Wales saw victory snatched from their grasp by a defiant Australia side who refused to lose at the Principality Stadium.
Wayne Pivac’s side were leading 34-13 on 57 minutes, seemingly set fair to take the spoils.
But yellow cards for Justin Tipuric and Ryan Elias proved costly as the Wallabies stormed back with 26 unanswered points.
The 39-34 defeat leaves Pivac clinging to his job as head coach by his fingertips.
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Earlier, Wales had played well, scoring four tries and with Jac Morgan outstanding, but they couldn’t see the job through.
Here's how the Wales players fared:
Josh Adams 7
Parachuted into the starting line-up as a late replacement for back-spasm victim Leigh Halfpenny — and smashed by Langi Gleeson when taking an early high ball. It got better, with Adams achieving a superb turnover and then saving a try with a last-ditch tackle on Jed Holloway.
Alex Cuthbert 5
He had gone seven Tests without scoring a try and there was no sign of the drought ending here. He did put in a few runs and applied pressure in defence, but Mark Nawaqanitawase beat him twice en route to the line.
George North 7
One powerful run splintered the opposition defence, while North also came up with a number of great defensive reads. He has had a strong few weeks.
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Joe Hawkins 6
From the Welsh Premiership to the Test arena in the space of barely a month, and Hawkins made the jump without too many problems. He created space for those around him with some smooth passing and also caught the eye as a carrier, but made an error when trying to clear lines late on.
Rio Dyer 6
Dyer spurned a chance when put clear towards the end of the first half and ran up a couple of blind alleys before keeping his width to touch down. What was particularly encouraging was that Dyer kept looking for work.
Gareth Anscombe 7
He kicked brilliantly off the tee and set up Rio Dyer’s try with an accurate delivery off the right hand, while generally looking the part as a general. Left the field with a shoulder injury on 55 minutes.
Tomos Williams 5
Knocked on with Wales in a promising position early on, then left the pitch for a head injury assessment.
Gareth Thomas 7
Incurred the displeasure of the referee early on but hit back with some strong scrummaging, sound tackling, nice passing and a couple of useful charges. He has become an important figure for Wales with his unyielding defence.
Ken Owens 7
Showed good anticipation to snaffle an Australian lineout, pounded forward with ball in hand and a hundred percent lineout return is never to be sniffed at, with 12 out of 12 throws finding their targets.
Dillon Lewis 7
Impressive. Scrummaged well and also popped up regularly as a carrier, making good yardage, and did his bit in defence. Set-piece wobbled once or twice in the second half before Wales sent on Tomas Francis.
Adam Beard 7
Needed a big display after his quiet effort against Argentina but dropped the ball from the kick-off. Sought to carry, also safe at the lineout, charged down a kick and had a strong second half.
Alun Wyn Jones 8
Rumours his powers are on the wane are greatly exaggerated. Started like a house on fire, carrying, offloading, winning lineout ball and assisting a try, all in the first 10 minutes. Conceded the odd penalty too many thereafter, but this was a defiant performance from Jones, a message to those who have been writing him off.
Jac Morgan 9
Monster of a game with two tries and some immense carrying. Every time he had the ball he seemed to make ground and finished by making more than a hundred metres while putting in 11 tackles and missing none. A one-man wrecking machine, Warren Gatland called him.
Justin Tipuric 6
Great carry in the run-up to Morgan’s early try, strong lineout work. Won turnover penalty towards the end, but had earlier received a yellow card that proved costly.
Taulupe Faletau 7
A big day for Faletau, with the Cardiff man reaching his century of Test caps, and he marked it with an expertly taken try. Ran up cul-de-sac just before half-time, with a try chance wiped out. Continued to battle, surprisingly subbed with the game coming to boil on 72 minutes.
Replacements
Ryan Elias 4
Yellow carded after bringing down a maul.
Rhodri Jones 4
Welsh scrum hit problems late on. Jones found it hard to impact the game in a positive way.
Tomas Francis 5
Absent for the past two Tests, Wales had the odd setpiece problem in final quarter. No trees ripped up, then.
Ben Carter 5
A couple of tackles.
Josh Macleod 6
One big hit saved try.
Kieran Hardy 5
On early, but failed to convert try chance just before half-time.
Rhys Priestland 5
Threw an intercept pass, couldn’t steer Wales home.
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