Australia coach Robbie Deans hailed an "immense" performance from David Pocock as the Wallabies reached the World Cup semi-finals.
Pocock produced an inspired display from flanker to help dethrone defending champions South Africa and set up a last four meeting against Deans' native New Zealand in Auckland next Sunday.
"He was immense," Deans said.
"David Pocock's game was remarkable, and it was bigger than he got credit for.
"The world is blessed with some very good snafflers at the moment, and no doubt people will be looking forward to next week, to that end.
"What you saw out there was the most experienced World Cup side in the world (South Africa) really turn the screws on the youngest. So, our boys came of age in terms of the way they accepted that challenge and stood up to it.
Massive
"We saw an epic World Cup encounter. Different, but that's what makes this game what it is."
And looking ahead to the remainder of the tournament, which sees Wales meeting France in next Saturday's opening semi-final, Deans added: "I have got no doubt that the next couple of weeks will be the best World Cup rugby that we've ever seen.
"The bar just keeps going up in terms of the capability of the sides."
Skipper James Horwill admitted Australia had been under the cosh for long periods of their 11-9 win over the world champions, but he praised his team's character and resilience.
"Not everything went our way and we put ourselves under a lot of pressure," he said.
"But one thing you can't teach or train is effort and commitment from the group. Every member of our team showed a hell of a lot of both of those.
"We feel we got the result we deserved on the back of a massive effort from the whole group. Moving forward that is what it's going to take."
