Play-by-play report plus reaction and analysis from Ireland’s narrow win over Australia.
Between Sexton, Carbery, Frawley and Crowley, Ross Byrne was probably Ireland’s fifth-choice outhalf at the start of this November campaign. Regardless, he was the difference between victory and a draw as his trustworthy right boot slotted a late penalty that handed Ireland the win.
Australia stuck to the blueprint for beating Ireland, challenge at the breakdown and look for aerial supremacy. Ireland did enough to hold on, with a number of big names missing. That will be a positive that they ended on the right side of the result even with a side executing such a game plan so well, but that was by no means a performance to write home about.
That’s more or less it from me. Stay tuned for player ratings, reaction and a full match report from Gerry Thornley. Thanks for tuning in.
Australia did hit back almost immediately. Will Skelton had two big impacts in the score, first with a carry and then a tip-on pass. Once the ball was spread wide, could Casey have done better and not bitten in to leave Petaia that gap? I’ll let you be the judge.
We just heard from Bundee Aki here. His try was crucial. It was a relatively simple finish for a man of his power, but nonetheless, credit to him from returning to rugby from an eight-week ban to come up with such a significant moment. The hard work was initially done by sucking in enough Australian defenders to leave Doris one-on-one with Foley. He’s historically been a weak defender and the Ireland number eight made him pay.
We didn’t think of the clean sweep, we wanted a performance we could be proud of. We’re not happy with how we played but tonight was a proper Test match. We can see right to the end that they were fighting, they wanted the win. That’s their game, we knew they would come hard. The crowd is a big part of our team, to have a crowd like that when we’re defending for such a long period of time... the majority of our game was defence.
— Bundee Aki
Ireland hold on! A lost lineout gifted Australia one last chance but a spill in contact allowed the ball to be cleared off the park as Ireland wrap up their calendar year with another victory.
Full-time: Ireland 13 Australia 10
80 mins: Penalty Ireland! That should do it! Australia are offside in the maul set-up and Ireland get out of jail.
Ireland 13 Australia 10
78 mins: Nic White is furious, thinking he’s thrown the ball into an offside Conan but O’Keefe is happy he did enough to get out of the way. An advantage does come as Ireland fail to roll away. Nawaqanitawase claims a cross-kick inside the 22 but after a spill, we go back for the penalty. With less than two minutes on the clock, do Australia go for the tricky kick to level things? They don’t! They have no interest in the draw and are going to the corner.
Ireland 13 Australia 10
77 mins: He’s slotted it! From the touchline close to the 10m line, Byrne has put Ireland into the lead. Is it the winner?
Ireland 13 Australia 10
75 mins: Penalty Ireland! The advantage lets the ball go to the backline but nothing comes of it. Ala’alatoa drives in at an angle at the scrum. It’s a kick from a tricky angle, but Ross Byrne has pointed to the posts. What a story this would be if he nails the winning kick...
Ireland 10 Australia 10
Down the front rows go... reset coming. This is a massive attack for Ireland, it could well be their last chance with this sort of territory.
73 mins: White’s poor box kick allows Ireland to attack close to the Australian 22. The play shuts down in midfield but advantage was being player for a knock-on from Wright in the air. Scrum for Ireland close to the Australian 22.
Ireland 10 Australia 10
72 mins: Foley levels! Huge pressure on that conversion out wide but Foley has just about curled it inside the upright. Byrne and Healy are on for Crowley and Porter.
Ireland 10 Australia 10
71 mins: The momentum starts with a strong Skelton carry off the lineout. Phases later, Ireland get sucked in, leaving a wide open gap for Petaia to coast over out wide. Casey got caught biting in there, the result is Foley has a kick to level...
Petaia hits back for Australia!
69 mins: Penalty Australia. McCarthy went in looking for the ball at the breakdown but he couldn’t support his own bodyweight. Foley kicks play into the 22.
Ireland 10 Australia 3
68 mins: Ireland sort their exit well off the restart. Casey boxes ahead, finding a good touch close to halfway.
Ireland 10 Australia 3
67 mins: It’s taken over an hour but finally this game has a try. The forwards hammered away to within inches of the line but Casey makes the good decision to go one pass wider, finding Aki in front of the posts and he has too much power to force his way over. Crowley knocks over the simple extras.
