Please find below a brief scoring summary of this morning’s test match between Ireland and Australia, with an update to come in a few hours
Ireland have beaten the Wallabies 26-23 in a thriller on Lansdowne Road early on Sunday morning. After racing to a 17 point lead against the run of play within the opening 15 minutes, the Irish let the Wallabies back into the game with weak defence and suspect commitment. A tight second half saw Australia’s bench throw everything they had at the Irish to no effect, in the end going down by the narrowest of marings
I’ve never been in a stadium quite so loud as Lansdowne Road. The Wallabies marched on to the field set against the backdrop of a beating drumbeat of a military band, but a deathly silence from the crowd. As the announcer summoned Paul O’Connell’s Ireland team to the field, fireworks shot up from the sidelinesm engulfing the stadium in green light. The Lansdowne road match organising committee had left a large green flag under every so many seats, and the Irish crowd roared and waved as their champions took the field. The abstract shape of the stadium roof carried their frenzied cheers and amplified them tenfold. The seats shook as the Irish rumbled on to the field.
The Wallabies kicked off to Ireland, and an excellent box kick carried that side to half way. The lineout to the back was uncontested, and the Irish midfield tore off in pursuit of Wallaby blood. A poor pass from Matt Toomua put his side under pressure as Tevita Kuridrani was pummelled a long way behind the advantage line. Ireland made three tackles behind the line before Australia found space on the left wing. Ireland demonstrated their intent to frustrate Wallaby runners through choke tackle and maul defence, earning a free kick for their efforts.
Another shocking pass from Australia had the crowd baying for blood as Tevita Kuridrani was again forced to hightail it back to receive the ball. A quick spot of aerial ping pong ensued, and Ireland earned a penalty which Sexton had no trouble converting despite a chorus of vocal Australian support, which was chastised by the ground announcer and rightfully so. Ireland 3 Wallabies 0
Though conditions were dry, Ireland persisted with their strategy of targeting the Australian back three with high kicks, piling on pressure through the kick chase. After missing a penalty attempt in complete silence, Jonathan Sexton found the ball in his hands 45 metres out and put up a long kick in to Australia’s back right corner. The kick threatened to go out, but proved to be perfectly waited, the ball suspended in midair for Simon Zebo to come through and pluck it from the air to race away for the first try of the evening. Sexton was able to convert the try despite the cries of a Dublin infant who knew not what she had done. Ireland 10 Wallabies 0
A Connor Murray box kick gave Australia the chance to spark some more dynamic attack, with Matt Toomua, Tevita Kuridrani and Israel Folau working their magic through half gaps. Australia forced the Irish to overcommit to the right, leaving them with a 5 man overlap on the left. As the ball was shifted out for a certain try Tommy Bowe picked his moment to strike, intercepting and carrying the ball 85 metres for an untouched try. The crowd celebrated with him every step of the way, and it seemed my earlier predictions were spot – Ireland would race out to an early lead before slowing down and trying to defend it. Ireland 17 Wallabies 0
After a successful Irish driving maul, an up and under kick found it’s way into the arms of out-center Robie Henshaw. Connor Murray seized the intiative and fired the ball wide to Simon Zebo, who nearly put an outside runner through a hole if not for the quick thinking of Bernard Foley in knocking the final pass down 40 metres out. Nick Phipps scooped up the loose ball and set off on a run to the try line, dummying through one defender and breaking the feeble tackle attempts of two more to score a fantastic try for Australia. It seems about time the luck of the bounce went Australia’s way. Ireland 17 Wallabies 7
The Wallaby defence has some sting in it, the Irish have been driven back past the advantage line on 7 consecutive phases, and on the 8th a frantic kick under pressure from Jonathan Sexton gifted the Wallabies an attacking lineout 15 out. The maul was stuffed well. A beautiful cross field kick to Henry Speight saw the flying fijian gather possession of the ball, but a cracking shot from Kearney stopped Speight flat in his tracks. Phipps popped the ball to Foley in first receiver who fumbled the ball, reached ahead and planted the ball on the line. A lengthy TMO process decided that it was a valid try, but Foley couldn’t convert, much to the delight of the noisy Irish crowd. Ireland 17 Wallabies 12.
