THE OPTISMIST would say that the miserable 10-match losing streak to the Aussies will ensure victory will taste all the sweeter for Wales at Twickenham on October 10.

The pessimist would say the form guide shows that they cannot head into that game needing to take the spoils, that it will be win-or-bust when they take on England at their own World Cup on September 26.

It's now five narrow defeats to the Wallabies on the spin but Saturday's 33-28 loss wasn't quite as sickening as the others.

You could argue that Wales had deserved to win in previous meetings but there was no doubt Australia were good value for their win this time, even though they weren't at their best.

Warren Gatland said post-match that there is plenty of room for Welsh improvement ahead of the World Cup but questioned whether the same applies for Australia.

Nonsense. The Aussies are men for the big occasion and will be sharper once canny coach Michael Cheika has his feet under the table.

Wales will beat Fiji on Saturday but then Gatland will once again be confronted by his dismal record against the big three – currently a solitary win from 26 Tests (3.85 per cent).

It's unlikely that the All Blacks will be turned over and the pressure could be intense when the Springboks head to Cardiff.

Joe Schmidt masterminded Ireland's comprehensive victory against South Africa and if Stuart Lancaster and England match that success this weekend then all eyes will be on Gatland.

Wales are without a scalp since 2008, a period that has seen England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Argentina and Samoa, the other members of the world's top 10, all enjoy a success.

The blueprint stays pretty much the same and so does the outcome.

It certainly wasn't a bad Welsh performance at the Millennium Stadium but there were too many solid displays and not enough stellar ones; skipper Sam Warburton, lock Alun Wyn Jones and centre Jamie Roberts were good but not stunning.

Usually something special is needed to beat the big three and sometimes not even that is enough.

The situation was summed up when Wales were tackling away in the build-up to Bernard Foley's winning drop goal; against Six Nations foes the error would probably have come but the Wallabies went through 20 easy phases before their fly-half earned a late lead.

Dan Lydiate was still on the field and put in a huge defensive shift with 21 tackles but more is needed against Wallabies, All Blacks and Springboks. Wales' back row combination encapsulates their problem; it has led to great success in Europe but failed to topple the best.

The first half was a bizarre spectacle that was played at Test speed but without the usual accuracy of the international scene.

Defences were all over the place, with four of the six tries probably leading to respective defence coaches Shaun Edwards and Nathan Grey snapping their pencils in a rage.

Wales inched in front through a trademark Rhys Webb snipe from a ruck – either the Australian analysis team or Sean McMahon should hang their heads in shame after the scrum-half's usual trick caught them cold – before Michael Hooper bumped off Dan Biggar to put Israel Folau under the sticks.

Australia led when their big full-back picked off Webb's loose pass to race over from 80 metres but the hosts responded when Biggar spied an overlap out right for George North to put wing Alex Cuthbert over for a simple score.

Back came the visitors, Tevita Kuridrani barging between Alun Wyn Jones and Cuthbert before beating Jamies Roberts for 21-14.

But Wales were level at the break when the decision to turn down two kicks at goal was rewarded by Jones barging over from close range.

Both sides were slightly manic in the first half but Australia took control after the resumption with Bernard Foley pulling the strings expertly.

The Aussie fly-half added a pair of penalties to his three conversions but Gatland's men were 15 minutes away from ending their hoodoo when, after two penalties and two resets, nearly five minutes of scrummaging earned a penalty try.

But the Wallabies never panic and that man Foley regained the lead with seven minutes left with a drop goal after 20 patient phases against a passive Welsh defence.

He added a penalty in the 79th minute and the desperate, unstructured, panicked home attacks never looked likely to save the day once the clock went red.

Once again the Wallabies had kept their heads when the clock hit 70 while Wales failed to think clearly.

Wales: L Halfpenny (C Allen 30), A Cuthbert, G North, J Roberts, L Williams, D Biggar (R Priestland 47), R Webb (M Phillips 54), P James (G Jenkins 55), R Hibbard (S Baldwin 55), S Lee ( R Jones 68), J Ball (B Davies 68), A W Jones, D Lydiate (J Tipuric 75), S Warburton (captain), T Faletau.

Scorers: tries – R Webb, A Cuthbert, A W Jones, penalty; conversions – L Halfpenny (2), D Biggar, R Priestland

Australia: I Folau, A Ashley-Cooper, T Kuridrani, C Leali'ifano (R Horne 75), J Tomane, B Foley, N Phipps (W Genia 68), J Slipper (T Faulkner 73), S Fainga'a (J Hanson 60), S Kepu (B Alexander 66), S Carter (W Skelton 50), R Simmons (J Horwill 67), S McMahon (M Hodgson 70), M Hooper (captain), B McCalman.

Scorers: tries – I Folau (2), T Kuridrani; conversions – B Foley (3); penalties – B Foley (3); drop goals – B Foley

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Attendance: 55,004