Ireland scored the winning try with six minutes to go, beating a game Australia 22-19. It was a hell of a Test match but probably not for everyone but the purists.
Australia opened the scoring with a converted penalty by Noah Lolesio after ten minutes of play in the first half.
Ireland was the "dominant" side with the left boot of James Lowe giving them the edge in the kicking battle. However, Australia scored the first try of the match when Australia bamboozled Ireland with a trick play at a lineout, whereafter, Australia spread the ball wide for winger Max Jorgensen to dive over in the corner. Lolesio converted to extend Australia's lead to 10-00.
Five minutes later Josh van der Flier bulldozed his way over Australia's tryline to cut Australlia's lead to 10-05 with twenty minutes still to play in the first half.
Noah Lolesio converted a second penalty to extend Australia's lead to 13-05, which was also the halftime score.
The excellent defensive work from Australia continually thwarted Ireland aside from that Van der Flier try and are well worth their lead.
Ireland's Sam Prendergast converted an early penalty in the second half to cut Australia's lead to 13-08.
Ireland attacked from a lineout and spread the ball until captain Caelen Doris crashed over for Ireland's first try. Sam Prendergast’s conversion gave Ireland the lead for the first time of the match.
Australian flyhalf Noah Lolesio converted two penalties two wrestle a 19-15 lead back from Ireland with fifteen minutes still to play in the second half.
Despite the efforts of Ireland on the attack, Austalia kept stopping the hosts from scoring. A penalty conceded by Australia eventually led to a five-meter lineout from which Gus McCarthy scored Ireland's third try to retake the lead 22-19 following Jack Crowley's conversion.
It was a hell of a Test match. Probably not for everyone but the purists.
Scorers:
Ireland: Tries: Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Gus McCarthy. Conversions: Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley. Penalty: Sam Prendergast
Australia: Try: Max Jorgensen. Conversion: Noah Lolesio. Penalty: Noah Lolesio (4).
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter. Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Garry Ringrose.
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joseph-Akuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 James Slipper. Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Harry Potter.