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The Wallabies finished their year on a high with a 24-18 victory over Wales as try-scoring great Shane Williams’ ended his international career with a try in the final minute.
Australia scored their three tries during an 11-minute second half scoring blitz at a packed Millennium Stadium that was sparked by Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny’s sin-binning for tackling James O’Connor without the ball.
O’Connor scored nine points on four of six with the boot in another strong performance at fly half while inside centre Berrick Barnes and fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper were outstanding in an entertaining encounter.
But for the locals, it was all about Williams and the most enormous roar erupted in Cardiff when he scored his 60th Test try with the final play of the match.
Welsh fly half Rhys Priestland opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a penalty while Williams knocked on with his first touch just before the quarter-hour mark.
O’Connor missed a chance in the 30th minute to level the scores before Ashley-Cooper cut through the Welsh defence a minute later.
From the following phase, Barnes produced an inch-perfect kick for Lachie Turner.
The Australian winger collected the ball and swivelled in a Williams tackle near the corner post.
He planted the ball down almost at the same time as going into touch and after several views, video referee Geoff Warren from England ruled in the home team’s favour.
Priestland stretched the lead out to six points before O’Connor reduced it to 6-3 on the stroke of halftime.
Radike Samo replaced David Pocock at the break after the No.7 battled with leg problems in the first half.
The Wallabies started opening up Wales early in the second half with a telling moment coming in the 50th minute.
Barnes put through another another excellent kick and with O’Connor winning the race to the ball near the try line, Halfpenny tackled him early.
A sniping Will Genia popped the ball over the line from close range a minute later to ignite the tourists.
O’Connor missed a penalty from straight in front in the 57th minute but composed himself enough to throw an excellent cut-out pass to put Turner over a minute later.
Barnes completed Australia’s three tries in just over ten minutes by putting the ball under the posts after a lovely ball from Samo with O’Connor’s conversion making it 24-6.
Wales hit back with Priestland rolling his way over the line to reduce the margin to 13 points.
Ben Tapuai made his Test debut by coming off the bench in the 77th minute for Ashley-Cooper before Williams provided one last moment of magic by skipping past Barnes’ desperate lunge.
“I have had the best time of my life,” Williams said to the adoring Welsh fans.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.