After beating England and Scotland within the space of five days, the tourists travelled to Cardiff and completed their own Grand Slam as Wales wound up their preparations for the upcoming summer tour in disappointing style.

A respectable crowd of 25,000 rolled up to say a collective farewell to Neil Jenkins, but once the pleasantries were over it was the Barbarians who brought the crowd to its feet with their traditional approach.

They should have scored in the third minute when Aisea Tuilevu broke clear, but Iestyn Harris covered at the corner to prevent a certain try.

However, Wales could do nothing about Bruce Reihana’s robust charge on 10 minutes – the Northampton Saint reaching out to break the scoring deadlock.

To their credit, Wales, who had lost their previous six matches, looked anything but holders of the Six Nations wooden spoon.

They were excellent in the scrum, combative at the line out and defended superbly well whenever the Barbarians threatened.

Stephen Jones missed a penalty from in front on 25 minutes as Wales took a foothold in the Barbarians’ half, but it was the Baabaas who struck again three minutes later when French flanker Olivier Magne crossed for a try after some wonderful handling.

Jones pulled another kick on the half hour but he certainly made amends 60 seconds later when he carved through the Barbarians’ midfield, fed Harris and punched the air with delight as Mark Taylor went over on the right.

His conversion cut the gap to three points but by half time the Baabaas were 17-7 to the good courtesy of a try from Sam Harding after an initial break from Percy Montgomery.

But Wales were not to be outdone in the skills stakes. Two minutes after the restart, Harris stepped inside three tackles and waltzed over for a try that Jones converted.

Sadly, just as Wales threatened a comeback of sorts, they lost possession on the Barbarians’ 10 metre line and watched on in disbelief as Tuilevu raced 60 metres to score.

Mick Galwey added a fifth try on 56 minutes after Wales ran out of defenders but another piece of Harris magic split open the Baabaas’ defence and Tom Shanklin crossed.

As promised, Wales rang the changes giving Gareth Delve a first chance, but the biggest cheer was kept for Jenkins who entered the fray on 65 minutes.

His first job however was to line up behind his own posts as Adrian Garvey, playing his last game before retiring, crashed over for Felipe Contepomi to convert.

And to rub salt into the Welsh wound, Reihana raced 60 metres for his second try seven minutes from time and scrum half Mark Robinson added an eighth try two minutes later after a wonderful break and kick from Scott Staniforth.

Wales were far from disgraced but seven straight defeats is hardly what the coach ordered ahead of a summer Down Under.

However, they did sign off with a second try from Shanklin three minutes from time and the replacement wing added his third a minute later after some quite outstanding handling from Rhys Williams, Alix Popham and Jenkins.

And to crown it all Jenkins converted.