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Their selection had been billed as "Pocock v Hooper" but Wallabies coach Michael Cheika showed against South Africa that the country's two best sevens could complement each other.
With the two pitted in a selection battle for the number seven jersey in the lead up to the opening Rugby Championship match, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika gave Hooper the first crack at the openside position, with Pocock coming off the bench.
Hooper's tackling was immense in the 24-20 win, including a tackle on Schalk Burger in the Springboks' in-goal put on like a man in the power of a greater being, followed up with his own try.
When Pocock replaced Scott Higginbotham at number eight in the 45th minute, he was instantly influential at the breakdown.
Pocock was just one of those who showed the strength of the Wallabies bench, with a rare charge down and a tackle on Springboks winger Bryan Habana in the South African in-goal to force a Wallabies scrum in the first two minutes of his Wallabies return.
Both former captains, though, were able to make an impact and that their influence can be exerted in tandem adds an extra element to the Wallabies' arsenal.
Pocock toed a party line post-match, happy to simply be back in the green and gold after his 2013 and 2014 seasons were wiped out by injury.
"It was unfamiliar at eight but I made the most of it," he said.
"I enjoyed working alongside Hoops and I thought he had a massive game in attack and defence and to get on towards the end there and work alongside him was fun."
Whether the pairing was simply Michael Cheika testing the waters or an indication of how the pair might play out in the longer-term, Pocock said he would fit in wherever he was wanted.
"As a player you want to go in there and do whatever the coaches tell you to do," he said.
"I'm happy to play, just to be out there so it just really depends on what Cheik's thinking."
Cheika, who was pleased to gain an opening win even though it had to be ground out after the 80 minutes had ticked over, said he was happy with the combination.
"They're both world class aren't they," he said.
"David came on and played a great role. We all know his presence around the breakdown is massive and he was one of those guys who came off the bench and made a big difference for us.
"I thought Michael was terrific as well. Some of his tackles were phenomenal."
Cheika will be left with a handful of selection dilemmas heading into their next Test against Argentina but the black and white Pocock v Hooper debate may have just turned a little less monochromatic.
