Australia underlined their credentials for a third World Cup triumph by overrunning Wales 32-20 and grabbing a bonus point in their pivotal Pool B clash today.
The Wallabies made it two wins from two and, having beaten their main rivals for group supremacy, look set to avoid South Africa in the quarter-finals after the Springboks' win over England last night.
Australia had been given a tough time on their last two visits to Cardiff, drawing last year and losing in 2005, but the noise generated by more than 70,000 fervent Welsh fans quickly dissipated under a closed Millennium Stadium roof.
The 1991 and 1999 world champions were awarded a penalty straight from the kick-off which captain Stirling Mortlock kicked from almost in front of the posts and they never relinquished control.
Australia suffered a blow hours before the match when fly-half Stephen Larkham was ruled out until the knockout stages after aggravating a knee injury in training.
Coach John Connolly handed Berrick Barnes a first test start and the 21-year-old responded with a composed performance that ensured Larkham may not be too keenly missed.
Wales briefly drew level when Stephen Jones, restored to fly-half in favour of James Hook, replied but Australia eased into top gear and scored their first try through centre Matt Giteau after Gareth Thomas had failed to find touch.
Barnes made an incisive break, fooling Welsh scrum-half Dwayne Peel with a neat dummy before passing back inside for Giteau to score.
The score came at a cost to Barnes, who in creating the try was cynically floored off the ball by Thomas, the captain lucky to escape a yellow card for a blatant illegal challenge.
Already forced into a backline reshuffle after Sonny Parker was carried off on a stretcher, Wales were unsettled again when Thomas himself needed treatment after taking a big hit from Mortlock.
Barnes extended Australia's lead to 13-3 with a drop goal and the Wallabies pulled further ahead with a second try.
Prop Matt Dunning swiftly gathered up after Wales had lost possession and fed George Gregan. The veteran scrum-half, winning his 136th test cap, chipped ahead and Mortlock chased through to score.
Not done with that, Australia underlined their dominance with another score as the half closed, full-back Chris Latham touching down in the corner.
Wales came out strongly after the break and got a lifeline when Jonathan Thomas was barged over. Hook converted and the replacement soon added another penalty.
The comeback was stopped in its tracks though when Latham grabbed his second try, running on to his own high kick from deep that Jones failed to gather, the ball bouncing kindly for the fullback to grasp and run through. Australia's fourth try earned them a bonus point.
Indiscipline forced Australia on to the back foot for the remainder of the game. Wing Drew Mitchell was sin-binned for a spear tackle and they were briefly reduced to 13 men after Nathan Sharpe transgressed.
Shane Williams scampered over for another Welsh try but it was merely a consolation.
