World champions Australia ended their disappointing tour of Europe with a 49-35 win over the invitational Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium tonight.
Although the Barbarians were defeated it was a night to remember for their South African right wing Breyton Paulse who lit up the night with a brilliant hat-trick of tries.
Australia left wing Scott Staniforth also grabbed three as his side outscored the Barbarians by seven converted tries to five as Test defeats against England and France were temporarily forgotten.
A Wallabies side containing only four players from Sunday's starting line-up in the 21-13 win over Wales soon found themselves on the backfoot.
It was Paulse who gave the crack invitational side the lead in the ninth minute. He reacted first as Mark Connors tried to gather a loose pass from fellow flanker George Smith and raced in from 25 yards.
Van Straaten converted and the Barbarians were 7-0 up.
This became 14-0 six minutes later when former Australia back Pat Howard's perfectly timed pass enabled fellow centre Stephane Glas to catch the Wallabies defence flat-footed, the Frenchman scoring under the posts.
Australia hit back in the 21st minute when good work from left wing Staniforth was finished off by Latham. Elton Flatley added the conversion.
And three minutes later Australia were level when following a tap penalty close to the Barbarians line, Flatley strolled past France hooker Raphael Ibanez, before converting his own score.
Then on the half-hour mark the Barbarians created a superb try. Wales prop Darren Morris surprised everyone by chipping ahead and catching the ball before offloading it to South Africa lock Mark Andrews, who passed to Springbok wing Stefan Terblanche.
Paulse, called for the high kick and Terblanche delivered. But it was France flanker Olivier Magne who regathered before passing to Paulse for a spectacular score which he celebrated with a double somersault.
Van Straaten converted and the Barbarians were 21-14 ahead.
But Australia then hit back. First Toutai Kefu, normally a back-row forward, but playing at centre, gave a scoring pass to Staniforth.
Then in the 37th minute Australia took the lead when more sustained pressure close to the Barbarians line, ended with a clever inside pass from Flatley to Toutai Kefu for a try.
And just before the break Australia extended their advantage although Latham's pass to Tune earlier in the movement appeared to be forward.
Scrum-half and Australia captain George Gregan also appeared to knock-on subsequently, but English referee Chris White failed to notice.
Gregan's clever inside reverse pass caught the Barbarians defence unawares and Staniforth went over for his second try, before Flatley added his fifth conversion from five attempts.
The Wallabies, 14 points up at the break, went further ahead when full-back Chris Latham sent in right wing Ben Tune for a try which half-time substitute Manuel Edmonds converted.
A flood of replacements broke the pattern of the match and slowed the scoring rate before on the hour mark left wing Staniforth completed his hat-trick.
By this stage former Australia rugby league wing Mat Rogers had come off the Barbarians bench for his first senior match since changing codes in the summer.
But it was fellow replacement Craig Dowd who fly-hacked on to give fellow sub Pat Lam a try as he beat Stefan Terblanche to the touch down.
And with five minutes remaining Paulse completed his hat-trick in fine style seizing on a Stephen Larkham fumble, to sprint in 60 yards.
Fellow Sprinbok Braam van Straaten added his fifth successful conversion from five attempts to leave Australia 49-35 up. -AFP