Ireland v Australia LIVE: Rugby score and result as Irish end autumn with win over Wallabies
Ireland wrapped up the autumn internationals with victory in Dublin
Ireland fought back from a halftime deficit to mark a 150th anniversary with a scruffy 22-19 victory over Australia on Saturday, sealing the victory in the last eight minutes and denying their former coach Joe Schmidt a winning return.
The home side, celebrating Irish rugby’s birthday, were 13-5 down at the break but rallied back from an error-filled first half to post a narrow success.
Ireland’s points came from tries by Josh van der Flier, captain Caelan Doris and substitute Gus McCarthy, with new flyhalf Sam Prendergast contributing a penalty and conversion and his replacement Jack Crowley a conversion.
Max Jorgensen scored Australia’s lone try, with Noah Lolesio kicking over four penalties and a conversion, as they lost for a second straight week after Scotland beat them last Sunday.
Ireland 8-13 Australia
46 min: Ireland sustain pressure in the Australian half, but the Wallabies’ defence is excellent and they are not allowing their 22-metre line to be breached...
Penalty! Ireland 8-13 Australia (Prendergast, 42 min)
James Slipper is penalised at the breakdown for blocking Ireland’s release, and Sam Prendergast slots the kick from 40 yards.
Half-time: Ireland 5-13 Australia
Ireland made 16 handling errors in the first 40 minutes and that was really the story of the half. If they can cut those mistakes out in the second half, they will have a great shot and turning this match on its head.
Half-time: Ireland 5-13 Australia
Another handling error stalls the Irish attack, and that brings the half-time whistle. Ireland have been a bit sloppy and Australia deservedly lead at the break.
Ireland 5-13 Australia
39 min: McReight spills the ball and Australia’s momentum is killed. Ireland, now, might get one last chance to peg the Wallabies back before half-time. They have a lineout deep in the Australian half.
Ireland 5-13 Australia
37 min: Penalty awarded to Australia near the halfway line after a late tackle by Finlay Bealham. The Wallabies will end the half on the front foot, with a lineout near Ireland’s 22.
Ireland 5-13 Australia
35 min: Australia run it from a scrum inside their own half, but it backfires when Tadhg Beirne steals the ball from the hands of an unsuspecting Jake Gordon at the breakdown a moment later. Ireland win a penalty and Prendergast kicks deep into the corner... but the Irish lineout is too long and gifted back to Australia!
Ireland have made too many mistakes in this half.
Penalty! Ireland 5-13 Australia (Lolesio, 33 min)
Sam Prendergast smashes a kick from deep inside Irish territory well into the Australian half and Ireland have a lineout – but Australia’s Taniela Tupou intercepts a pass and surges into empty space from 50 metres. He’s eventually caught, but a penalty at the next ruck allows Lolesio the chance for a simple three points, which he takes.
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