Key events
Match report
Full-time! Australia 31-33 Ireland
TRY! Australia 31-33 Ireland (Clarkson, 77)
Yellow card! Australia (Shaw, 76)
NO TRY! Australia 31-26 Ireland
TRY! Australia 31-33 Ireland (Sheehan, 58)
TRY! Australia 31-26 Ireland (McDermott, 53)
TRY! Australia 24-26 Ireland (Keenan, 47)
Second half
Half-time: Australia 24-19 Ireland
TRY! Australia 24-19 Ireland (Gibson-Park, 40+2)
TRY! Australia 24-12 Ireland (Lonergan, 27)
TRY! Australia 17-12 Ireland (Canham, 24)
TRY! Australia 10-12 Ireland (van der Flier, 19)
TRY! Australia 10-7 Ireland (Campbell, 15)
TRY! Australia 5-7 Ireland (C Prendergast, 11)
TRY! Australia 5-0 Ireland (Pietsch, 4)
Kick-off!
Late change for Ireland
Teams
Preamble
Match report
Angus Fontaine’s report has landed.
He’s a pro, but I know deep down he’ll be hurting, as will everyone associated with the Wallabies.
What a game though. How good is rugby?
So that’s 2-1 in favour of the rest of the world against the Six Nations.
New Zealand 34-32 France
Japan 27-10 Italy
Australia 31-33 Ireland
Still to come:
While we wait for our report, catch up on another cracking game from across the Tasman.
Hugo Keenan is our player of the match.
If for nothing else he deserves it for a try-saving tackle on Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i in the first half.
Here’s what he has to say:
God it was so tight, so tense, a proper Test match. We were asked to make the thousands in green proud and that’s what we did. Unlucky to Australia, it could have gone either way.
They’ve got some unbelievable ball carriers and threats at the breakdown. They’re a top quality side. We know how good they are.
That’s six straight wins for Ireland over Australia.
Did they deserve that? Well, you get what you deserve and the two gettable conversions that were missed by Gordon in the first half came back to haunt them.
Not that Gordon is to blame. If you’re looking for a reason I’d say it was a lack of heft, some big unit like Skelton who could do the rugby equivalent of putting his foot on the ball by stopping momentum with a big carry or tackle. Like Beirne did.
What a shame., Thought the Aussies were magnificent but fair play to Ireland. They’re a bunch of hard bastards who don’t know when they’re beat.
Oh man, how gutting for Donaldson!
It was a pretty poor kick if I’m honest. His earlier attempt was drawn across the face of the poles so he overcorrects this time, but he starts it way too far to the right and doesn’t get the curl back towards his target. It was a really, really difficult chance but he never came close.
Ireland win a thriller.
What a game of rugby!
Full-time! Australia 31-33 Ireland
He’s missed it! Ireland win!
80 min: Penalty for Australia but they want to go closer. They’re inside Ireland’s patch and keep the ball alive. No advantage. So they have the penalty in the right tram on the 10 metre line, a little further back from where Donaldson missed his earlier kick. Does he go again? Yes! My word, the cahones on the man! If he lands this really tough kick – about as tough a kick for a right footer as you get – he will win the game for his country.
79 min: Last minute. Can Australia go all the way. Jorgensen wriggles past a defender but doesn’t make enough ground. They’re still in their own half. Sua’ali’i makes some ground. Wilson carries but they look out of puff. Jorgensen tries but fails to make a dent. Beirne is everywhere!
78 min: Beirne wins the restart and Gibson-Park hoofs a long box kick. Australia have to go 60 metres. They kick a contestable but O’Brien beats Pietsch to it. Gibson-Park returns another long kick.
TRY! Australia 31-33 Ireland (Clarkson, 77)
They’ve snatched it at the death! The pressure proved too much and Ireland, who tapped and went again, would not be denied. Clarkson picked from the base of the ruck after a couple of stiff Irish carries and burrowed over. Prendergast holds his nerve and slots the conversion. Can they hold on for a famous win?
Yellow card! Australia (Shaw, 76)
76 min: Correction, Ireland tap and go near the left corner. Another penalty advantage for offside. Aki spills forward in contact and that’ll be a yellow card
76 min: Prendergast releases it and Frawley is wrapped up, but they still have the advantage. Nothing doing so they’ll have a choice here. Wilson is given a warning. Next defensive penalty and a Wallaby will watch the rest of this from the sin bin. Beirne, captaining now, decides they’ll take the line-out five out in the left corner.
75 min: Ireland win the throw and then get a penalty advantage. It goes from right all the way left. Ryan comes close. Then Clarkson. A metre short….
73 min: Ryan is drilled by Hooper on halfway but Ireland have a penalty as a couple of Wallabies strayed offside at a ruck. Prendergast drills it to the corner – one thing he can be proud of today is his penalty kicking out of hand. Ireland with the throw five out. Can they do it this time?
72 min: Donaldson misses! He started it too centrally and the curl took it across the face of the poles. A lifeline for Ireland who run it back to halfway.
