Ireland vs Australia LIVE: Rugby result and reaction from autumn international as Ireland edge to tight win
Ireland 13-10 Australia: Ross Byrne’s late pressure penalty was enough for the hosts to edge to victory after Bundee Aki got their only try
Ross Byrne landed a dramatic late penalty as Ireland overcame the loss of captain Johnny Sexton to cap a stellar year with a disjointed 13-10 win over Australia. Replacement fly-half Byrne nailed a difficult kick from wide on the right with just three minutes remaining in Dublin to earn Ireland a record-equalling 12th successive home victory.
Andy Farrell’s men struggled for large parts of a disappointing contest and could easily have ended 2022 with a serious reality check against opponents beaten by Italy just last weekend.
Ireland centre Bundee Aki marked his return from an eight-game ban with the opening try but the game remained in the balance in the closing stages after Jordan Petaia crossed for the Wallabies.
A difficult evening for the Irish began with talisman Sexton withdrawing through injury, with his deputy Jack Crowley booting five points on his maiden Test start before Byrne, who was elevated to the bench at the 11th hour, proving to be the match-winner.
Relive the action from the autumn international between Ireland and Australia below:
Scotland 31-22 Argentina, 62 minutes
Scotland’s drive is much stronger this time, earning a penalty, and then Darcy Graham is dragged out on the right.
Hang on - another big to do, and there might be more cards coming here.
Scotland 31-22 Argentina, 61 minutes
Nicolas Sanchez is joined in making his entry by Matias Moroni; Santiago Carreras and Juan Cruz Mallia depart.
Argentina look to have ogt a nudge on at the scrum, but referee Karl Dickson calls for a reset.
Scotland 31-22 Argentina, 61 minutes
Argentina make a meal of collecting Stuart Hogg’s kick back to them, and Scotland will have a scrum about seven metres out from the opposition line.
Handbags! Something has riled both sets of forwards, with Sione Tuipulotu also adding his input. Duhan van der Merwe is one of the few wings in the world who can look Lucas Paulos in the eye - the replacement Argentina lock stares back angrily.
Scotland 31-22 Argentina, 60 minutes
Also readying himself for an Argentina return is Nicolas Sanchez, who has been out since the start of the Rugby Championship with a calf strain.
Ah - the visitors could have done with the veteran’s accurate boot, with their penalty failing to find touch.
Scotland 31-22 Argentina, 59 minutes
Argentina win a penalty as a prone Scottish player makes a tackle on the floor. Matias Alemanno rejoins proceedings, and Tomas Lavanini is strapping his scrum cap on, too.
Scotland 31-22 Argentina, 58 minutes
Scotland try another of those front-of-the-lineout moves, but Jamie Ritchie is bustled into touch.
Fraser Brown’s day is done - George Rurner replaces him. On, too, are a couple of London-based Scots - Andy Christie in the back row and Ben White at scrum-half.
Scotland 31-22 Argentina, 58 minutes
The camera pans to a rather crowded Argentina naughty step, with time left to run still on both Tomas Lavanini and Matias Alemanno’s yellow cards.
What more damage can Scotland do against Argentina’s 12 men? Finn Russell misses touch from a punted penalty, but it matters not as Santiago Carreras’ return drifts out on the full.
TRY! SCOTLAND 29-22 Argentina (Sione Tuipulotu try, 56 minutes)
And they do!
Good from Scotland, resetting immediately after that bolt from the blue from Argentina. A strong midfield carry creates a black hole into which the Argentina defence is sucked, creating room on the right for Sione Tuipulotu, who goes over.
Finn Russell converts.
Scotland 24-22 Argentina, 54 minutes
That was all over-eager from Scotland. The spaces will surely present themselves if they are patient.
TRY! Scotland 24-22 ARGENTINA (Emiliano Boffelli try, 52 minutes)
A breakaway Argentina score out of nowhere!
My oh my. Scotland get too loose and frisky, enjoying the open spaces afforded them against Argentina’s 12 men. Jack Dempsey holds the ball above his head as he takes contact, seeking an offload to waiting teammates on the right.
But Dempsey loses grasp of the ball, and Juan Cruz Mallia is alive to it. The full-back picks up, darts free, and Boffelli is alongside him in short order to continue his prolific individual year with a canter beneath the posts. Two more points from his right boot draw Argentina even nearer.
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