Folau scored twice in the Wallabies' nail-bitting 33-28 win over Wales, the first time he had crossed the stripe in two months spanning the past four Tests, but his strike rate is still impressive with 17 tries in 26 Tests.

The emergence of blockbusting centre Kuridrani has also eased the pressure on Folau to star in the back line.

"I haven't really looked at it that way but with Tevita in such great form, that takes a little bit of pressure off me," Folau said.

"You've also got guys like Bernard Foley and Christian Lealiifano that get the pill in their hands and they're always creating opportunities for the guys around.

"We've got great depth. Guys like Quade [Cooper], Matt Toomua and Henry Speight missed out tonight and I think it's great that everyone's challenging each other for spots."

Despite the encouraging performance from Australia – for the first time coached by Michael Cheika – and a 10th consecutive victory over the same opponents, Cheika's Welsh counterpart Warren Gatland questioned the tourists' ability to improve before next year's World Cup.

Gatland is adamant Wales won't be haunted by a six-year Wallabies hoodoo at the tournament. However, another narrow defeat, largely thanks to the expert kicking of the Wallabies No.10, is sure to have inflicted a psychological blow. Foley's nerves of steel proved the difference, scoring all of his side's second-half points in a fast-paced thriller at Millennium Stadium to deliver Cheika a first Test win.

The helter-skelter pace resulted in a game fit for royalty and Prince William arrived in the Wallabies change rooms to offer congratulations after the match.

NSW Waratahs playmaker Foley slotted a drop goal with seven minutes remaining to give the Wallabies a two-point lead and backed it up with a penalty to silence the Welsh fans.

Gatland immediately got on the front foot after the match, declaring Wales would be a "different beast" at the World Cup.

Australia, Wales and England are in the "group of death", with only two teams to advance beyond the pool stages.

"When we face them in the World Cup, it will be a different beast, a different animal facing them in the pool game," Gatland said. "We'll only get better and stronger, building to the World Cup ... we'll see a big upward curve for this team. The question is: how much upside has Australia got?"

Wales haven't beaten Australia since 2008 and have won just two of the past 25 Tests between them.

The Wallabies will also be bolstered next year by the likely return of David Pocock, Stephen Moore, Scott Fardy, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Wycliff Palu, Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor.

Cheika is not buying into the World Cup mind games after taking the coaching job just three weeks ago and insisted the five-point win would have no bearing on next year's fixture.

Wales went within minutes of clinching a drought-breaking win in front of over 55,000 fans when they demolished Australia's scrum to win a second-half penalty try.

But Foley took control in the dying minutes, hitting a 25-metre drop goal, before driving the dagger in with a 78th minute penalty.

"The first steps were quite good ... it wasn't perfect," Cheika said. "Trust comes when you do it together more and more often. We're hoping we can do that on this trip while playing good enough rugby to win here or there. "Honestly, history is irrelevant in any game. I think we can improve. No doubt about it. Not to mention we've still got some artillery left at home."

The Wallabies take on France in Paris next weekend before finishing their spring tour with Tests against Ireland and England.