A real find: Will Genia
Wallabies star Will Genia admitted Australia had been highly-motivated to end their European tour in style after they walloped Wales.
While coach Robbie Deans suggested Wales might have thought Australia "were there for the taking" following their shock 9-8 defeat to Scotland last weekend, Genia and company ensured there would be no repeat of that Murrayfield torment.
Genia, his imperious half-back partner Matt Giteau and try-scoring centre Digby Ioane were the attacking jewels in a sterling performance.
Australia's 33-12 triumph was their second-biggest winning margin from 19 Tests against Wales in Cardiff - a 38-3 1991 World Cup victory sits top of the pile.
And the manner of their win at least provided some consolation at the end of a trip they hoped would deliver a Grand Slam, but ended with two wins, one draw and one loss.
"We are really pleased," said scrum-half Genia, with devastating under-statement.
"We went out there with the mindset of really taking our opportunities and backing ourselves - and it paid off.
"There was a real sense of, I guess, motivation coming into this game. In the changing room before we ran out you could sense it. We were up for it.
"We wanted to start well - that was very important - and we worked very hard. The forwards gave us a platform, and the backs took their opportunities."
It was only Australia's third win in the last 11 Tests, but certainly a case of them reserving the best until last this year.
"I think that performance was definitely up there," added Genia.
"It is still a disappointing year for us, but to finish on that sort of a note means we are very happy.
"It is a confidence boost knowing we beat Wales in our last Test match of the year."
Australia's dominance was emphasised in the scrums, where their front-row of Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander had a field day.
Wales were penalised at the game's first scrum, and they never recovered, taking a horrible beating from the Wallabies trio.
Asked if Australia had identified the Welsh scrum as a potential weakness, Deans said: "That would be fair.
"Their tight-five do not have a lot of background, but it is also an area that has been going well for us.
"We are stoked this group took the step they did. We have been waiting for it to come, and we have been close, but the boys got it done.
"You play Test rugby on the day. There is just no point in trying to connect the dots between matches. A week is a long time in this game, as we have just seen.
"I give a lot of credit to our blokes for making it happen. Also, maybe Wales underestimated us. Maybe they saw we came up short against Scotland and thought we were there for the taking."
And Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom added: "We felt we were in the ascendancy for the whole game. In defence and in attack there were opportunities for us.
"When we made a knock-on, the scrum was another opportunity for us. We felt we were attacking the whole game."
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