Ireland 10 Australia 3
TRY BUNDEE AKI!
65 mins: A clever lineout move sends Doris thundering around the corner, through the tackle of Foley and 5m from the line. Casey is hit high and Ireland have the advantage as the forwards start hammering away...
Ireland 3 Australia 3
Penalty Ireland! The TMO has spotted contact in the air from Gordon on Ringrose on the kick-chase a few phases earlier. It’s the slightest of contact but has to be flagged. Crowley kicks into the 22.
64 mins: Casey and Bealham are on for Gibson-Park and Furlong. Sheehan’s lineout goes awry and Australia have it back, Foley kicks high again as Hansen this time gathers well. O’Brien has it a few phases on the opposite flank, grubbering ahead but there is cover in the backfield. White clears as Ringrose gathers well under pressure. Australia come flying up in defence, Porter tips on well but then a knock-on comes in contact.
Ireland 3 Australia 3
62 mins: Brilliant from Doris. He waits for Gibson-Park to chop down Skelton before getting in over the ball to win the penalty. Ireland needed that after Australia were pinning them with a series of high balls they were struggling to deal with.
Ireland 3 Australia 3
61 mins: Aki is absolutely smashed by Ikitau in midfield, and I mean smashed. Both sides exchange kicks, Hansen spilling a steepler off Foley but it went backwards.
Ireland 3 Australia 3
60 mins: That’s a bad spill in the air under no pressure from O’Brien. Foley kicks again, pinning Ireland just short of their own 22. Australia are much the happier side to put boot to ball at the moment. Beirne is off, McCarthy is on for his debut.
Ireland 3 Australia 3
59 mins: Foley is again happy to put boot to ball, finding grass inside the 22. Keenan’s follow-up is a beauty, finding touch back on the Australian side of halfway.
Ireland 3 Australia 3
57 mins: Petaia takes a Foley up-and-under very well to take play over halfway. That is until Slipper is hit hard and driven back behind the gain-line. Aki comes up well to drag play further back as Australia are forced to scrap hard to hold onto it. White - back on after his HIA - goes to the air. Keenan can’t take it but Crowley can, clearing down field.
Ireland 3 Australia 3
56 mins: Another penalty against Ireland as they are guilty of hauling down a maul off the restart. If discipline was killing the Wallabies in the first half, fortunes have been well and truly reversed now.
Ireland 3 Australia 3
55 mins: No mistake this time from Foley. With 25 minutes to go, the scores are level at three.
Ireland 3 Australia 3
It’s curtains for Tupou. Onto the stretcher he goes with a serious-looking knee injury. Foley calls for the tee in a bid to level the scores.
55 mins: Penalty Australia! Tupou gets the better of Furlong as Australia gets the decision. More pushing and shoving ensues and Tupou is down holding the back of his knee. He looks to be in a very bad way.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
54 mins: Sheehan hits Conan at the front of the lineout and the Australian pressure forces a knock-on. More momentum for the visitors. Ireland make another change, Aki is on for McCloskey.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
53 mins: Will Skelton is on for Australia. Off the scrum, Foley takes the ball out the back before kicking to touch just outside the 22. Big yardage gain.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
52 mins: Keenan goes chasing a high bomb and gets to it first but he can’t hang on. He takes a big hit in the air from Wright but no penalty comes. Scrum for Australia, back to contested.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
51 mins: This time Ireland turn it over with a counter-ruck, Porter leading the way Crowley is hit hard taking the ball to the line but O’Keefe says it wasn’t later. Beirne wasn’t expecting a short pop and duly knocks on, Wright gathers and kicks to touch inside the Ireland half.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
50 mins: Penalty Australia! Ireland go through the phases off the lineout but a counter-ruck and then a Porter side entry means the chance goes begging. Ireland make a change, Conan is on for O’Mahony.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
Time for another TMO intervention! It’s for a collision between Sheehan and Valetini. The Australian backrow went into the tackle very upright. There is head-on-head contact but it’s only slight, the danger is low. Penalty only but Valetini has to go off for a HIA. Crowley kicks to the corner.