Sexton was determined to get Simon Zebo a one on one chance in the air with Israel Folau, but the tactic wasn’t phasing the Wallaby fullback. The Wallabies were containing the Irish Mauls well, and drove back the following phase runners easily. Ireland kicked again, and Matt Toomua booted a line drive. Ireland preceded to boot the ball tactfully in to the opposite corner, and Toomua had to hustle to get himself back to cover it.
Whenever the Wallabies string together some phases they look bloody dangerous. Some brilliant passing between Speight and Benny McCalman on the right wing created a hole in midfield that Toomua accelerated in to, pushing a no look pass to Bernard Foley. Shocking tackling from Ireland saw Australia’s diminutive flyhalf slap aside two would be tacklers before passing for Phipps in space. Great support play and weak defence gifted Phipps his second try. Foley missed his third conversion attempt, and the scores were level again. Ireland 17 Wallabies 17
Australia were consistently finding chinks in the Emerald armour on the far extremes of the pitch. A scrum afford Australia the opportunity to launch an attacking raid down the left, Matt Toomua offloading through contact for Speight to Kuridrani, brought down in a high tackle. Hooper points for the sticks and Foley did the honours. Ireland 17 Wallabies 20
Another dreadful pass from Nick Phipps put’s his sides tryline at risk, and the question must be asked – Has this been the best terrible performance of any halfback ever? With such positive involvements in the game despite a failure to perform his key duties to the required high standard, Phipps was almost begging to be yanked from the game and yet couldn’t be.
With a minute to go in the half Sexton kicked Ireland to 10 metres out after earning a penalty. I’d bet my house on a driving maul. I’m not convinced the Wallabies can stop it. The maul is wheeled, the Irish pulling themselves backwards towards the try line and the Wallabies dragging them away. The ball comes out with penalty advantage, and the ball is kicked across field by Jonathan Sexton for Simon Zebo, but Folau outleaps him. Knocks on, maybe even deliberately. Sexton kicks the penalty. HT Ireland 20 Wallabies 20
In the second half Luke Jones contested an Irish breakdow just inside the halfway in centrefield. Failing to keep his feet, Sexton charged him 3 points for his error to give Ireland the lead. Ireland 23 Wallabies 20
Australia returned serve just four minutes later, winning a scrum penalty 30 metres out and dead in front. Ireland 23 Wallabies 23
James Slipper gave away a penalty for entering in the side of the ruck 47 metres out, and Sexton again proved obliging . Ireland 26 Wallabies 23.
With the remainder of the bench on the field, the Wallabies went at the Irish hammer and tongs. Quade Cooper and Matt Toomua showed that their connection is still as effective as it was on last years Spring Tour, and the chemistry between Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale shone through. Missing Tevita Kuridrani to an unknown injury took a lot of punch out of the Wallaby backline, and for the final 15 minutes it was a case of too many playmakers, not enough ballrunners. Will Skelton and Benn Robinson did their best, but while they proved very physical and a handful for the Irish they lacked the home run hitting ability that the Wallabies were trying to unlock.
Infuriatingly for the Wallabies, the Irish defence proved too good. Whenever the Wallabies got within range of being dangerous the Irish were able to force a Wallaby mistake or win a turnover. In the final minute the Irish won a final penalty while defending, and the game was finished.
Ireland finished their Autumn Internationals series undefeated and proved that they will be a contender to be watched at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Their ability to put pressure on Australia witth kicks masked the fact that the Irish were largely unable to generate any pressure with ball in hand. Australia head to Twickenham next week to face the English looking to save face on what is proving to be their worst spring tour in almost a decade.
