Australia ran riot in Cape Town to beat Wales to a fifth place finish in the U20 World Championship.
The Junior Wallabies gave a lesson in how to be clinical as they ran in nine tries, with two each for Henry O'Donnell and Toby Macpherson.
Wales to their credit never gave up and ran in five scores, Llien Morgan with a brace of his own.
Wales who were resurgent under interim head coach Mark Jones, finish their campaign in sixth.
Australia's opening try came from their first visit to Wales' 22 with slick handling sending O'Donnell over.
Jack Bowen pulled the first of three missed conversions attempts in the first half.
Wales struggled to build a platform with a misfiring line-out and were dealt a further blow when lock Evan Hill went off with an arm injury.
His replacement Mackenzie Martin was involved in Wales' opening try, combining well with Bryn Bradley before releasing Lewis Lloyd who did well to finish under pressure.
Australia hit back with a try from close range by Macpherson and Liam Bowron exploited the blindside of a driving maul to score.
Australia extended their lead after the break through O'Donnell and Macpherson with conversions added by Bowen.
Morgan gave Wales hope, the winger scooping up a miss-pass from Edwards to run over on his wing.
But the revival was short-lived as Wales were unable to live with Australia's speed of ball, with Teddy Wilson and Darby Lancaster combining well for the scrum-half to score in the corner.
Bowen added the extras from the touchline before crossing for a try.
To Wales' credit, they did not give up the cause and ran in two tries, Morgan latching on to a dink through from Edwards and skipper Ryan Woodman riding a tackle to power over.
Australia hit back off a driving line-out with Marley Pearce touching down before Ned Slack-Smith added his name to the score sheet.
But Wales' never-say-die attitude ensured they had the final word with Harri Williams going over in the corner, with Harri Wilde converting.
Wales U20s: Harri Houston (Ospreys); Tom Florence (Ospreys), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), Llien Morgan (Ospreys); Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Archie Hughes (Scarlets); Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Dragons), Lewis Lloyd (Ospreys), Kian Hire (Ospreys), Evan Hill (Ospreys), Jonny Green (Harlequins), Ryan Woodman (capt, Dragons), Lucas De La Rua (Cardiff Rugby), Morgan Morse (Ospreys).
Replacements: Lewis Morgan (Scarlets), Louis Fletcher (Ospreys), Tom Pritchard (Cardiff Met), Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby), Gwilym Evans (Cardiff Rugby), Joe Westwood (Dragons RFC), Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby), Harri Williams (Ampthill).
Australia U20s: Harry McLaughlin-Phillips; Tim Ryan, Henry O'Donnell, David Vaihu, Darby Lancaster; Jack Bowen, Teddy Wilson (capt); Jack Barrett, Liam Bowron, Nick Bloomfield, Toby Macpherson, Daniel Maiava, Lachlan Hooper, Ned Slack-Smith, Leafi Talataina.
Replacements: Marley Pearce, Harrison Usher, Trevor King, Ollie McCrea, John Bryant, Klayton Thorn, Mason Gordon, Jackson Ropata.