48 mins: Australia defuse the danger as Kellaway plays a prominent part in holding the ball up in the tackle. Ringrose looked to have a knee on the deck but referee O’Keefe was happy to let play continue.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
48 mins: Ireland can keep the pressure up as Foley’s clearance is shanked, gifting a lineout still inside the 22. White played on after the try was ruled out but he clearly injured himself in looking to put Hansen into touch and we will wait for the physios. He has to go off for a HIA.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
NO TRY! Hansen stepped out of play before feeding Gibson-Park for the score. What’s more, Fainga’a, Petaia and Valentini are all back on for Australia. They’re back to 15 on the park.
47 mins: This time the move down the blindside works. Hansen flings an offload inside for the score but did he stay in play? The TMO is having a look...
GIBSON-PARK IS OVER!
45 mins: Poor decision making from Ireland. Gibson-Park thinks the blindside is vulnerable given Australia’s numerical disadvantage, but White is able to sweep across and cover well. Australia is knocked into touch, but Ireland will get the ball back immediately. With no hooker, Hooper has to take the throw and it’s an absolute shocker - crooked is a generous way of describing it.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
45 mins: Foley clears off the back of the uncontested scrum. Ireland have a lineout close to the 22 with two minutes left to attack against just 13 men.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
44 mins: A knock-on from O’Mahony ends that attack after McCloskey again carried well over the gain-line. Time for the scrum but Australia are in trouble with one hooker - Porecki - injured, and the other - Fainga’a - in the bin. Australia have to give in to uncontested scrums, Tupou is on to ensure there is a frontrow player in there but Valentini and Petaia have to go off; Australia are down to 13 as a result of the uncontested scrums.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
43 mins: Ireland use a first phase move with Ringrose and Crowley heavily involved, Australia do well to prevent the break. A handful of phases later the ball is inside the 22 after a carry from Ryan.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
42 mins: Turnover! McCloskey and Porter had carried well to take play deep into the 22 but Hooper comes up with the turnover on the floor. Ireland’s best attack of the day but Hooper is just too good on the floor. Foley clears to touch.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
41 mins: Crowley kicks off the second half as Australia gather and clear their lines. Ringrose carries off the kick as Ireland get some rare possession inside the opposition half.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
Here is the Fainga’a card. Such a stupid decision to go in and compete for a lost cause while the contact with van der Flier’s neck was beyond reckless.
A dour, turgid first half come to an end. Ireland simply haven’t been able to get on the ball and have been forced to play time and again inside their own half. Part of it is Australia’s willingness to go through the phases despite making little ground, while Ireland’s decision-making to kick their way down the park has been sound, but an inability to win the ball back has denied them possession.
Andy Farrell’s side’s defence has been good, bar an early error that allowed White to go over for a score that was ultimately disallowed, Australia have found no change from the green wall which by and large has been on top in the collisions.
Ireland simply need to get their hands on the ball and start winning the territorial battle in the second half.
Half-time: Ireland 3 Australia 0
39 mins: Close! Sheehan looks for another maul try - he has been prolific this season - but he is forced into touch after peeling off. White and Petaia were the defenders.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
39 mins: Ireland go to the corner. Gibson-Park throws the ball into an offside Ala’alatoa and Ireland get the penalty, turning down the points to go to the corner.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
Yellow card for Fainga’a! Both sides were warned by the referee after far too many neck-rolls and high tackles. Australia’s reserve hooker has gone and made contact with van der Flier’s neck in the ruck, leaving the officials with no choice after the warning. It was such a reckless collision as well, Ireland had the ball won at the ruck and any attempt made by Fainga’a to disrupt was always going to fail.
38 mins: Another neck-roll is being checked! O’Brien had cleared Ireland’s lines but if this leads to another penalty a card must be on the way given the earlier warning.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
36 mins: McCloskey holds up Foley well to slow Australia’s go-forward before Porter puts in a big shot on Foley. Kellaway decides to grubber in behind but O’Brien is happy to usher it into touch in the Irish 22.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
34 mins: Ryan competes at the front of the lineout and forces the turnover. The ball is slow back to Gibson-Park but he eventually finds it to clear with the box-kick. Australia lineout back towards the Irish 10m line.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
32 mins: Another penalty as O’Keefe says Ireland didn’t release the tackler while competing for the ball on the ground. To be fair to the referee, he gave ample warning to Ireland, they just didn’t heed his warning to release. Foley kicks the penalty into the 22.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
32 mins: Ikitau drops it with no pressure on him at all and Furlong of all people hoofs the ball down field. You can guess the crowd’s reaction to that...