70 min: The players are scrapping and I think that’s a conseuence of Irish frustration. After Australia won their line-out then snaked across the field before McDermott hoisted a high contestable. Pietsch was lining it up but was taken out off the ball. An escort is what they call it now. Donaldson will take a shot at goal from the right tram about 40 on the angle.
69 min: Scrum penalty Australia! They’re out of jail! Huge shove from Tupou. Ireland leave the 22 with nothing to show for their efforts.
66 min: Ryan spills it right under the shade of the poles! Ireland were clean off the line-out, went right and then back left. It felt like a matter of time and when Gibson-Park spotted Aki running a lovely line he fired the pass. But Ryan got in the passing lane and made a mess of things. Australian scrum with their heels on their own line.
65 min: Ireland with a spell on the ball. Aki is on the picth and running hard. Prendergast delays a pass and times it perfectly as he meets the onrushing Timoney running against the grain and the replacement flanker is away. Delicious fly-half play. Australia swarm to cover but give away a penalty inside their own 22. It’s kicked a little further into the corner and now Ireland have a real shot of taking the lead.
63 min: A poor Irish kick hands possession back to Australia, albeit thanks to a lovely take in the air by Pietsch. Then they spark into life with Ikitau and Sua’ali’i all over this. The latter bursts through a tackle and tries to off-load but can’t sticth the move. No bother, Australia are back on it soon enough with Jorgensen back on the left wing where he’s bundled out of touch.
61 min: O’Toole is back on the field for the injured Loughman and Australia win a scrum penalty straight away. Donaldson, on for Gordon, kicks it out to set up an Aussie line-out about 40 from the Irish line on the left. The move is slick off the top and it shoots down to the right wing where the flying Jorgensen can’t reach the pass that floats above his head. Great work from the midfield again. Ikitau and Sua’ali’i are so eager to shift the ball at pace.
60 min: Oh no. Loughman, recently on the park, has got himself caught up in a Valetini rampaging run. His head was in the wrong place and I think he’s caught the full force of Valetini’s meaty knee. He was knocked out before he hit the deck. Play has stopped while he recieves some attention.
NO TRY! Australia 31-26 Ireland
They’ve scrapped it! Ryan was part of the rolling maul that opened the space for Sheehan, but he splintered off and then continued to get in the way. He took out Valetini who was lining up to make the tackle on Sheehan. It’s the right call and helluva frustrating for the Irish. I did wonder why there was no Aussie ready to make the tackle but that clears things up. No try and penalty to Australia.
Oh, they’re having a look at this!
Potential obstruction. Has Ryan taken out Valetini off the ball? I think he has you know…
TRY! Australia 31-33 Ireland (Sheehan, 58)
Penalty, kick to the corner, line-out, Sheehan scores! It’s a well-worn path for Ireland but why change it when it works so well? Australia shoot themselves in the foot and Ireland get their act together this time. The maul splintered and suddenly Sheehan had nothing but open space in front of him as he walked over to score.
58 min: Another penalty against an Australian on the floor! Tackler not rolling away. Slipper I think. If it wasn’t him, though, Paenga-Amosa came in from the side to clear out. If Australia lose this they won’t have to wonder why.
56 min: Canham wins another line-out steal! And Valetini secures the ball. Brilliant from the Wallabies but that’s poor from Ireland. IS that four throws they’ve lost? Fair play to Canham, what a game he’s having.
55 min: Another penalty against Australia. I get their enthusiasm on the deck but they’ve chucked away a few soft ones. Here’s Valetini who infringes on the floor. Prendergast once again finds the corner with a beauty of a kick. Sheehan will have the throw five out towards the left.
54 min: Australia change their front row as James Slipper, who has come out of retirement for these three Nations Championship matches, joins the party.
TRY! Australia 31-26 Ireland (McDermott, 53)
Like a thief in the night! Ireland gave away a penalty – or was that a free-kick – at the scrum. No time to ponder because McDermott tapped and went before anyone could get their head up. He was met with a tough tackle by a couple of Irish forwards, but the bravery and swiftness of movement meant he would not be denied from so close. Excellent scrum-half sniping. The extras make it a five point game.
52 min: Loads of changes for Ireland as Australia choose to scrum from five out. We’ve not had many scrums in this match. Cian Prendergast along with both props have been switched. Van der Flier make way as well.
51 min: Australia win the line-out and go off the top in a flash. But a series of carries has taken them laterally. They inch five metres forward before they win a penalty on the ground. Five out on the right, what will they do? Good continuity, but they’ve shown their weakness. What they’re missing is a big goose who can just steamroll over the opposition.
49 min: Now Furlong takes McDermott around the neck so Australia get a penalty on halfway. Gordon finds touch, but not the corner. Still, the Wallabies will have the throw about 10 metres out on the left.
