Eire denied Australia a successful end to their spring tour in Dublin, however it took each inch of effort to grind down a Wallabies crew that defended bravely and really practically rounded out a resurgent 12 months on the very best notice.
It completed 22-19 on the Aviva Stadium as Eire marked their 150-year anniversary with a come-from-behind win and closed out a 3-1 autumn marketing campaign, their solely blemish a poor first-up outing in opposition to the All Blacks.
The three-point defeat meant Australia completed their four-match grand slam tour at 2-2, and their 2024 season report closes at 6-7.
Whereas they’d have dearly beloved to have secured a drought-breaking win in Dublin, the Wallabies have proven greater than sufficient over the previous 4 weeks to recommend they’ll mount a severe problem in opposition to the British & Irish Lions subsequent 12 months.
Actually if they bring about the identical defensive intent and form they did on Saturday evening, and may recapture a few of the glowing assault they confirmed in opposition to England and Wales, then the Wallabies will probably be proper within the contest with the Lions subsequent July.
Sadly for Australia in Dublin, the sheer weight of their defensive workload and lack of territory finally took its toll. The guests additionally went into their shell on the attacking facet of the ball within the second 40, the Wallabies unable to clear their very own half with any nice conviction.
Having led 13-5 on the break following a transformed attempt to Max Jorgensen and two penalties for Noah Lolesio, Australia couldn’t threaten the Irish line at any stage throughout the second half. The hosts had 76% of the territory by the tip of the match, second-half tries to skipper Caelan Doris and alternative hooker Gus McCarthy proving the distinction.
“I feel it was the mountain of possession and territory that they had, however the grit that our boys confirmed was actually spectacular,” Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt mentioned postmatch. “I felt they received off the road and defended for lengthy phases and we have been maybe a bit of unfortunate just a few occasions on the ball, however I simply admired the way in which they labored so exhausting.
“First half I assumed we deserved the lead, we made various linebreaks and completed one with a attempt, received a few penalties off others. So it was nip and tuck there, however Eire, boy, they know easy methods to put the squeeze on you and so they muscled up in that second half.”
Earlier, the Wallabies had their defence and a few sloppy Irish play to thank for his or her eight-point half-time lead.
Whereas the hosts did cross the road via Josh van der Flier, who answered Jorgensen’s earlier attempt with a hard-running cost from shut vary, Eire have been in any other case let down by some sloppy dealing with and inaccuracy from their set-piece.
On one event, after fly-half Ian Prendergast had peeled off a mammoth achieve to place his facet simply seven metres out from the road, the Irish forwards butchered their lineout name and Australia have been in a position to clear just a few moments later.
Australia, in the meantime, have been superior on the breakdown, with Fraser McReight within the thick of the motion after he sat out final week’s loss to Scotland. The Queensland No. 7 additionally popped up as a key hyperlink man and ball-carrier on the counter, the place he obtained help from each Nick Frost and Harry Wilson, the Wallabies duo creating a chance that nearly noticed Andrew Kellaway contact down out large later within the first half.
Nevertheless it was the Wallabies’ defence that deserved a lot of the credit score as they went to sheds up 13-5, time and time once more Australia have been in a position to maintain their line and the belief of their system to restrict Eire’s attacking advances.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who departed final week’s conflict early with a wrist harm, in the meantime performed a key position in Jorgensen’s five-pointer. With Jake Gordon going to the air instantly after a lineout win, Suaalii was in a position to stress the competition after which win the free ball, his offload liberating up Tom Wright and Kellaway once more, earlier than the ball got here again to the other nook the place the fullback once more dealt with beneath stress to place his winger over after 20 minutes.
The second of the primary half was Taniela Tupou’s intercept nonetheless, with the prop making a daring play that finally introduced the Wallabies an additional three factors. Had Tupou not regathered, then he might have properly discovered himself within the sin-bin, however after he plucked the ball out of the air and took off downfield, Australia have been then in a position to scramble again a penalty when the prop’s offload had gone awry.
However that scramble was a continued theme for the Wallabies all through the 80 minutes and finally one thing needed to give.
With Eire nearly camped inside Australia’s for what appeared just like the entirety of the second stanza, the stress finally informed because the hosts rode some beneficial refereeing selections to shut inside metres of the Wallabies’ line, after which used their maul to attain two second-half tries, the primary of which noticed Doris contact down beneath the sticks after the ball was shifted instantly from the set-piece platform. The truth that a blatant knock-on was missed within the lead-up to that sequence will probably be chilly little consolation for Australia.
On the stability of proceedings, although, it was the hosts who deserved to come back away with the win and the Landsdowne Cup. The three-point victory additionally ensured veteran prop Cian Healy marked his record-breaking evening because the most-capped Eire participant of all time on the correct notice.
Subsequent up for the hosts is the Six Nations, the place they are going to be favourites to elevate the trophy alongside France, who went undefeated via their very own November marketing campaign. Eire will after all be with out coach Andy Farrell, whose focus now shifts to his position as Lions boss.
“Simply to maintain going. The plan is everyone knows the place we’re going with our sport and that we kick on within the Six Nations, and that is what we anticipate of ourselves on a regular basis. So nothing modifications,” Farrell mentioned when requested what he wished to see from Eire’s Lions hopefuls.
For Australia, in the meantime, it’s time to relaxation some weary our bodies after which shift focus to what’s the largest Take a look at sequence in Australia in 12 years.
Whereas the Wallabies end the 12 months with a successful proportion a tick beneath 50%, what they’ve accomplished in latest weeks, and earlier within the 12 months too, is restore pleasure in a jersey that was destroyed to the purpose of close to destroy throughout the malaise of the Eddie Jones debacle.
Schmidt has introduced via a number of latest gamers who will probably be higher for the experiences of 2024, whereas Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Len Ikitau and Tom Wright have gone to new ranges all collectively. