Dec 01,2024
It was a case of second gear, second best for the most part and almost a second defeat of the Autumn Nations Series for Ireland.
In the end, Andy Farrell's side outscored Australia three tries to one and came away with a barely deserved victory as the IRFU celebrated its 150th anniversary in front of a sold-out Aviva Stadium on a perfect autumn day in Dublin.
Joe Schmidt, returning to his old stomping ground, had his Wallabies side fired up and they will feel they left the game behind them.
The visitors, who had November wins over England and Wales to their name, led 13-5 at the break and 19-15 with seven minutes to play but Gus McCarthy’s late try saw Ireland avoid a second home defeat in four games, following the opening round loss to New Zealand.
Josh van der Flier’s try was Ireland’s only score of the opening half, with Max Jorgensen’s try and eight points by out-half Noah Lolesio no more than Australia deserved.
Ireland scored 10 points in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, including a try for captain Caelan Doris but Australia retook the lead with two penalties before McCarthy’s late try got Ireland out of jail.
After much discussion about Farrell’s out-half selection, both Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley contributed. The debate will continue until Ireland’s opening Six Nations game against England when the head coach will be on his Lions sabbatical.
It’s three wins from four for Ireland in November but relief will be the overriding emotion after this one.
The camera cut to Farrell in the coaching box after an Irish attack broke down midway through the first half and the boss was scratching his head. He wasn't the only one.
It's been a while since Ireland's first XV produced such a poor 40 minutes of rugby.
Australia were up for it and ravenous in the tackle. But that doesn't excuse 16 handling errors and 12 turnovers by the hosts, who didn't seem switched on.
It may have been different if Hugo Keenan had scored in the fifth minute after breaking the line but wing Andrew Kellaway forced a knock on.
The Aussies made ground when Rob Valetini intercepted off the back of a lineout and then opened the scoring after Joe McCarthy went high on the blindside to give Lolesio an easy penalty.
Ireland got into positions to respond but Finlay Bealham, Bundee Aki and James Lowe all fluffed their lines, while the lineout woes continued, numerous throws not landing at target and even some that did were slapped back to Jamison Gibson-Park.
When Lolesio sent up a bomb in the backfield it caused confusion and Valetini plucked the ball out of the air and quickly fed Kellaway, who was denied by Prendergast after cutting back inside.
It mattered not and quick hands back across the field saw Joseph Suaalii feed Jorgensen (below), who dived for the corner, with Lolesio converting.
Australia conceded a penalty from the restart and, after a TMO check, Prendergast tapped quickly and made for the line but referee Andrea Piardi pulled him back.
But the lineout yielded the required result in Ireland's only notable move of the half.
The ball was thrown to the back and Doris was positioned at centre to barge towards the line. He was eventually stopped but after Mack Hansen tried to jam over, it came to Van der Flier who powered over.
Prendergast skewed the conversion wide but Ireland should have had a second moments later after Rónan Kelleher and McCarthy broke the line. However, the lock was isolated and Len Ikitau turned the ball over.
From slow ball on their own 22, Nick Frost and Harry Wilson combined for 50 yards and Robbie Henshaw needed all his pace to save Kellaway touching down.
Tighthead Taniela Tupou was next to pounce on a sloppy pass, making 40 yards with an intercept before Prendergast saved the day.
But the out-half held on with Lolesio pushing the visitors' lead to eight points in the 33rd minute with his second penalty.
Keenan rose highest to claim a Prendergast up and under but the full-back fumbled when placing the ball and moments later another lineout went astray and Bealham gave away a penalty for a late challenge.
All the intensity and purpose that was lacking in the opening half was evident right from the restart, never more so than when Keenan claimed a Garryowen and fought hard coming down to prevent a knock on.
That kept them in position to put a penalty into the corner and more fast hands and hard lines put Doris (above) within range and the captain, named player of the match, finished under the sticks; Prendergast's conversion gave Ireland the lead for the first time in the 50th minute.
Farrell sent on reinforcements but Tom O'Toole was penalised at the breakdown and Lolesio kicked the southern hemisphere side back in front.
Ireland toiled in midfield, crabbing over and back in possession but Australia's defence, completely missing in last week's loss to Scotland, were on top.
Two Gibson-Park kicks to the backfield had too much on them and then Ireland were penalised on halfway for holding on and Lolesio pushed the lead out to four with 17 minutes to play.
Jack Crowley and Craig Casey soon arrived but the biggest cheer of the afternoon came with the introduction of Cian Healy, who broke the all-time Irish caps record, the 37-year-old prop making appearance number 134, 15 years on from his debut against the Wallabies.
A gimme penalty was declined in front of the posts but the maul failed on route to the tryline and Ireland were held up when they got over.
But Crowley dinked through soon after, Tom Wright had to clean up and that handed the Irish pack another shot, this time Gus McCarthy, on his second appearance, coming up with the ball and the crucial try after a lineout maul.
The Munster out-half's conversion put Ireland three ahead with six minutes left.
The Six Nations champions became nervy. Crowley overcooked a kick and Beirne knocked on in the tackle but Australia were jaded and couldn't cut through a solid green line.
SCORERS
Ireland: Tries - Van der Flier, Doris, Gus McCarthy
Cons - Prendergast, Crowley
Pens - Prendergast (2)
Australia: Tries - Jorgensen
Cons: Lolesio
Pens: Lolesio (4)
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki; James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Gus McCarthy (for Kelleher 67), Cian Healy for Porter (67), Tom O'Toole (for Bealham 53), Iain Henderson (for J McCarthy 53), Peter O'Mahony (for Ryan 53), Craig Casey (for Gibson-Park 66), Jack Crowley (for Prendergast 66), Garry Ringrose (for Aki 55) .
Australia: Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt)
Replacements: Billy Pollard (for Paenga-Amosa 56), Isaac Kailea (for Slipper 50), Allan Alaalatoa (for Tupou 46), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (for Williams 59), Langi Gleeson (for Valetini 73), Tate McDermott (for Gordon 61), Tane Edmed (for Lolesio 73-77), Harry Potter (for Kellaway 78).
Referee: Andrea Piardi (ITA)
