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Fly-half Stephen Jones rounded off a fine year for Six Nations champions Wales by steering them to a thrilling 21-18 victory over Australia at the Millennium Stadium.

Jones booted 11 points to add to first half tries from World Player of the Year Shane Williams and Lee Byrne as Wales became the only northern hemisphere team to beat a Tri-Nations side this year.

The Wallabies also went over twice through lock Mark Chisholm and wing Digby Ioane and fly-half Matt Giteau kicked eight points with a penalty, a brilliant drop goal and conversion.

Wales, who had won just once in Australia's previous seven visits, had lost narrowly to world champions South Africa and New Zealand in earlier tests in the November series.

Coach Warren Gatland said: "I'm really proud of our performance. We played a lot of really good rugby and thoroughly deserved to win.

"Hopefully we can mature over the next couple of seasons into a really good side."

Australia were chasing their first European clean sweep since 1996 following wins over England, France and Italy this month.

Disappointed Australia coach Robbie Deans said: "It's never enjoyable to come second in a test match. There was obviously not much in it."

In an explosive start, the hosts forced the visitors on the back foot when fullback Drew Mitchell knocked on under the high ball after 15 seconds.

Worse was to follow with Wallabies' skipper Stirling Mortlock forced to leave the field after a head-to-head clash with Jamie Roberts.

Both players lay on the ground and could not continue with Mortlock carried off immediately and Roberts lasting just 17 minutes.

Wales took full advantage of the early disruption for Australia when Williams touched down for the first try of the match inside four minutes.

Williams started the move with a trademark break before Roberts was denied by Mitchell's try-saving tackle. But Byrne's pass allowed Williams to score his 44th test try in the right corner.

Jones missed the conversion but Wales were in the ascendancy with number eight Andy Powell back to his destructive best with several powerful runs.

Australia hit back when Chisholm capitalised on a lucky bounce of the ball from a Wales attacking line-out on 12 minutes to sprint home from 70 metres.

Giteau added the conversion to put the visitors ahead before firing Australia into a 10-5 lead with a fine drop-goal midway through the half.

However, hooker Stephen Moore was yellow carded for a professional foul on the half hour and within a minute, Williams turned provider to allow Byrne to double the try count.

Jones converted for a 15-10 interval lead before Giteau pulled Australia back into contention with a 46th minute penalty.

But Jones edged Wales further clear with a 67th minute drop goal and late penalty before Ioane's late try for Australia and Giteau's missed conversion.

Reuters