Reaction: Players' response to the draw in Cardiff

By Bryn Palmer

Latest updates first (times GMT):

FULL-TIME: Wales 29-29 Australia James Hook kicks to the touchline, but there is no time for the line-out as referee Steve Walsh signals the end of a marvellous game of rugby.

79 mins: BBC pundit Jonathan Davies awards the man-of-the-match award to Australia full-back Chris Latham. Is there still time for a winning score?

78 mins: A marvellous effort from the Wales pack, who demolish the Australian scrummage, earning a put-in of their own.

77 mins: Clyde Rathbone bounces off a Gavin Henson tackle as Australia launch themselves at the Welsh defence. The Wallabies are awarded a scrum just inside the Wales 22.

75 mins: The mistakes are starting to flow now as the tension increases, Kevin Morgan slicing a kick straight into touch. The Australians claim their own ball but Morgan redeems himself with a crucial tackle on Cameron Shepherd.

74 mins: An error from Mat Rogers, belting the ball straight into touch from outside his own 22, but Wales fail to capitalise as they proceed to lose their own line-out.

73 mins: Mark Chisholm is sent on in the Wallabies second row, replacing Dan Vickerman.

72 mins: Can either side summon the stamina and skill to fashion a winning score. Australia fly-half Mat Rogers has a dart, but knocks the ball on in contact.

70 mins: PENALTY Wales 29-29 Australia
Wales' forwards drive deep into Australian territory, and prop Al Baxter is penalised for pulling down the maul. James Hook shows admirable nerve to step up and land the kick from 38m, bringing the scores level.

69 mins: Wales attempt to launch another attack down the left flank, but outstanding Australia full-back Chris Latham is there to clear the danger again.

67 mins: Wales send on Duncan Jones for his fellow mop-top prop Adam Jones, with Gethin Jenkins switching to tight-head.

64 mins: TRY Wales 26-29 Australia
Suddenly Australia are back in front. Chris Latham picks up a hurried kick from Kevin Morgan, skips round Gareth Thomas, inside Gavin Henson and past Ryan Jones for a superb individual try. Giteau pulls his conversion across the posts.

62 mins: Australia now have replacement Josh Valentine at scrum-half, with Matt Giteau moving to centre to replace the injured Stephen Larkham.

62 mins: Wales are lifted by a thumping tackle from lock Ian Gough on Dan Vickerman.

61 mins: A let-off for Wales. Australia flanker Rocky Elsom steals the ball and bursts out the back of a Welsh maul, but is denied a try in the act of touching down as Martyn Williams forces the ball out of his hands.

58 mins: TRY Wales 26-24 Australia
Instant reponse from the Wallabies. Lote Tuqiri is held up by a last-ditch Shane Williams tackle, but the ball is recycled and Cameron Shepherd slides over for his second try of the match. Matt Giteau converts.

56 mins: TRY Wales 26-17 Australia
Australia's backline is starting to creak and Wales profit fully. Tom Shanklin claims a loose pass and kicks ahead, Kevin Morgan's chase pressures the retreating defenders, and flanker Martyn Williams touches down the loose ball. James Hook adds the conversion.

55 mins: Australia send on Stephen Hoiles for number eight Wycliff Palu.

53 mins: Gavin Henson's form seems to be returning by the minute. The Welsh centre collects a high kick and then sends Tom Shanklin away with a deft pass.

52 mins: Hook makes his first mistake of the day, kicking straight into touch from outside his own 22.

51 mins: PENALTY Wales 19-17 Australia
After referee Steve Walsh explains the two offences to Australian captain Phil Waugh, a penalty is awarded and James Hook kicks Wales in front for the first time in the match.

50 mins: Shane Williams, stationed at centre, launches a chip and chase over the Aussie defence, and is taken out by Stephen Larkham, moments after Matt Giteau dumped the Welsh wing on the floor with a near-spear tackle.

47 mins: A spate of tit-for-tat kicking ends with Tom Shanklin banging a left-foot clearance into touch.

44 mins: Tom Shanklin stops another Tuqiri thrust and James Hook arrows a superb kick into touch on the Aussie 22.

42 mins: Hook's fine afternoon continues with a thumping tackle on the dangerous Lote Tuqiri. Wales secure turnover ball and Gareth Thomas appears to be impeded by a block from Rodney Blake, but referee Steve Walsh waves play on.

1530: James Hook kicks off the second half for Wales.

HALF-TIME: Wales 16-17 Australia
The crowd have been stirred into life, the strains of "Bread of Heaven" sending the Wales players into the changing-rooms in much better heart after a rousing comeback. The match is perfectly poised for an exciting second half.

39 mins: PENALTY Wales 16-17 Australia
Australia fall offside in midfield, desperately trying to stem another Welsh attack. James Hook, who has enjoyed an excellent start since replacing Stephen Jones, steps up to thump the ball between the posts.

36 mins: It's game on now, and Wales' tails are up. Another attack almost puts Kevin Morgan clear, but Lote Tuqiri's tackle halts the danger.

33 mins: TRY Wales 13-17 Australia
Fantastic response from Wales, who fashion a try of the highest class. A great pass from James Hook and superb off-load from Gavin Henson see Tom Shanklin and Kevin Morgan combine to put Shane Williams over in the left corner. Hook converts from the touchline.

