A spectacular try to rookie Wallaby Quade Cooper nine minutes from fulltime helped the Australia escape with a hard-earned win over gallant Italy.

The score was 20-20 with eight minutes to go, then substitute back Cooper danced through a muddle of players to put them in charge.

Lachie Turner scored the Wallabies' only other try, with Matt Giteau notching up 17 points with the boot and captain Stirling Mortlock also getting on the scoreboard with a penalty. Mirco Bergamasco crossed the line for Italy, while fly-half Andrea Marcato and his replacement Luciano Orquera kicked Italy's points.

After an early trade of penalties, Turner ran in the first try for Australia in the eighth minute after swift hands created an overlap on the right. Giteau, on from the bench after Berrick Barnes took a knock, replied to another Marcato penalty before the Italian playmaker narrowed the gap with a drop goal and a third penalty.

Italy took the lead after half an hour when full-back Andrea Masi burst through the Wallabies' backline following a clever switch of play from a scrum to set up Bergamasco.

Giteau split the posts with a long-range penalty to send the teams in level 14-14 at half-time and then converted two more amid whistles from the crowd after the break. But with several top players rested for next week's match against England, Australia were still unable to ignite.

Orquera, who replaced the injured Marcato at the start of the second half, brought Italy on equal terms again with kicks.

The match remained tight until the closing stages, when Cooper's fancy feet saved the Wallabies' blushes.

guardian.uk