In a tight and tense encounter, Wales failed to make a two-man advantage count as Australia topped Group A with a heroic defensive effort.
When Will Genia and Dean Mumm were sin-binned, it seemed like Wales were set to score, but somehow the try never came.
It was another case of so close, yet so far as Wales fell to an 11th successive loss to the Southern Hemisphere heavyweights.
Wales will now face South Africa in the quarter-finals next week while Australia will take on Scotland.
Here are five things we learned from the match:
