Australia 29 Wales 23: Stephen Hoiles broke Welsh hearts with a try after the end-of-game hooter as Australia snatched a first Test victory at Telstra Stadium.

Man of the match James Hook put Wales ahead with a calmly taken drop-goal with eight minutes left, but the Wallabies launched one last desperate attack and as they have done so often before, made it count.

Wales led 17-0 after a bizarre opening 21 minutes in which the hosts made all the running and the visitors scored all the points.

The Welsh lined up boasting a combined total of 456 caps to Australia's 332 following the eve-of-match withdrawal of one of the Wallabies' most-capped players in Stephen Larkham.

Despite the disparity in experience between the two sides, Wales went into the game knowing no touring team had won Down Under since 1969.

It was not long before both sides set out their stall. The Wallabies promised all-out attack, but as they launched their first attack, captain Stirling Mortlock fumbled a pass and it fell kindly for Chris Czekaj.

The Cardiff Blues wing set off with half the Wallaby back division in pursuit and as the defence closed in Czekaj hacked ahead.

Matt Giteau seemed to have the threat covered, but he failed to control the ball and James Hook seized the opportunity to send Wales' new record cap-holder, captain Gareth Thomas, crashing over.

Hook converted the the opening try that was scored after 75 seconds and then watched as Mortlock hit an upright as the Wallabies continued their ferocious early assault.

The hosts continued to put a huge amount of pressure on the visitors' defence, but were thwarted either by some gutsy defending -  including one shuddering hit on Drew Mitchell by full-back Lee Byrne - and the Wallabies' own litany of handling errors.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts after 16 minutes when Jamie Robinson intercepted full-back debutant Julian Huxley's pass to race clear from 70 metres.

Hook again converted and added a penalty five minutes later after Jonathan Thomas sent Byrne on another Welsh break-out that was defied by Mark Gerrard's cover tackle.

Then the home fightback began, number eight Wycliff Palu crossing at the corner as another series of sweeping Wallaby attacks paid dividends.

That 24th-minute try was followed 10 minutes later by second-row Nathan Sharpe barging past Robert Sidoli on his way to the line and Mortlock kicking his first shot from three attempts to put his side within five points of the tourists.

Wales suffered a further blow when Australian-born Brent Cockbain left the fray after 35 minutes, replaced by Michael Owen, a specialist number eight, while Gavin Henson also returned to action as a blood-bin replacement for skipper Thomas between the 26th and 32nd minutes.

Hook extended Wales' lead 11 minutes after the break with a penalty, but the Wallabies' determination to make amends for their dreadful start was plain for all to see.

It was therefore no surprise to see Matt Giteau live up to his livewire reputation in attack.

He took full advantage of a defence in disarray to skip around the blindside from close-range and Mortlock again converted to put his side within a point at 19-20 behind with 25 minutes to go.

Mortlock then stepped up to do the captain's job by kicking a 63rd
minute-penalty and when a Hook penalty struck an upright two minutes later the tension became almost unbearable.

Hook made amends with the drop-goal that put Wales back into the lead after 72 minutes only for the number eight replacement to cross at the death for the killer blow.

"The boys came here under-rated," Wales captain Thomas told Sky Sports 2. "It was a great game of rugby and Australia stuck it together for the full 80 minutes, and one lapse let them win the game."

"We just believe in each other. It's a young squad but we knew we could play."

Thomas denied the Australian press's criticism of the touring party, which is without 18 regulars, had acted as an incentive. "We don't read the papers," he insisted.