The Wallabies, without injured playmaker Stephen Larkham, stormed into a 25-3 half-time lead with tries from Matt Giteau, Stirling Mortlock and Chris Latham.

Jonathan Thomas stretched over for Wales after the interval but the game was effectively settled - and an Australian bonus-point secured - just before the hour when Latham touched down for his second following a nightmarish mistake from Stephen Jones.

Wales only rediscovered their true selves in the closing stages after Australian winger Drew Mitchell was sin-binned and their brilliant attacking rugby brought a late consolation try for Shane Williams.

But it was too little, too late and the Wallabies strode to victory and a likely quarter-final against an England side in disarray.

Wales, on the other hand, face the prospect of overcoming South Africa if they are to match the ambitions of their coach Gareth Jenkins and reach the last four.

The same South Africa who smashed England in Paris last night. The southern hemispheres dominance of this World Cup seems unbreakable.

When the Wallabies lost Larkham with a knee injury, they had no qualms in propelling rookie fly-half Berrick Barnes straight into the side for his first Test start.

The 21-year-old only made his debut in the win over Japan last week and was still in bed when the decision was confirmed.

But after wiping the sleep from his eyes, and a wobbly first clearance, he looked right at home and played a key role in opening Australia a match-winning half-time lead.

The score was tied at 3-3 after early penalties from Mortlock and Stephen Jones when the 22-year-old made a Larkham-esque break between Adam Jones and Dwayne Peel before providing the scoring pass for Giteau to score under the posts.

Gareth Thomas received a stern talking-to from referee Steve Walsh for taking out Barnes late and off the ball. He escaped immediate censure but the citing officer may have a different view.

As it was, Thomas was not long for this game as Wales were then forced to reshuffle their back division twice in the space of five minutes.

Sonny Parker was stretchered off with an apparent knee injury and Thomas damaged his shoulder in a heavy hit from Mortlock.

With just 22 minutes on the clock, Kevin Morgan was at full-back and James Hook arrived to a huge ovation from the home fans to play inside centre.

Last November, Hook was introduced at the same stage and inspired a Welsh recovery from 17-6 down in the dramatic 29-29 draw.

But there was no immediate impact. Instead, it was Australias prodigy who took centre stage as Barnes, having shaken himself down, landed a measured 40-metre drop goal.
Wales are at their most dangerous on the counter-attack and excellent pressure at the breakdown earned them opportunities to hit the Australians from deep.

Wales were full of bold intent but could not execute their attacking plays in the same clinical manner as Australia.

When Latham spilled an offload from Wycliff Palu, Mark Jones escaped down the left wing but his chip was scuffed into touch.

Hooker Matthew Rees then pinched possession in Wales own half and Morgan injected some pace into the attack but Martyn Williams was caught holding on.

Wales escaped as Mortlock slid his penalty attempt wide before Jones missed a second shot at goal.

Australia then showed how it is done with a clinical finish after Mark Jones offload had gone to ground.

Matt Dunning scooped up the ball to send Gregan away down the right and the veteran scrum-half lofted a chip which Mortlock gathered to score under pressure from Martyn Williams and Morgan. Mortlock injured his shoulder in the process and did not re-appear after half-time.

Wales needed something. Hook attempted an ambitious cut-out pass but it bounced past Mark Jones and into touch.

And Australia came again. Palu, attacking from the back of the scrum, blasted through Peel, George Smith threw a speculative offload and Giteau spun a wide pass to Mitchell who sent Latham over for Australias third try with an inside pass.

Trailing 25-3, Wales had to score first after half-time to stand any hope. They butchered one overlap but kept the pressure on and after Hooks break for the line was stopped short, Jonathan Thomas twisted and stretched to score.

Hook took over the kicking duties and slotted the conversion and a penalty as Wales tried to mount a comeback.

But all their efforts were undone just before the hour mark when Stephen Jones mis-judged a steepling Latham up-and-under inside his own 22. Latham pounced to regather and dived over for his second try of the afternoon.

Mitchell was then sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Rees - and Wales attacked as if the shackles had been broken.

There were shades of the 2005 Grand Slam as forwards mixed with backs brilliantly before Alun-Wyn Jones galloped through the defensive line.

Nathan Sharpe followed Mitchell into the sin-bin after Colin Charvis and the Australians, down to 13 men, could not stop Shane Williams touching down in the corner.