By Sean Davies
Matt Giteau celebrates the opening try at the Millennium Stadium
Wales 20 (3)
Tries: J Thomas, S Williams
Cons: J Hook (2)
Pens: S Jones, Hook Australia 32 (25)
Tries: Giteau, Mortlock, Latham (2)
Cons: Mortlock (2), Giteau
Pens: Mortlock
DG: Barnes
Australia seized control of Pool B as they put Wales to the sword with a physical and dynamic show in Cardiff.
Their greater power told in a ruthless first half, Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau and Chris Latham scoring tries.
Gareth Thomas and Sonny Parker had been taken off following heavy tackles, but Wales fought back from their 25-3 half time deficit with a Jon Thomas try.
Hopes of a recovery were ended by Latham's second try from a garryowen, Shane Williams scoring a consolation.
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The result means that the Wallabies are likely to face a quarter-final in Marseille against either Samoa or England.
If Wales can secure second spot in the group, they will expect to meet likely Pool A winners South Africa, also in Marseille.
Wales had an awful start, failing to control ruck ball from the kick off and conceding a first-minute penalty, kicked by Mortlock.
Thomas felt the force of the Wallabies' power in midfield
But the visitors were also nervous, and a mistake from Drew Mitchell on the slippy Millennium Stadium turf set up the position for Stephen Jones to equalise following a penalty at the scrum.
Jones missed a second chance, and a woeful kicking game again cost Wales when Gareth Thomas' poor clearance put the Wallabies on the offensive on the home 22.
Berrick Barnes - the rookie fly-half brought in for his first Test start at the last minute in place of knee injury victim Stephen Larkham - threw a delightful inside dummy and found Giteau supporting inside him, the number 12 crossing under the posts.
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Australia's greater physicality made its mark, Parker taken off after a heavy tackle.
Thomas, who had earlier put in a late tackle on Barnes, moved to centre in place of Parker, and was immediately hammered by a shuddering Mortlock challenge.
The Wales skipper was helped from the field, the changes bringing Kevin Morgan on at full-back and James Hook at inside centre.
Jones missed a penalty, before the Wallabies ruthlessly seized on another Wales mistake.
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Wales fly-half Stephen Jones More Wales reaction
A strong Lote Tuqiri tackle on Mark Jones knocked the ball loose from the Wales winger, prop Matt Dunning quickly gathering possession and feeding George Gregan.
The veteran scrum-half chipped over the defence, Mortlock powering onto the bouncing ball, gathering, and crashing over in the corner.
Gareth Jenkins' disheartened side were desperate for the interval, but Wycliff Palu allowed them no respite, powering off the base of the scrum with the last move of the half.
The ball came to Giteau, whose pin-point pass gave Mitchell a run to the corner.
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Man-of-the-match Chris Latham More Australia reaction
The winger ran out of space, but fed inside to man-of-the-match Latham, who crossed for the third try.
Mortlock went off at half-time, and the home side gained extra hope as they mounted a sustained attack straight after the break.
Hook and Colin Charvis went close as Wales battered at the Wallabies' line, before Jonathan Thomas worked his way over from close range for a try, converted by Hook.
Giteau missed another kick, Wales then eating into the Wallabies' lead with a Hook penalty.
Williams' late try was mere consolation
But the Ospreys star fell short with another from 47m, and hopes of a fightback were extinguished by Latham.
The full-back put in a monstrous up-and-under that Stephen Jones made a hash of catching, Latham following up quickly to regather the loose ball and enjoy a clear run to the line.
With the clock ticking down and Mitchell in the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Matthew Rees, Wales at last began to put together their favoured brand of attacking rugby.
Charvis was held up over the line as Nathan Sharpe was yellow-carded for killing attacking ball.
From the resultant scrum Wales stretched the 13-man Wallabies, Shane Williams able to scramble over in the corner to maintain Welsh spirits.
The victory was Australia's third over Wales at World Cups in Cardiff, having triumphed in 1999 and 1991, while Wales beat the Wallabies in Rotorua in 1987.
Wales: G. Thomas, M. Jones, Shanklin, Parker, S. Williams, S. Jones, Peel, Jenkins, Rees, A. Jones, Gough, A. Jones, Charvis, M. Williams, J. Thomas.
Replacements: Hook for G. Thomas (22), Morgan for Parker (18), Phillips for Peel (70), R. Thomas for Rees (66), D. Jones for A. Jones (66), Owen for Gough (66). Blood replacement: Popham.
Australia: Latham, Mitchell, Mortlock, Giteau, Tuqiri, Barnes, Gregan, Dunning, Moore, Shepherdson, Sharpe, Vickerman, Elsom, Smith, Palu.
Replacements: Staniforth for Mortlock (41), Huxley for Barnes (78), Freier for Moore (68), Baxter for Shepherdson (73), Chisholm for Elsom (76), Waugh for Smith (64), Hoiles for Palu (66).
Sin Bin: Mitchell (66), Sharpe (75).
Att: 72,000
Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)
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In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand overwhelmed tournament newcomers Portugal. The All Blacks scored more than 100 points and 16 tries in their 108-13 victory to hold their position at the top of Pool C. 

