Wallabies shattered as Wales break 32-year World Cup hoodoo

The Wallabies have lost to Wales in their pool match at the Rugby World Cup, the first time since 1987 the Welsh national team has beaten Australia at the tournament.

Wales raced out to a 23-8 half-time lead thanks to a combination of field kicking, sloppy play from the Wallabies and some contentious decisions from referee Romain Pointe.

Trailing by 18 points early in Sunday's second half, the Australians closed within a point entering the last 10 minutes, but couldn't score again in a tension-filled finish.

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The result means Australia are likely to end up second in group D and, if other results fall as expected, they'll face a daunting quarter-final against England.

A clearly irritated Michael Cheika chose his words carefully when he was interviewed after the game.

Days after his pointed remarks regarding Reece Hodge’s three-match suspension, the Wallabies coach hinted at his frustration but opted to ‘keep his powder dry’.

“Any positives we take (from this game) we’ll keep to ourselves, I think,” he said.

“We were looking good in the scrum tonight, got penalised, I’m not sure.

“Maybe Australia’s not allowed to scrum any good.

“I know you’re expecting me to go, so I’ll just keep my powder dry and we’ll see where we end up.”

Wales rewarded for conservative style

Wales were more clinical, adopting a more-conservative game plan in humid conditions that made the ball difficult to control.

Just as Nic White and Christian Lealiifano struggled to impose themselves in last week's opening win over Fiji, re-introduced pair Will Genia and Bernard Foley failed to stamp their authority.

Matt Toomua's injection off the bench soon after halftime provided a playmaking spark. He might have forced coach Michael Cheika's hand for next week's match against Uruguay.

Both captains were inspirational.

Welsh skipper Alun Wyn Jones, playing in his national record 130th Test, made a game-high 23 tackles.

Australia's Michael Hooper was arguably their player of the game for the second time at the tournament, having shone in the opening 39-21 win over Fiji, a game also marked by his team's second-half fightback.

Hooper and Dane Haylett-Petty scored second-half tries for the Wallabies, while veteran winger Adam Ashley-Cooper crossed in the first.

The loss is just the third Australia have suffered in the World Cup pool phase, after losses in 1995 to South Africa and 2011 against Ireland.

WITH AAP