Kurtley Beale said the true character of the Wallabies shone through as they snatched victory over Wales to send captain Nathan Sharpe into retirement in style.
Five eighth Beale was the hero as he finished a near 65 metre effort with just under 30 seconds remaining to give Australia a 14-12 win at Millennium Stadium.
The movement started with a double cut-out pass from first receiver and fullback Berrick Barnes who found replacement centre Mike Harris who drew winger Liam Mitchell in and found unmarked reserve lock Dave Dennis charging down the right touchline.
Dennis drew fullback Leigh Halfpenny and passed inside to Beale who showed his pace to beat the cover and score in the corner.
Given the honour of attempting the conversion as he ended his career, Sharpe was not far off.
“We were very lucky to get it tonight but what better way to finish a game for a great man,” said Beale of Sharpe.
Beale, who was cut-out by Barnes’s long pass, sensed an opportunity as soon as Harris got the ball.
“When Mikey Harris went down the right … in the back of my mind I just had to follow the ball,” Beale said.
“I was very lucky to get a nice ball from Dave Dennis and then I was in a very fortunate position and just went for it.”
Beale scored all of his side’s points as Australia narrowly escaped a loss and the ignominy of failing to score in the second half for a second week in a row.
“We’re just very relieved and happy,” Beale said.
“Wales threw everything at us and they never gave up. We always knew that if we put in the effort for the full 80 minutes we’d get the reward.
“It showed the true character of the team.”
Beale’s try was just Australia’s third of the four-Test European tour with the other two five-pointers going to winger Nick Cummins who scored in wins over England and Italy.