Wales 20, Australia 32

Martyn Williams insists Wales must be allowed to cast off the shackles and play in their natural expansive style otherwise they will never beat the best of the southern hemisphere.

Williams criticised the Welsh approach for being ''too structured'' against Australia and claimed it played right into Wallaby hands.

Australia scored three first-half tries to lead 25-3 and although Wales cut loose after the interval with some brilliantly exciting rugby it was too late.

If Wales are to match their 1987 predecessors and reach the semi-finals of this World Cup - a target head coach Gareth Jenkins set some 10 months ago - they will now have to do it the hard way.

Defeat condemned Wales to the prospect of a quarter-final clash with South Africa.

Williams insists the Springboks can be beaten - but only with a change of approach.

''Australia hit us for six. They made a great start and they were clinical,'' said Williams.

''We were a little bit too structured early on. In the northern hemisphere we play too much of a structured game.

''When we play instinctively we have good rugby players. We tend to go away from that and it plays into their hands."