A dominant first half display from Australia saw them defeat Wales in Cardiff. A strong finish by Wales was not enough to prevent the Wallabies, who lead Pool B, winning 32-20 and picking up a bonus point.

Ireland came from behind to defeat a strong Georgian team 14-10 in Pool D. Georgia led early in the second half and were threatening to score late in the match but Ireland's defence held to secure the four point victory.

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New Zealand, one of the tournament favourites, defeated Portugal by 95 points.

Joe Rokocoko scored two tries to open the scoring for New Zealand. Isaia Toeava, Ali Williams, Aaron Mauger, Jerry Collins, Chris Masoe and Andrew Hore each added tries as New Zealand ended the half with a 52-3 lead.

Gonçalo Malheiro kicked a drop goal in the 22nd minute to give Portugal, making their first appearance in the world cup, their only points of the half.

Rui Cordeiro scored Portugal's only try of the match shortly after the restart, which was converted by Duarte Cardoso Pinto. However tries from Brendon Leonard, Nick Evans, Andrew Ellis, Leon MacDonald, Carl Hayman and two from Conrad Smith completed New Zealand's victory.

Duarte Cardoso Pinto added a penalty for Portugal in the 75th minute. Nicky Evans scored 33 points in total for New Zealand, converting 14 tries and scoring one of his own.

New Zealand are top of Pool C with ten points, ahead of Scotland with 5 and Italy with 4. Portugal are bottom, behind Romania, with four points.
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Australia took the lead immediately after a second minute penalty from Stirling Mortlock, but Wales equalised five minutes later through Stephen Jones. Australia dominated the first half, and led 25-3 at half time after tries from Matt Giteau, Stirling Mortlock and Chris Latham and a drop goal from Berrick Barnes.

Wales improved in the second half. Jonathan Thomas scored a try and James Hook added the conversion and a penalty to cut the deficit to twelve points. However Chris Latham scored his second try of the match, and Australia's fourth, to restore their hold of the game and secure a bonus point. Shane Williams scored a try for Wales in the 76th minute after a strong finish, but it came too late and Australia won by twelve points.

Australia lead Pool B with ten points. Wales are second with five points, ahead of Fiji on points difference, while Japan have one point and Canada are bottom of the group with no points.

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Ireland struggled to defeat a strong Georgian side. Rory Best scored the only try of the first half in the 17th minute, which Ronan O'Gara converted. Merab Kvirikashvili scored a penalty late in the first half for Georgia, taking the score to just 7-3 at half time.

Georgia took a shock lead early in the second half, when Georgi Shkinin scored a try in the 45th minute. Merab Kvirikashvili converted, and Georgia led 10-7. Girvan Dempsey regained the lead for Ireland and another Ronan O'Gara conversion made the score 14-10. Georgia kept up the pressure on Ireland in the late stages of the game, twice reaching Ireland's try line, but they could not get through and Ireland managed to scrape through with a four point lead.

Ireland are second in Pool D with eight points, behind Argentina on nine. France are third with one point from their single match, while Georgia have one point from two defeats.