Willie Mason showed he was a fast learner by using his tackle-busting abilities to guide the Barbarians to a last-minute 31-28 win over Wales.

The former NRL enforcer set up the final two tries of the match at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday in a much-improved cameo in just his second rugby union match since school.

Mason, who has signed on with cashed-up French club Toulon, was introduced with a quarter of an hour left to play for the second straight week.

This time the invitational side trailed 28-19 in front of a sparse crowd at the iconic rugby venue when he entered the playing field.

Mason set up a thrilling finish by riding two tackles in the 72nd minute and popping the ball around the corner one-handed for Iestyn Thomas, who put French powerhouse Mathieu Bastareaud over for a try.

In the second-last minute of play, the former Kangaroo and NSW State of Origin player was at it again.

The 31-year-old collected an offload from Italian prop Sergio Parisse and produced a deft touch out of a double hit to allow his fullback Isa Nacewa enough time and space to deliver the match-winning try.

Mason, who has been signed up by Toulon to play in the centres, had his technical shortcomings exposed in his first rugby match since he was a teenager against a young England side at Twickenham last weekend.

He looked uncertain in both attack and defence in London but will take some confidence out of his more encouraging, if once again brief, outing in Cardiff.

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