TRY! Australia 24-26 Ireland (Keenan, 47)
Ireland hit the front! They looked buried just before halftime but two tries has them in front. From the tap and go they kept hammering the line before Gibson-Park flung it right. Ringrose showed some lovely hands to tee up Keenan on the angle. He burst through the weak tackle of Sua’ali’i to score. The conversion from under the sticks nudges the visitors in the lead.
45 min: Ireland win a line-out on halfway on the right and after a kick from Gibson-Park and then a return from Gordon, they will have the throw 10 metres upfield but on the opposite wing. Now they have a penalty as Australia give away a penalty. Canham obstructed the jumper in the air. So Prendergast hoofs to the corner. Irish ball five out from the line-out. Another penalty at the line-out! Will Ireland go again? No, looks like a tap and go…
43 min: Valetini runs over the population of Dublin as he canters up field. He runs away from his mates though so has to pop a sloppy ball up for McDermott. He flings to Canham, who once again shows off his soft skills, before Gordon kicks to the corner but overcooks it. Ireland take the easy mark.
41 min: Sam Prendergast laucnhes a torpedo upfield and lands it exactly where he wants it. Australia will have the line-out on their 22 but they win it no problem. Then McCarthy catches McDermott and gives away a penalty. So one step forward, one step back for the Irish. Gordon rakes the penalty down field and finds touch around halfway.
Second half
If the second 40 is anything like the first we’re in for a treat.
Some debate over Ireland’s final try.
Was the final pass to Gibson-Park on Australia’s 22 forward? Possibly. I think that’s close enough to give the benefit of the doubt to the attacking team.
Japan beat Italy 27-10!
That’s a heck of a result for the Brave Blossoms.
Half-time: Australia 24-19 Ireland
My word, what a half of rugby!
How can you not love this sport. That has been cracking.
Off to catch my breath. Back in a bit.
TRY! Australia 24-19 Ireland (Gibson-Park, 40+2)
Shows what I know! I was sure Ireland would just want to hoof the ball out but no chance of that! From their own 22 they have gone upfield and scored a worldie! Just great interplay from the midfielders and loose forwards and after Ringrose burst through a gap Gibson Park was on hand in support to score under the sticks. So many passes, so many tackle breaks, Ireland can play too, don’t you worry about that.
39 min: Every Australian player, from 1 to 15, is showing handling skills that is on a different plane right now. They’re catching and releasing in a flash and the Irish defenders are chasing shadow. One move comes to an end down the right as Jorgensen can’t connect with an off-load inside him on the left wing, but that was another tasty example of how good this Wallabies side can be when they click. Ireland with the scrum. They’ll want to get into the shed and take a breather ASAP.
37 min: Sua’ali’i bursts through midfield and he’s away! A little goose step, he just hs to beat Keenan but the Irish fullback is immense here! Wow, what a tackle abd he forces the off-load as Sua’ali’i tries to off-load on the floor about five metres short of the corner. Brilliant, brilliant continuity from Australia. Canham is having the game of his life. Every player in gold looks so slick and so together. Ireland exit but Australia are back on the ball and charging forward from halfway.
35 min: Australia win the scrum and McDermott picks up and hoofs a kick himself, but he skews it off the side of his boot so Ireland back with the line-out about 40 out on the left. Yet again they lose the ball! Canham rises and grabs it. That’s three line-outs Ireland have blown.
34 min: Prendergast didn’t have much of an angle with the penalty but the outside of the boot means he finds touch on Australia’s 22. The line-out is won and they snake from right to left before going back to the right. Australia’s defence holds firm for now. Ryan gets over the 22. Ringrose carries well. Keenan too. Better from Ireland. Oh but they spill it! Sua’ali’i’s counter ruck forces van der Fliers foot onto Gibson-Park’s hand just as he was about to pass. Questions if he entered from the side of the ruck there. Hmmm. Both teams have a reason to moan as Lonergan leaves the field with what looks like a head knock. On comes McDermott to feed this scrum inside his own 22 with a short blind to his right.
32 min: Ryan misses the line-out so Australia come away with it. Nasser carries well, not for the first time. Australia on the ball on halfway before Lonergan hoists a high contestable kick. But he had a couple of mates ahead of him when he boxed so Ireland get a soft penalty.
30 min: Hectic stuff this. McCarthy gets the stuffing knocked out of him by two defenders but he gets back up. Ringrose rakes a kick to the corner and it’s perfect, five short of the line after a few bounces. Australia win the line-out and exit swiftly though. Ireland will get a crack from a line-out of their own inside Australia’s half on the left. 40 metres out, can they show a bit more punch?
TRY! Australia 24-12 Ireland (Lonergan, 27)
They’ve pinched another! Again a little pondering from Ireland in possession. They work it to the right where Prendergast pops a little pass for a mate off his shoulder but it doesn’t reach him because Jorgensen steals in and, after finding his feet, runs away from the pack. He’s hauled in about 10 short of the line but not before he lifts a pass back infield for Lonergan in support. The extras are added and Australia open a gap.