IT WAS the same old story for Wales against Australia on Saturday but lock Alun Wyn Jones believes their attacking approach gives reason for optimism.

Warren Gatland's men suffered yet another late defeat to the Wallabies despite outscoring the tourists by four tries to three.

Wales caused the Aussies plenty of problems with ball in hand in the first half and racked up a total of 10 offloads, more than they managed in two Tests against South Africa last summer.

"In the past we have been told we are pretty predictable and easy and slow and teams know where we are going to come from," said 81-times capped forward Jones, who crossed from close range to level the scores at 21-21 at half-time.

"But we showed if we did get a break and an offload we can be a different side on the attacking side of the gain line.

"Early on it was frenetic, which probably suited is and that was a positive. I thought we finished the game in the ascendancy and that was another positive."

While the result didn't go Wales' way, Jones believes that the performance showed the value of their tough training regime.

Gatland's team have frequently started the autumn sluggishly yet the lock said they picked up where they left off against the Boks in June.

"We got out the blocks in similar fashion to the way we did in the second Test against South Africa (when they raced into a 17-0 lead)," he said.

"That is a pleasing thing because it means we have kicked on despite the long lay-off. The training camp has probably helped in that."

Scrum-half Rhys Webb was left to regret

The Ospreys man opened the scoring with a trademark sniping try but then gifted the Wallabies seven points with a needless miss-pass straight to Israel Folau.

He said: "If it had gone to Liam Williams it would have been a different story, but it is one of those things. Onwards and upwards.

"At first I thought it was going to straight to Liam and we were going to celebrate, but it couldn't have gone to anyone worse."