Ireland 3 Australia 0
31 mins: Crowley gets trapped in a ruck and blocks Australian ball, leading to another advantage. Foley goes to the cross-kick, Nawaqanitawase takes it as advantage expires with Australia 10m from the line.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
30 mins: Ireland give away two advantages at the lineout, one for contact in the air and the other for offside. Ireland go wide and run into the Irish half, the attack ending when Beirne gets in with the jackal. Back they go for the lineout infringement.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
28 mins: McCarthy runs onto the pitch thinking he’s on off the bench for a debut for Ryan decides to stay on after recieving treatment. Ireland restart iwth a lineout and the backline move sends O’Brien into space where he kicks in behind. Australia do just enough to get the ball and run it out of the in-goal before Doris hits Wright high. Australia aren’t happy with that as pushing and shoving ensues but nothing too dramatic. O’Keefe warns both captains about high tackles and neck-rolls - there have been plenty of both.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
27 mins: Penalty Ireland! The defence is stretched as Foley throws a wide ball to space but Hansen and then Ringrose scramble well. Ireland then get a relieving penalty at the breakdown to end the lengthy attack.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
26 mins: Nawaqanitawase again comes in off his wing on a hard line but this time Doris shuts the door emphatically. 10+ phases for Australia in this attack but they are struggling to make much ground in the 22.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
25 mins: After a delay for treatment, Ireland get their exit right as O’Brien clears. He keeps his kick in-field and it nearly costs Ireland after Petaia hits a half-gap.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
24 mins: Australia hit one-off runners after one phase off the lineout. Ireland’s defence is much better than White’s non-try earlier, knocking them back after a series of phases. That is until Nawaqanitawase arcs in off his wing, hitting the line late to hit a half-gap. He gets the offload away but Ikitau isn’t ready for it - all he can do is boot it into touch.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
22 mins: Ireland flood in looking for the ball at a breakdown but Ringrose couldn’t roll out of the way quickly enough. The stop-start nature of this game continues.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
21 mins: Foley misses the kick! 20m out to the right of the sticks, Foley pushes it well out to the right.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
19 mins: Australia are nearly in behind thanks to a delicate chip but Keenan reads it well, taking a shot for his sins. Ireland slow things up before Gibson-Park goes to the air, the loose ball scooped up by Doris but he was in an offside position at the kick.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
17 mins: Australia go short with the lineout and it nearly catches Ireland unawares, Porter and Gibson-Park reacting quickly to prevent a break. Gibson-Park then pressures to force White to spill. Fortunately for Ireland, the advantage is not over when Hansen’s kick is charged down by Holloway who has an open run to the line.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
15 mins: Hansen does well to take a swirling high bomb under pressure. Australia flood the breakdown but cannot earn a turnover. Gibson-Park has to play it quickly as the ball trickles out but he gets his kick away. O’Mahony hits high on the gold jersey in the breakdown and Australia get the penalty. Foley finds touch inside the 22.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
14 mins: Australia get away with one. O’Mahony reads the lineout well but can only knock the ball on despite winning the race to it in the air. Turns out Beirne also made contact with White in the air at the back of the lineout, so Australia can clear with a penalty.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
14 mins: An Australian hand bats the ball out of Gibson-Park’s hands at the back of the maul but referee O’Keefe is happy to continue. Gibson-Park then spots space in the backfield and finds a good touch inside the 22.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
12 mins: Ireland fail to look after the ball at the back of the ruck and Australia can clear. O’Brien finds a good touch before Crowley reads a long lineout throw and picks it off. Both sides are unable to hold onto the ball for extended periods so far.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
11 mins: Australia win back the kick-off but Neville is guilty of another neck-roll. Australia’s discipline is costing them here.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
10 mins: No mistake from Crowley! From just out to the right, outside of the 22, he’s put Ireland into the lead.
Ireland 3 Australia 0
9 mins: McCloskey again runs into a brick wall on first phase but Porecki gives away his second penalty of the day. Crowley will have a straightforward enough chance from just outside the 22 to open the scoring.
