A Rhys Priestland penalty with the clock in the red secured Wales a 29-28 victory over 14-man Australia at the Principality Stadium.
The Wallabies had No. 8 Rob Valetini sent off after 15 minutes after a dangerous tackle on Adam Beard.
They dug deep, though, and looked to have won the game with a Kurtley Beale penalty late in the match.
But Priestland held his nerve to punish Australia indiscipline with the final kick of the game.
Liam Williams 8
An excellent first half, with catches, carries, steps, tackles, a deft kick — the lot. One superb defensive read after the break snuffed out a dangerous Wallaby attack.
Missed a couple of tackles but made more than 100 metres with ball in hand.
Williams has the heart of a lion.
Louis Rees-Zammit 5
Last week’s headline grabber had zero attacking opportunities this time but showed composure in defence, covering and tackling. Wales need to get him into their offensive game, though. Limped off on 48 minutes.
Nick Tompkins 7
Not without the odd error, but scored an unusual try and buzzed around like a hyperactive wasp. Did his bit in defence and came up with a key late carry from where Wales won a penalty that eased their nerves.
Willis Halaholo 6
Good Halaholo put in an important tackle on the tank-like figure of Taniela Tupou, showed dancing feet in attack and sent out a slide-rule pass that created space for Taine Basham.
Not so clever were a couple of glaring second-half mistakes, including two missed tackles, one of which saw Kurtley Beale fly past en route to setting up a try.
More positive than negative, though.
Josh Adams 6
He grafted hard enough on a day when there weren’t many attacking opportunities out wide for Wales. Still there at the end, chasing hard and battling for the cause. But it was solid rather than spectacular from Adams.
Dan Biggar 7
Gave an honest and brilliant pre-match interview, but Biggar has always been about more than words. One nice delayed pass triggered a dangerous Welsh attack, kicked well out of hand and Biggar stayed calm amid the maelstrom.
His goalkicking was also outstanding.
So important to Wales.
Tomos Williams 6
Would this be the match when Williams came up with a defining Test performance? Well, he came up with a sharp try assist, fairly ripping around the corner to put Ryan Elias over.
There were some nice runs after the break, too, though Australia pressured Williams as the game came to the boil.
Wyn Jones 5
Up against the monstrous Taniela Tupou, Jones would have had more joy trying to shove back Ayers Rock. He must have been glad to see the Wallaby tight-head leave the pitch on 43 minutes.
There was some carrying and tackling, but Jones’s bread-and-butter is the scrum and it didn’t go well there for Wales.
Ryan Elias 7
Took his try with the aplomb of a winger, holding his depth and finishing nicely. Elias also came up with 13 tackles, missing none. The odd line-out gremlin returned, but the Scarlet has been a success for Wales this autumn.
Tomas Francis 5
The Welsh scrum was under the cosh in the opening half and Francis couldn’t make any impression on James Slipper, conceding a penalty himself. Nor was he able to make much impression around the field, either. Subbed on 52 minutes.
Adam Beard 6
An early carry and tackle, only for Beard to be smashed out of the game by a dangerous head-high hit from Rob Valetini, who was deservedly red-carded.
Seb Davies 6
Wales hadn’t previously lost a match in which Davies started.
Playing at lock instead of in the back row, he found it hard to get his hands on the ball early doors but made his tackles and jumped like a stag to effect a line-out turnover in the second half.
Ellis Jenkins 6
The captain packed a presence at the breakdown and won turnovers. He also made a couple of breaks, one of them on the wing. He was subbed near the hour mark.
Taine Basham 9
The official man-of-the-match made 19 tackles and a number of ground-eating carries. Also, on the scene for turnovers. The odd spillage with ball in hand, but he was the dynamic force in the Wales back row, rounding off a superb series.
Aaron Wainwright 6
Australia coach Dave Rennie had picked him out as one of Wales’ forwards to watch beforehand, but Wainwright took time to get into the game. One charge-down and some tackling. He was turned over late on as Wales needlessly tried to play out of defence but he also put in some good runs in final stages.
Replacements:
Elliot Dee, 5: Some carrying in final moments.
Gareth Thomas, 5; Conceded a needless yellow card.
Dillon Lewis, 6: Good carrying in final moments.
Ben Carter, 6: One outstanding take of a restart, defended solidly.
Christ Tshiunza, 7: Great tackle on Beale in dying seconds.
Gareth Davies, 7: Couldn’t stop Filipo Daugunu from scoring but super run down wing at end.
Rhys Priestland, 7: Gave away a penalty but showed nerves to steel to kick match-winning penalty.
Johnny McNicholl, 7: One nice run saw him spin through a couple of tackles, good take under high ball. Potent, then.
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