Ireland clinched a 2-1 series victory against the Wallabies when they beat their hosts 20-16 in a tightly contested affair in Sydney on Saturday.
In a tough and uncompromising encounter, highlighted by numerous brutal collisions, both sides scored a try apiece but Ireland secured the result – and the first-ever three-Test series between these countries – in the 79th minute courtesy of a Johnny Sexton penalty.
The opening half was a cagey affair and neither side crossed the whitewash during that period.
Sexton and Bernard Foley traded early penalties before the Wallabies suffered a setback in the 16th minute when their captain Michael Hooper limped off with a leg injury after a clean-out at a ruck from Tadhg Furlong.
Five minutes later, Ireland were also dealt a blow when Jacob Stockdale was yellow carded for foul play after he elbowed Nick Phipps in his throat.
Foley slotted the resulting penalty to give his side a 6-3 lead but Sexton restored parity on the half-hour mark when he converted his second penalty after Pete Samu entered a maul illegally in front of the posts.
Shortly afterwards, Australia were also reduced to 14 men when Israel Folau was sent to the sin-bin for a mid-air collision with Ireland skipper Peter O’Mahony, who was forced off the field for a HIA which he would fail and resulted in him playing no further part in the match.
Ireland put that setback behind them and regained the lead in the 35th minute when Sexton added his third penalty, after Adam Coleman was blown up for offside play, but the sides were level at 9-9 by the 40th minute when Foley succeeded with another shot from the kicking tee.
However, the visitors would have the last laugh before half-time as from the restart Samu Kerevi played the ball from an offside position and Sexton kicked another penalty which gave his side a 17-16 lead at the interval.
Ireland made the brighter start to the second period when, three minutes into the half, they launched a drive from a line-out before CJ Stander burrowed his way over the try-line from close quarters for the opening try of the match and although Sexton’s conversion was off target, the visitors had their tails up with the score 17-9 in their favour.
Despite that try, the Wallabies did not panic and became more daring on attack.
They spent the next five minutes camped inside Ireland’s half and were rewarded in the 55th minute when Foley stabbed a perfectly weighted grubber kick through which was gathered by Marika Koroibete despite the attentions of Rob Kearney.
The rugby league converted still had work to do but did well to shrug off a challenge from Sexton before powering his way over the try-line.
Foley slotted the conversion which meant the match was evenly poised at 17-16 to Ireland and the next 20 minutes would be a tense affair as both sides tried to gain the ascendancy.
Ireland would eventually get the rub of the green when Tolu Latu was penalised for illegal play at a ruck in the game’s closing stages and Sexton held his nerve to land the penalty which would seal his side’s win.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Try: Koroibete
Con: Foley
Pens: Foley 3
Yellow Card: Folau
For Ireland:
Tries: Stander
Pens: Sexton 5
Yellow Card: Stockdale
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lukhan Tui, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Ned Hanigan, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Joe Powell, 23 Reece Hodge
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Peter O’Mahony, 6 CJ Stander, 5 James Ryan, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jack McGrath
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 John Ryan, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jordan Larmour
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
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