31 mins: James Hook launches an encouraging kick into the Australia half, an area of the field that has seen little action in the opening half-hour. Wales have made 43 tackles to Australia's 17, while the visitors have made six line-breaks.

30 mins: A further let-off for Wales as fly-half Mat Rogers slaps Gethin Jenkins in the face for holding him back, giving the hosts a relieving kick to touch.

28 mins: Australia's midfield combinations are causing the Welsh defence all manner of problems, putting lock Dan Vickerman through a gaping hole. Ryan Jones concedes a penalty at a ruck, but Giteau's kick hits the left upright.

26 mins: Wales concede a free-kick for using hands in their own scrum. Australia's confidence is evident as they choose another scrum, and launch another attack.

24 mins: A let-off for Wales as the marauding Chris Latham sends a dangerous grubber kick to the hosts' line, but Tom Shanklin scrambles back in the nick of time.

23 mins: A major blow for Wales as new captain Stephen Jones is forced off with a knee injury. Ospreys youngster James Hook is pitched into the fray.

22 mins: The game is in danger of running away from Wales as lock Ian Gough concedes a penalty for holding on too long in the tackle, but the previously imperious Matt Giteau is narrowly off target with his kick.

19 mins: TRY Wales 6-17 Australia
Disaster for Wales as Tom Shanklin turns his back and the opportunistic Matt Giteau takes a quick tap penalty to scamper over in the corner, then convert his own try.

18 mins: Australia full-back Chris Latham launches a counter-attack, chipping over the Welsh defence and collecting his own kick to leave the hosts scrambling back to their own line.

16 mins: PENALTY Wales 6-10 Australia
Australia are penalised for collapsing the scrum, giving Gavin Henson a long-range penalty attempt. The perma-tanned golden boy of Welsh rugby is up to the task.

13 mins: Wales have made 25 tackles to Australia's eight since kick-off. The Wallabies have enjoyed 84% of the possesion, and 64% of territory.

12 mins: TRY Wales 3-10 Australia
Wales leave a yawning gap for Australia number eight Wycliff Palu to charge through. He is held up but Mat Rogers slips the ball out of the tackle for wing Cameron Shepherd to score in the left corner. Matt Giteau adds the conversion.

8 mins: PENALTY Wales 3-3 Australia
Wales run the penalty and make good ground towards the Australian 22 before prop Rodney Blake is penalised for not rolling away at a ruck. Stephen Jones steps up to land the kick and level the scores.

7 mins: Referee Steve Walsh gives Australia lock Nathan Sharpe a warning for "using his feet on a Welsh body". A new IRB directive is intended to crack down on this aspect of play, but Walsh settles for awarding Wales a penalty.

6 mins: Number eight Ryan Jones, back after a long injury absence, picks up from the base of the scrum and launches himself into the heart of the Aussie defence.

5 mins: Australia are mounting another attack on halfway when a forward pass to left wing Cameron Shepherd halts their momentum, giving Wales a scrum.

3 mins: PENALTY Wales 0-3 Australia:
Scrum-half Matt Giteau completes the simple task of putting the ball between the sticks from in front of the posts.

2 mins: Australia are on the attack in the opening minutes, Larkham's long cut-out passes spreading the play wide at every opportunity. Clyde Rathbone is held up in the right corner, but Wales fall offside in midfield to concede a penalty.

1432: Referee Steve Walsh blows his whistle and Stephen Larkham kicks off for Australia.

1429: Opera singer Kathryn Jenkins leads the Welsh national anthem, Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. Part of the stadium is still bathed in sunlight on a crystal clear day in the capital.

1428: The players line up for the national anthems. "Advance Australia Fair" is first up.

1426: The first chorus of "Bread of Heaven" is already reverberating around the Millennium stadium as new captain Stephen Jones leads Wales out to huge cheers from the capacity 74,000 crowd.

1424: Phil Waugh, leading the Wallabies in the absence of injured tour captain Stirling Mortlock, leads the visitors out onto the field.

1423: Former Wallabies wing Joe Roff tells BBC reporter Graham Thomas that Australia's experimental line-up are in a for "a massive test" today.

1420: The players have finished their warm-up routines, all the fans are in their seats and the atmosphere is building nicely at the Millennium Stadium as kick-off approaches.

Wales aim to record back-to-back wins over Australia for the first time in 31 years at the Millennium Stadium.

A 24-22 win in Cardiff last year ended a nine-match losing streak against the Wallabies, with high hopes of a repeat.

Wales coach Gareth Jenkins has been able to name a near full-strength side for his first Test on home soil, as Stephen Jones takes over as captain.

Australia, with Phil Waugh as skipper, have Matt Giteau and Mat Rogers as half-backs, Stephen Larkham at centre.

Wales: Morgan; G Thomas, Shanklin, Henson, S Williams; S Jones (capt), Peel; Jenkins, Rees, A Jones; Evans, Gough; J Thomas, M Williams, R Jones.
Replacements: R Thomas, D Jones, G Thomas, Wyn Jones, Phillips, Hook, M Jones.

Australia: Latham; Rathbone, Tuqiri, Larkham, Shepherd; Rogers, Giteau; Baxter, McIsaac, Blake; Sharpe, Vickerman; Elsom, Waugh (capt), Palu.
Replacements: Cannon, Robinson, Chisholm, Hoiles, Valentine, Gerrard, Ashley-Cooper.