Ireland 0 Australia 0
8 mins: O’Brien runs back a clearance before Hansen chips into space out wide. He takes a tumble but no foul play despite an Australian jersey making contact with him. Foley ultimately clears, this time finding touch.
Ireland 0 Australia 0
6 mins: McCloskey carries up the middle on first phase and does well to avoid being held up. The forwards take over as the ball inches towards the 22. Crowley has a dart around the corner but Australia have turned it over through Holloway pilfering on the deck.
Ireland 0 Australia 0
4 mins: Sheehan’s first lineout throw hits Ryan at the front. Gibson-Park clears and Tadhg Beirne gets in over the ball on the chase to win another penalty for Ireland. Crowley kicks down the line.
Ireland 0 Australia 0
4 mins: For a side that prides themselves on their defence, that’s an awful score to concede for Ireland. A handful of forward carriers take Australia over the line before White takes advantage of an under-manned ruck edge to dart over.
HANG ON! The TMO has spotted a neck-roll. David Porecki made contact with Josh van der Flier’s neck in a clear-out and Ireland survive.
NO TRY
TRY NIC WHITE
After some lengthy treatment, a limping Paisami decides to continue. Australia tap and go inside the 22...
3 mins: Free-kick Australia as Ireland drive early. Ireland aren’t back 10m and a further advantage ensues. A forward pass ends the play and the visitors have a decision to make with an early penalty inside the 22. We’ll wait for their decision as Hunter Paisami gets some treatment.
Ireland 0 Australia 0
1 min: We are underway at the Aviva! Australia get things underway through Nic White as referee Ben O’Keefe starts the clock. Caelan Doris gathers in the Irish 22. Jamison Gibson-Park clears but Andrew Kellaway gathers. Australia return the effort and Gibson-Park spills in the air, giving Australia a scrum right on the Ireland 22.
Ireland 0 Australia 0
Right then. Michael D Higgins has met the teams, the anthems are done and it’s almost time for kick-off.
Plenty of people have been saying for years that Ireland need to find someone else game time to avoid being over-reliant on Sexton. Not through any planning, but that chance has come tonight for Jack Crowley.
As we get closer to kick-off, a quick reminder of the teams with that late change for Ireland.
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster); Tadhg Beirne (Munster), James Ryan (Leinster); Peter O’Mahony (Munster, captain), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster).
Replacements: Rob Herring (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht).
AUSTRALIA: Andrew Kellaway; Mark Nawaqanitawase, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Tom Wright; Bernard Foley, Nic White; James Slipper (captain), David Porecki, Allan Ala’alatoa; Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville; Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper, Rob Valetini.
Replacements: Folau Fainga’a, Tom Robertson, Taniela Tupou, Will Skelton, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Jordan Petaia.
There’s a moment of silence in the Aviva for Jerry Holland, the former Ireland international and Munster player/manager who passed away during the week.
CONFIRMED! Johnny Sexton is out. Jack Crowley starts and Ross Byrne comes onto the bench. Peter O’Mahony leads Ireland out of the tunnel, looks like he’s the stand-in skipper.
Josh van der Flier could well be named world player of the year tomorrow night. Tonight’s match is his last chance to impress ahead of the awards show - if the decision has not already been made, that is. Either way, Gerry Thornley charts his rise this year to the top of the world game.
[ Josh van der Flier operating at the height of his considerable powersOpens in new window ]
Turns out Australia outhalf Bernard Foley - back into the side after being rested for the defeat to Italy - has some Irish roots. Johnny Watterson sat down with arguably their key man during the week.
While we wait for updates, let’s run through some previews. First up, here are Gerry Thornley’s thoughts ahead of kick-off.
There looks like there might be some big news coming out of the Aviva. According to reports, Johnny Sexton is nowhere to be seen in the warm-ups. Jack Crowley is running with the starters with Ross Byrne out there too. Updates on the way...
Ireland haven’t played Australia since their tour down under in 2018 - Joe Schmidt’s side won the third Test of that series to win overall 2-1. Overall, the two sides have met 36 times, Australia winning 22 clashes, Ireland 13 with one draw for good measure.
