Australia pip Wales with last gasp try

Matt Giteau of Australia scores a try against Wales during their rugby union match at Stadium Australia in Sydney yesterday PHOTO: AFP

Australia a winning try after the full-time siren to beat gallant Wales 29-23 in the first of their two rugby internationals in Sydney yesterday.

The Welsh looked headed for their first victory in Australia in almost 40 years when fly-half James Hook kicked them in front with a drop goal nine minutes from time.

But the Wallabies clinched victory when replacement forward Stephen Hoiles finished off a passing rush to dive over in the corner.

The Welsh players looked on crestfallen as Stirling Mortlock landed the inconsequential conversion from the sideline.

The Wallabies, who looked sloppy in the first half and conceded a 17-point lead after 20 minutes, appeared to have the momentum turning their way when they hit the front for the first time with 25 minutes left.

But Wales, without 17 leading players at home for conditioning ahead of the World Cup, showed huge character to stick at it and reclaimed the lead with Hook's drop goal.

Yet the Australians, with a humiliating defeat beckoning against the Six-Nations strugglers, pulled the rabbit out of the hat with Hoiles' try after the siren.

Skipper Phil Waugh admitted it was a huge relief that the Wallabies scraped home, although they scored four tries to two.

The Welsh came out flying and rocked the Wallabies with two early tries, and led by five points at half-time.

The Wallabies hit the front for the first time after 55 minutes when Matt Giteau, playing at scrum-half with George Gregan on the bench, darted over with Mortlock's conversion putting them 22-20 ahead.

Hook to have won it for Wales with his drop goal, only for the Wallabies' last-gasp attack.

The two nations are in the same pool at the World Cup and their showdown at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on September 15 is expected to decide who tops the group, with a likely quarter-final against either England or South Africa.

Wales, who have not won in Australia since 1969, had a dream start with a converted try in the second minute coming off a handling error from Stirling Mortlock deep inside Welsh territory.

Left-winger Chris Czekaj took play to halfway and his kick ahead was fumbled by Giteau close to the Australian try-line for Hook to send skipper Gareth Thomas, playing in his record 93rd international, over for the shock try.

It got worse for the loose Australians 14 minutes later when a pass from debutant full-back Julian Huxley was intercepted by center Jamie Robinson who outsprinted the Wallabies' cover to score next to the posts for a 14-0 lead.

Hook the Welsh to a 17-0 lead after 20 minutes, leaving the 40,000 home crowd in stunned silence.

The Wallabies No.8 Wycliff Palu crashed over in the corner in the 24th minute to trail 17-5.

Lock Nathan Sharpe scored a soft try eight minutes later, plunging over from close in and reducing the deficit to five points as Australia recovered after their dreadful start.

But the Wallabies found it difficult to escape the clutches of the Welsh and left it to the bitter end to clinch a hard-fought victory.

"What John Connolly [the Wallabies' coach] can really take out of that game is that it is a platform -- not a strong platform -- but it's the first game out of the way,'' former Wallaby Tim Horan said.

"They can move up to Brisbane [for the second Test, next Saturday], where the Wallabies love playing at Suncorp Stadium and they can try to play an expansive game plan," he said.

"He [Connolly] tried a few players tonight. Some worked, some didn't. I thought his bench worked very well when they came on."