The buoyant Wallabies are on their way to Cardiff, where they're hoping to back up their breakthrough victory over the All Blacks with a win in Saturday night's (Sunday morning AEDT) Test against Wales.

Australia got the best possible start to their spring tour with Saturday's 26-24 last gasp win in Hong Kong and are now intent on making amends for last year's failed grand slam campaign.

Coach Robbie Deans admits breaking the 10-match losing sequence to the All Blacks has released some pressure.

"It's fair to say there is a significant sense of relief," he said.

"That's on a group behalf, essentially.

"I'm just pleased for them because when you're on the inside you can see the progression but until you get the confirmation, who cares?"

Deans said the tough times his side had faced may have been a blessing in disguise as they build towards next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

"Sometimes that adversity does serve you well," he said.

"It's not easy, it's not palatable along the way and it's not much fun but you've just got to keep the faith that so long as you keep heeding the lessons and keep going and keep adding to what you've got you'll get to that point.

"Until it's done it's just an idea."

Hong Kong hero James O'Connor, who scored a try after the siren to level the scores before booting the match-winning conversion, was still coming to terms with his achievement.

"It still hasn't really hit me, I guess it's going to in the next few days," he said.

"My parents are pretty pumped, I've had a fair few messages, that's been good.

"I guess for me, it's done, I'm stoked about it but I guess it's moving forward now to the Welsh game and that's going to be my focus."

The Wallabies arrive in Cardiff on Monday to begin preparations for the Millennium Stadium Test.

They have an 18-1-10 record against the Dragons, 10-1-8 in Wales, and have one four of the last five Tests between the nations.

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