When asked about whether Quade Cooper still had it, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said before the game "Gee I sure hope so" And boy did he deliver.
In front of 15,191 fans at CBUS Super Stadium, Quade Cooper has kicked Australia to victory after the siren, claiming the 28-26 win over the world champions in a script that would make neighbouring Movie World proud.
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Cooper kicked 23 of Australia's points, along with setting up the first try for Andrew Kellaway.
There would be four yellow cards across the encounter as the Springboks would find the lead late thanks to the rolling maul as Malcolm Marx nabbed a double.
With time running out, Nic White would earn the penalty, allowing Cooper to step up and seal the win for Australia.
The Springboks took to the skies early on and rattled the Wallabies back three, who struggled to take the first three bombs of the game.
From here, Handre Pollard looked to establish his boot as he opened the scoring after five minutes.
With the world champions looking to build scoreboard pressure, Quade Cooper’s experience would shine through as he kept the Wallabies equal with two of his own throughout the first 15 minutes.
From here, the Springboks would receive a major blow as captain Siya Kolisi would be sin binned for a tipping tackle on Tom Banks.
Whilst the Wallabies have failed to take advantage of the numbers advantage, Cooper would combine with Same Kerevi who found Andrew Kellaway, with the flyer breaking multiple tackles to score the first try of the game.
Tate McDermott would then pull off an incredible try-saver, however, the Wallabies would experience their own hardship with Matt Philip sent for ten after multiple penalties on their line.
South Africa would prove too much for Dave Rennie’s 14 men as Bongi Mbonambi darted over off the back of the maul.
Cooper’s boot would extend the margin to five points towards the break as they pushed for a late try.
Whilst it failed to eventuate, a more physical showing from the forward pack would eventually garner a result at scrum time as Angus Bell earned the penalty and three further points on the siren, allowing the Wallabies to take a 19-11 lead into the break.
As both sides traded penalties, Willie le Roux and Folau Fainga’a found themselves in the bin.
This allowed South Africa back into the match as replacement hooker Malcolm Marx scored a quick-fire double at the back of a dominant maul to claim the lead with ten minutes to go.
With time running out, one last push for the Wallabies and some sublime work from Nic White at the ruck earned a penalty from 45 metres and set up the perfect Hollywood moment for Quade Cooper.
And boy did he step up, drilling the kick right down the middle to seal the incredible win.
WALLABIES 28
TRIES: Kellaway
CONS: Cooper
PENS: Cooper 7
SPRINGBOKS 26
TRIES: Mbonambi, Marx 2
CONS: Pollard
PENS: Pollard 3
