KEY POINTS:
Wales 29 Australia 29
CARDIFF - The Wallabies were left encouraged despite being held to a draw in an entertaining rugby test against Wales in Cardiff yesterday.
Australian coach John Connolly said that, although his team were disappointed not to have won after dominating for much of the match and leading 17-6 early on, the impressive performance of the new-look backline and especially Matt Giteau in his debut at halfback excited the Wallabies.
Long-time Wallabies captain George Gregan may be regretting his decision to sit out the tour in a bid to prime himself for next season and a World Cup swansong after Giteau played a starring role for Australia.
He scored a clever solo try, landed goals and put his teammates into a series of holes with some brilliant vision and passing.
"He had a bloody good game," Connolly said. "He got a few ticks."
The Wallabies scored four tries to two, dominated territorially and enjoyed the lion's share of possession but only a brilliant solo try to fullback Chris Latham saved them from defeat.
The 2006 John Eales Medallist collected a kick on the half-volley 45m out from the Welsh line, then flirted with the touchline while somehow beating four players to cross in the 64th minute. His effort put the Wallabies ahead 29-26 but a penalty goal to replacement five-eighths James Hook six minutes later gave Wales the draw.
A penalty goal from Giteau had opened the scoring after four minutes and Wales replied through skipper Stephen Jones to level the scores.
The Wallabies posted the first try in the 12th minute when five-eighths Mat Rogers put winger Cameron Shepherd over soon after a rampaging run from Wycliff Palu. Giteau's conversion had Australia 10-3 ahead but Wales stayed in touch through a long-range penalty to centre Gavin Henson.
Giteau's tremendous awareness put Australia further ahead.
The fleet-footed half sprinted 20m across field to take a quick penalty tap and duly darted over to score in a diagonal 5m run to the line.
His conversion in the 18th minute extended Australia's lead to 11 points but then he missed two penalty attempts and a late flurry from the Welsh, on the back of four straight penalties, had the home side in range.
Winger Shane Williams completed a well-worked try in the 35th minute and Hook - on for the injured Jones - landed the conversion and a goal.
Wales took the lead for the first time when Hook slotted another penalty and then skipped out to a 26-17 advantage through a converted try to flanker Martyn Williams. Australia replied when Shepherd grabbed his second try. Giteau's conversion put Australia to within two points before Latham's try nudged them ahead, but Hook's goal had the final say.
- AAP
