Ireland regularly fought from behind as they beat Australia in Sydney late on in the Nations Championship
Andy Farrell’s injury-ravaged Ireland secured a madcap 33-31 victory over Australia in Sydney in the opening round of rugby’s inaugural Nations Championship.
A topsy-turvy first half saw seven tries shared between the sides, with Australia going in five points ahead after scores from wing Dylan Pietsch, full-back Jock Campbell, lock Josh Canham and scrum-half Ryan Lonergan.
Ireland scored first-half efforts through back-rows Cian Prendergast and Josh van der Flier, and scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park. From 12 points behind, they then led in the second half following a Hugo Keenan try.
The Wallabies retook the lead after a try from replacement scrum-half Tate McDermott, with Ireland having their next score through Dan Sheehan chalked off for obstruction – referee Ben O’Keeffe declining Ireland the chance to re-attack from a penalty despite the TMO recommending he do so.
Australia – Tries: Pietsch (3), Campbell (14), Canham (24), Lonergan (27), McDermott (53). Cons: Gordon (25,28,54).
Ireland – Tries: C Prendergast (10), van der Flier (19), Gibson-Park (40+2), Keenan (47), Clarkson (77). Cons: S Prendergast (11,42,48,78)
Farrell’s side came again, though, as they struck with just three minutes to play through prop Thomas Clarkson, as they weren’t made to pay for a poor lineout display, and an attack and defence which regularly underperformed through the Test.
Australia replacement fly-half Ben Donaldson had a penalty from over 50 metres to steal victory with the final kick but missed wide, as Ireland – who lost wing Rob Baloucoune before kick-off to injury and were already shorn of 12 players including the likes of captain Caelan Doris, fly-half Jack Crowley, Mack Hansen and Andrew Porter – could celebrate.
A breathless first half saw Australia fly out of the gates for a try in the third minute, with Ireland punished for losing an early lineout; wing Pietsch diving over as the Wallabies sliced through down the right.
Australia’s Dylan Pietsch dived over for the opening try of the contest inside three minutes
Ireland responded quickly with their first try in the 11th minute, as close-range carries through forwards gave way to Cian Prendergast grounding down on top of the try-line.
Ireland responded quickly through flanker Cian Prendergast, as he pressed down to ground on the try-line
Within three minutes, Australia led again as returning full-back Campbell – playing his first Test since 2022 – got over as Ireland’s defence was cut open once more.
Jock Campbell scored Australia’s second try in a first half filled with scores
A fourth try in the opening 19 minutes then followed as Van der Flier charged over off a superb five-metre Irish attack.
Sam Prendergast poorly missed the straightforward conversion to leave the Ireland lead at two points, and Wallabies lock Canham soon dipped to score for Australia to retake the lead for a third time.
Three minutes later, Ireland fly-half Prendergast – who failed to get their backline attack clicking in the Test – laid Australia’s fourth try on a plate when he gave up an intercept pass to Max Jorgensen, who charged on and offloaded for Lonergan to race in.
Sam Prendergast once again struggled to perform for Ireland at fly-half
When Carter Gordon converted, Australia’s lead was a 12-point haul at 24-12, and it nearly got even better when centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii scythed through, only for Ireland full-back Keenan to get him down.
Ireland ensured they would head in at half-time a single score behind, however, when bravery to attack from deep and keep the ball alive resulted in Gibson-Park finishing a marvellous try, having collected a Jack Conan offload.
Jamison Gibson-Park scored a stunning try in the final play of the first half to get Ireland back into things
Seven minutes into the second period, Ireland then completed the turnaround when lovely hands and disguise from Garry Ringrose sent Keenan scampering through for a try.
Hugo Keenan scored early in the second half for Ireland as they turned around a 12-point deficit
The lead continued to change hands, though, when McDermott wriggled past Conan to just make the try-line, restoring Australia’s five-point advantage.
Ireland lost a big five-metre attacking chance soon after as their lineout continued to falter, but they were soon in the same area and Sheehan charged over off a superb lineout maul drive. The score was awarded but then ruled out for obstruction by James Ryan ahead of the ball – Taniela Tupou getting away with a side entry before that.
Ireland captain on the day Dan Sheehan had complaints with referee Ben O’Keeffe after his try was cancelled
Ryan then knocked on a metre or so from the try-line as Ireland looked to be building towards a try – the lock seeming to get in the way of a pass destined for Bundee Aki.
Donaldson missed a penalty from out wide inside the final 10 minutes, and Aki then missed another big chance for Ireland from close range when he spilled a Stuart McCloskey offload.
Australia were reduced to 14 at that moment for repeat penalties, though, with Lachlan Shaw departing, and Ireland got over in the 77th minute through Clarkson as he dipped to score through contact.
Tom Clarkson forced his way through contact to score the Test’s decisive try with three minutes to play
Prendergast converted for a two-point lead, and all that remained was a last-gasp penalty chance for Donaldson when Aki was penalised at the breakdown, but he sent a very tough effort well wide.
Ben Donaldson missed a penalty from over 50 metres out on the angle with the final kick for Australia
‘Proper Test match could have gone either way’
Player of the Match – Hugo Keenan – speaking on ITV:
“It was so tight, so intense. We were asked to make this crowd of thousands in green proud and that’s exactly what we did. We never gave up, dug in deep.
“At the end of the day, it just came down to a kick, so hard luck to Australia, they were very unlucky. It could have gone either way.
“They have got some unbelievable ball carriers and threats at the breakdown. They’re a top-quality side.
“We’ve come up against them a few times, in the autumn and with the Lions, we know what how good they are. It was a proper Test match.”
What’s next?
For Ireland, they remain in Australia for their second Nations Championship Test, as they face Japan at the McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday July 11 (11.10am kick-off). Japan beat Italy in Tokyo for a stunning result in their opening fixture.
Australia host France for their second Test of the summer, also on Saturday July 11, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane (8.40am kick-off).