Typically Wallabies captain Nathan Sharpe downplayed his retirement as a motivating factor in Australia’s dramatic last gasp win over Wales.

“It wasn’t for me,” said Sharpe, who departs as Australia’s second most capped player with 116 Test appearances, behind only George Gregan (139).

“It was what we’ve spoken about all year.

“In games, momentum goes one way and then the other and if you stick in there you don’t know what’s going to happen.

“I thought that was pretty consistent the character the team has shown this year.”

The popular Sharpe played his 116th and final Test to end a 16-year career in professional rugby on a high as Australia beat Wales 14-12 at Millennium Stadium.

Australia were trailing 12-9 and pinned deep in their territory and looked like losing to Wales for the first time since 2008.

But a couple of strong attacking phases resulted in Kurtley Beale diving over in the corner to win the game with less than 30 seconds remaining to leave the bulk of the 58,000 strong crowd devastated.

Berrick Barnes, who produced the pass which set up the try, was at a loss to explain the stuttering performance from the Wallabies, but was delighted to send 34-year-old Sharpe out a winner and made it clear that was powerful motivation.

“I don’t know what happened … it took a long while for us to get going didn’t it,” Barnes said.

“It’s a credit to the boys, it’s been one hell of a year.

“We didn’t do a lot right tonight I suppose in finishing a lot of stuff off.

“But it’s deserved for this bloke beside me more than anything.”

Sharpe exits as the sixth most capped player in the history of the game behind Gregan, Irish duo Brian O’Driscoll and Ronan O’Gara, English prop Jason Leonard and Fabien Pelous of France.