Australia 29 Wales 23:Wales coach Gareth Jenkins hailed Gavin Henson's reappearance at international level as a "positive" element of his side's last-ditch 29-23 defeat to Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

Henson had 21 minutes of action after being out with a knee ligament strain since January, six of them as a first-half blood replacement for try-scoring skipper Gareth Thomas and the rest as he took over from Wales's other try-scorer, Jamie Robinson, for the last 15 frenetic minutes.

Jenkins said: "Gav did well when he came on. It was always the case that we brought him on the tour to give him an opportunity if the situation was right. It was right to bring him on in the second half and he proved to all of us he's still skilled and has an an appetite for the game and was a positive, really, in that last 30 minutes."

Henson will now be considered for a more significant role for the second Test in Brisbane and Jenkins expects Australian-born secondrow forward Brent Cockbain to be available for selection as they seek to level the series. Cockbain left the fray following a blow to his head after 35 minutes.

Scores: Australia: Tries: Palu, Sharpe, Giteau, Hoiles. Cons: Mortlock 3. Pens: Mortlock. Wales: Tries: G Thomas, Robinson. Cons: Hook 2. Pens: Hook 2. Drop Goals: Hook.

AUSTRALIA: Huxley; Gerrard, Mortlock, Ashley-Cooper, Mitchell; Norton-Knight, Giteau; Dunning, Moore, Shepherdson, Sharpe, Chisholm, Elsom, Waugh, Palu. Replacements: Gregan for Ashley-Cooper (66), Robinson for Dunning (53), Freier for Moore (73), Vickerman for Chisholm (67), Smith for Waugh (53), Hoiles for Palu (73). Not Used: Staniforth.

WALES: Byrne; G Thomas, Robinson, Parker, Czekaj; Hook, Phillips; I Thomas, Rees, A Jones, Cockbain, Sidoli, Charvis, G Thomas, J Thomas. Replacements: Henson for Robinson (67), Cooper for Phillips (72), C Jones for I Thomas (73), Hibbard for Rees (74), Owen for Cockbain (36). Not Used: Morgan, Sweeney.

Attendance: 50,000

Referee: J Kaplan (South Africa).