Wales 29 Australia 29: The Australia skills coach, Scott Johnson, predicted an afternoon for voyeurs, an orgy of attractive rugby, and, if the enthralling six-try draw offered a peek at what is in store at next year's World Cup, a tournament customarily decided by the team with the best defence, the sport stands to regain its core values, having resembled rugby league for far too long.
Australia used to be the worst culprits. A year ago they paid scant regard to set-pieces, treating them as a means to restart play, and concentrated on taking the ball laboriously through phases, with players fanning out in a line across the pitch, relying more on missed tackles to get over the gain line than stealth or trickery.
Johnson spent more than four years sharpening Wales's attacking threat before returning to Australia in May and, though the Wallabies have invested much time and effort on a scrum that was more collapsible than a deckchair, the difference in their play at the breakdown and the way they sought to create space behind showed the profound difference he has made in less than six months.
Australia still committed a minimal number of forwards to the breakdown when Wales had possession but their approach when they had the ball was markedly different, ensuring quick release and reducing the clutter in the back division, allowing their outside backs better opportunities to attack rather than having tight forwards standing at first and second receiver.
The selective approach meant that, when their secondrows did receive the ball, they made inroads.
"What was most heartening was that defences were breached not because of weak tackling but because they had been outwitted," said the Wallabies' head coach, John Connolly.
"Defences have been on top for years in Test rugby but I would like to think that the World Cup will be won by the country with the smartest attack."
Although Australia were more disappointed than Wales at the result, having led 17-6 after the first quarter, their outscoring of the hosts by four tries to two gave them the moral victory less than 12 months before the two sides meet here in a World Cup group match.
Wales began slowly, not helped by their captain Stephen Jones twisting his right knee on 10 minutes. He limped on for a quarter of an hour and Wales's reluctance to replace him with the rookie James Hook may have cost them the game.
Wales scored 23 points to 12 while the composed Hook was on the pitch, fashioning a try that would have graced last year's Grand Slam campaign, and he also landed five kicks out of five.
The Wallabies blew two chances to extend their 11-point lead when Matt Giteau missed penalties and, as they were laying siege to the Wales line, Mat Rogers reacted to being held off the ball by Gethin Jenkins by smacking the prop in the face as the referee, Steve Walsh, looked on.
Australia, who were without their centre Stirling Mortlock, have a range of midfield options. Stephen Larkham opened the game up from the unfamiliar position of inside centre, which would allow them to move Lote Tuqiri back to the wing in place of Clyde Rathbone, who was undone by Tom Shanklin's change of angle for Wales's first try and fumbled the ball in the opposition half for the second.
Cameron Shepherd scored two tries from the other wing, the first after Rogers took out three defenders and the second when Giteau spotted the prop Adam Jones trying to plug a hole in the midfield and sprinted away from him.
If Australia felt they should have had a penalty two minutes from the end for Martyn Williams playing the ball off his feet having made a tackle, Chris Latham's stunning individual try was set up by Rogers blocking Gareth Thomas, a ploy the Wallabies used all match, and Tuqiri should have been sent to the sinbin at the end of the first half for a professional foul.
Wales need to improve if they are to pose any threat to New Zealand at the end of the month.
Kevin Morgan's kicking was awry and their lineout imploded. It may be that Hook starts at 12 when Jones is fit, with Gavin Henson moving to fullback.
Post-Johnson, the test will be to remain innovative - and eye-catching.
WALES: Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons); G Thomas (Toulouse), Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Henson (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Llanelli Scarlets, capt), Peel (Scarlets); Jenkins (Blues), Rees (Scarlets), A Jones (Ospreys); Gough (Dragons), Evans (Ospreys); J Thomas (Ospreys), M Williams (Blues), R Jones (Ospreys). Replacements: Hook (Ospreys) for S Jones (25 mins), D Jones (Ospreys) for A Jones (69 mins).
AUSTRALIA: Latham; Rathbone, Tuqiri, Larkham, Shepherd; Rogers, Giteau; Baxter, McIsaac, Blake; Sharpe, Vickerman; Elsom, Waugh (capt), Palu. Replacements: Cannon for McIsaac (36 mins), Hoiles for Palu (56 mins), Valentine for Larkham (60 mins), Chisholm for Vickerman (77 mins).
Referee: S Walsh (New Zealand).
