Rugby: Australia beat Wales 21-13 in dour Test encounter

World champions Australia recorded their eighth successive victory over Wales today - but it was a Test match to forget at the Millennium Stadium.

Wales, whose last win against the Wallabies came during the inaugural World Cup in 1987 in a dramatic third-place play-off, contributed massively to their own downfall.

They not only failed to make overwhelming territorial first-half dominance count trailing 9-3 at the break - but also conceded countless penalties.

Wallabies full-back Matt Burke needed no second invitation, landing seven kicks at goal from 10 attempts and leaving Wales wondering what might have been.

Rugby league convert Iestyn Harris landed a penalty in each half and converted substitute Gavin Thomas’s injury-time try for Wales - yet they still have not beaten Australia in Cardiff since 1981 and they might never get a better chance than this.

Australia, already beaten by England and France on their autumn European tour, again failed to impress.

Their lacklustre display served only to give coach Eddie Jones plenty of food for thought when the Wallabies return home later this week.

English referee Steve Lander was public enemy number one as far as a 70,000 Welsh crowd was concerned, incurring their wrath by constantly whistling and punishing Welsh indiscretions.

He also produced a yellow card on three occasions, sending Australian lock David Giffin to the sin-bin on seven minutes for stamping on Welsh flanker Colin Charvis and then binning Australia’s Justin Harrison and Wales forward Andy Moore following a late punch-up.

Neither side created much in the way of attacking rugby, Wallabies wing Joe Roff seeing a 66th-minute try disallowed after he gathered opposite number Wayne Proctor’s clearance kick and sprinted clear and it was left to Bath flanker Iestyn Thomas to provide the only try with the game’s last move.

Wales coach Graham Henry had seen his side suffer emphatic home defeats against Ireland and Argentina in recent weeks, but his pre-match build-up was disrupted by injuries.

Anthony Sullivan, Allan Bateman and Thomas were all ruled out through varying fitness problems which contributed towards making Australia comfortable favourites.

But the Wallabies look a shadow of the side which lifted the World Cup at the Millennium Stadium two years ago, sorely missing the talisman influence of their retired captain John Eales.

Much of their approach work in attack was impressive; yet far too often for a team of their stature the final pass went astray.

Wales were still in the game until 11 minutes from time when Burke, whose career Test points total is more than 700, slotted his sixth penalty.

That gave Australia a 12-point cushion, and no matter how hard Wales huffed and puffed to get themselves back into contention Thomas’ touchdown was nothing more than a consolation.

The early exchanges were fast and furious, and after Giffin’s illegal footwork Cardiff centre Harris put Wales ahead with a well-struck 40metre penalty.

Burke then failed with his first shot at goal but was on target just four minutes later to level the scores before Giffin returned from his enforced absence.

Wales used their forwards to sensibly create an attacking platform; yet despite spells of territorial control two more Burke penalties ensured that Australia held an interval advantage.

Wales, realistically, had to score first in the second period. But Burke’s fourth penalty increased the magnitude of the hosts’ task, further compounded when centre Jamie Robinson limped off injured to be replaced by Rhys Williams meaning that wing Gareth Thomas switched into midfield.

Henry made full use of his bench, sending on Chris Wyatt for Ian Gough after 51 minutes and then replacing Brett Sinkinson with Thomas. But the game continued to lack spark, and there was little for the crowd to enthuse about.

Approaching the closing minutes, Burke knew that his seventh successful penalty would be enough to extend Australia’s dominance in this fixture although Thomas gained the afternoon’s loudest cheer by crashing over in a spirited Welsh finale.

Overall, though, it has been a hugely frustrating autumn series for Wales who will need a considerable improvement before launching their Lloyds TSB Six Nations campaign against Ireland at Lansdowne Road in 10 weeks’ time.

Australia, meanwhile, will fly home following Wednesday’s end-of-tour showpiece against the Barbarians also in Cardiff but their mantle as the world’s number one team has slipped considerably.