Ireland mark Best's 100th cap with win over Australia

Ireland's players celebrate an historic win over Australia. Credit: PA

  • Ireland 27-24 Australia

By Ciaran Donaghy

Ireland finished the autumn test series with a win over Australia in a breath-taking game at the Aviva Stadium.

Joe Schmidt’s side made history as it was the first time they had beaten all three southern hemisphere super powers in a calendar year.

It was the perfect way to mark captain’s Rory Best’s 100th cap but Ireland had to dig deep after Australia came back to lead after trailing 17-0 at one stage.

After conceding a try within three minutes last week against the All Blacks Ireland made a more positive start against the Wallabies working the ball through 16 phases to earn a penalty, Paddy Jackson kicked to the corner but the home side lost the resulting lineout.

Andrew Trimble had a great chance to score on 10 minutes when Rob Kearney released the winger but instead of going outside the last man he cut infield and Dane Haylett-Petty stopped him with a tackle, Ireland won a penalty and went for the corner but Australia sacked the maul from the lineout and won a turnover.

Ireland finally made their territorial and possession advantage count when Jackson broke the deadlock with a long range penalty on 17 minutes after Australia were punished for not rolling away in the tackle.

The Wallabies had flanker Dean Munn yellow carded on 22 minutes for a tip tackle on Ireland prop Tadgh Furlong.

Ireland profited immediately from their numerical advantage, they kicked the penalty to touch, from the lineout the driving maul carried deep into Australian territory before the ball was spun wide to the backs, Simon Zebo put a grubber kick behind the defence, Keith Earls won the race to collect and offloaded to Ulster lock Iain Henderson and he powered over from close range with Jackson converting.

Ireland extended their lead on 34 minutes with a first international try from centre Garry Ringrose.

The home side kicked a penalty to touch but Australia stopped the maul, scrum half Conor Murray threw a loose pass, Ringrose gathered and faked to go outside but cut back infield wrong footing Michael Hooper and he had the strength to hold off Munn to touch down with Jackson converting.

Keith Earls scores a try for Ireland. Credit: PA

Australia struck with the final play of the first half, from a lineout on half way they moved the ball off the top into midfield, Hooper made a line break before feeding full back Israel Folau he put Haylett-Petty clear and the winger sprinted under the posts with Bernard Foley converting to cut Ireland’s lead to 17-7 at the break.

Australia started the second half where they left off in the first, winger Henry Speight was denied a try for a forward pass after a slick handling move.

However Ireland’s reprieve was a short one as the Wallabies got their second try on 46 minutes.

They work the ball through 11 phases before Foley and Folau showed quick hands to put centre Tevita Kuridrani over in the corner and Foley converted from a tight angle.

Jackson responded for Ireland with a penalty three minutes later.

Devin Toner is tackled by Australia's Bernard Foley. Credit: PA

With the Irish backline in disarray due to injury Australia got their third try on 57 minutes.

Replacement Sefanaia Navivalu glided past weak tackling from Zebo and Joey Carbery to score and Foley’s conversion gave the Wallabies the lead.Foley was on target with a penalty from in front of the posts three minutes later.

Ireland regained the lead on 66 minutes, Furlong made the hard yards through the middle, Murray fed Zebo and he spun a pass for Earls to dot down in the corner with Jackson converting.

Foley was sin binned in the last minute for a dangerous tackle on Devin Toner and Ireland were able to see the game out.

Josh Van der Flier catches a high ball. Credit: PA

Ireland: R Kearney, A Trimble, J Payne, G Ringrose, K Earls, P Jackson, C Murray, J McGrath, R Best, T Furlong I Henderson, D Toner, CJ Stander, J van der Flier, J Heaslip.

Replacements: S Cronin for Best 75 mins, C Healy for McGrath 60 mins, F Bealham for Furlong 69 mins, U Dillane for Henderson 54 mins, P O’Mahony for Heaslip 61 mins, K Marmion for Payne 41 mins, J Carbery for Trimble 30 mins, S Zebo for Kearney 12 mins.

Australia: I Folau, D Haylett-Petty, T Kuridrani, R Hodge, H Speight, B Foley, W Genia, S Sio, S Moore, S Kepu, R Arnold, R Simmons, D Mumm, M Hooper, D Pocock.

Replacements: T Latu for Moore 75 mins, J Slipper for Seo 67 mins, A Alaalatoa for Kepu 67 mins, K Douglas for Arnold 41 mins, S McMahon for Simmons 67 mins, N Phipps, Q Cooper, S Naivalu for Speight 55 mins.

Ref: J Garces (France)