closed in, Czekaj kicked into space and Wallabies No.9 Matt Giteau looked to have the ball covered but it popped up into the arms of Welsh flyhalf James Hook. He offloaded for Thomas to crash over the line. Hook converted for a 7-0 lead.

Wales scored again against the run of play when outside centre Jamie Robinson intercepted a long pass from Wallabies debutant Julian Huxley and raced 75 metres to score. Hook slotted the extras for a 14-0 lead.

Stirling Mortlock had a chance to put a penalty goal over in the 15th minute but his attempt bounced off the right post and back into the field of play. However, Hook made no mistake when he put through an easy penalty just three minutes later to make it 17-0.

Australia eventually turned their glut of possession into points in the 23rd minute when big No.8 Wycliff Palu crashed over out wide after consecutive phases into the Welsh 22. Mortlock missed the conversion from the sideline to leave the score at 17-5.

Nathan Sharpe barnstormed his way over for the Wallabies second try just after the half-hour mark with a powerful run on the fringe of the ruck. Mortlock converted to make it 17-12 at half-time.

Wales started the second half with a 45-metre penalty attempt to Hook that fell short and left. But the talented flyhalf was on target in the 51st minute.

The Wallabies wrestled back control of the match in the 53rd minute when Giteau was rewarded for determined play inside the Welsh 22. He dived on a loose ball to win a turnover and moments later darted out from the back of a ruck close to the Wales tryline, sold the dummy on the outside and strolled over for a try. Mortlock converted to make it a one-point ball game, 20-19.

Australia hit the front for the first time in the 61st minute when Mortlock slotted a 35-metre after

Hook should have given Wales back the lead three minutes later when Hook missed a simple penalty from right in front of the sticks. However, the Welsh flyhalf made amens in the 72nd minute when ho coolly slotted a 30-metre drop goal.

The brave Welsh held on as the home side attacked with venom in the final stages but eventually cracked in the 81st minute as the Wallabies threw the ball from side to side inside the 22.

The green and gold eventually worked an overlap on the right wing with Norton-Knight sending a cut-out pass to replacement lock Dan Vickerman, who sent Holies on a passage to the corner. Mortlock threaded the conversion to further demoralise Wales.

England copped it against South Africa 58-10.

Wallabies 29
Tries: Palu, Sharpe, Giteau, Holies
Conversions: Mortlock 3
Penalties: Mortlock

Wales 23
Tries: Thomas, Robinson
Conversions: Hook 2
Penalties: Hook 2
Drop Goal: Hook

Sportal