The Wallabies have broken a 101-year hoodoo with a morale-boosting 31-3 victory over the Cardiff Blues in their tour match in the Welsh capital on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT).

In one of the more bizarre records in sport, the Wallabies had lost all six previous encounters with Cardiff, dating back to their first meeting in 1908.

But the Wallabies ended the century-long drought, with a spirited victory in the non-capped match, with the win restoring some credibility to the gold jumper following Saturday's disastrous 9-8 loss to Scotland.

Fullback James O'Connor, dual try-scorer Kurtley Beale, who was playing out of position on the left wing, flanker Matt Hodgson and crash-tackling hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau were the standouts for the tourists.

It was a particularly memorable night for teenage sevens star Luke Morahan, who celebrated his Wallabies debut off the bench with a late 25-metre try.

Morahan was only drafted into the squad last week after a series of backline injuries hit the tourists.

The Wallabies played half of the second stanza with only 14 men after Hodgson and fellow front-rower Richard Brown each spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin.

The tourists suffered an early setback, losing teenage five-eighth Matt Toomua in just the third minute with what was later diagnosed as a broken jaw.

It was a tragic way for the 19-year-old's night to end in what was his starting debut for the Wallabies.

Toomua's departure prompted Robbie Deans to thrust Quade Cooper into the match and his midfield presence certainly added some defensive steel to the Australian backline.

A fifth-minute penalty goal to fullback Ben Blair gave Cardiff a 3-0 lead but the Wallabies struck back in style with a try to Ryan Cross two minutes later.

Beale made a half break and offloaded to fullback James O'Connor, who beat a couple of defenders in a 35-metre angled run before unselfishly putting Cross over in the corner.

O'Connor slotted the sideline conversion and then added a penalty in the 24th minute to give Australia a 10-3 lead.

Deans lost patience with Pek Cowan - another Wallabies first-time starter - in the 33rd minute, pulling the loosehead after he was penalised for a second time for collapsing the scrum.

With Cowan serving as the reserve hooker, Deans's decision looked a radical one a few minutes later when Polota-Nau required medical treatment for a shoulder problem.

Fortunately, he was able to play on, but flanker Mitchell Chapman wasn't after rolling his ankle shortly after.

Beale extended Australia's advantage after the halftime siren had sounded when he showed fine finishing skills after Cross seized on a dropped ball from Cardiff to put the Wallabies on the attack.

Cross's centre partner Tyrone Smith eventually fired the final pass to Beale, who completed the 40-metre effort and O'Connor again converted to give the Wallabies a 17-3 lead at the break.

Cardiff kept the Wallabies at bay until Morahan capitalised on a nice pass from debutant halfback Richard Kingi in the 77th minute and Beale struck in the dying stages.

O'Connor converted both tries for an 11-point haul from a flawless night with the boot.

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