Wales 16-25 Australia: Wallabies add to Wales' southern discomfort

Wales slipped to another defeat against Tri Nations opposition as Australia's try-scoring class saw them home at a subdued Millennium Stadium.

More than 20,000 Wales fans stayed away and they ultimately missed little, with Wales suffering a tenth defeat from 11 starts at the hands of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa since coach Warren Gatland took charge almost three years ago. The Wallabies ran in three tries - flanker David Pocock, outstanding full-back Kurtley Beale and prop Ben Alexander touching down - while wing James O'Connor added two penalties and two conversions.

Wales fleetingly threatened, notably when substitute scrum-half Richie Rees scored late on, but otherwise they had to rely on three Stephen Jones penalties and a Dan Biggar conversion for their points. Gatland recently signed a new four-year contract, but the 53,127 fans who witnessed the latest demise against major southern hemisphere opponents were left unfulfilled.

Wales' blunt attacking edge meant Australia never seriously broke sweat in defence, and it was only when Rees appeared instead of Mike Phillips that the home side threatened to move up a gear. By then though, it was too little too late, and with the magnificent Beale keeping Australia moving forward, Wales could not seize the initiative and they must now regroup for an appointment with world champions South Africa next Saturday - Australia head to Twickenham - and any feelgood factor under Gatland is now long gone.

Scorers: Wales: Tries: Try: R Rees Con: Biggar Pens: Jones (3). Australia: Tries: Tries: Pocock, Beale, Alexander Cons: O'Connor (2) Pens: O'Connor (2)

Wales: J Hook; W Harries, T Shanklin, A Bishop, S Williams; S Jones, M Phillips; G Jenkins, M Rees (capt), A Rhys-Jones, B Davies, A Wyn-Jones, D Lydiate, S Warburton, J Thoma. Subs: H Bennett, P James, D Jones, M Williams, R Rees, D Biggar, C Czekaj.

Australia: K Beale; J O'Connor, A Ashley-Cooper, M Giteau, D Mitchell; Q Cooper, W Genia; B Robinson, S Faingaa, B Alexander, M Chisholm, N Sharpe, R Elsom (capt), D Pocock, B McCalman. Subs: H Edmonds, J Slipper, D Mumm, R Brown, L Burgess, B Barnes, L Turner.

Referee: W Barnes (Eng). Attendance: 53,127.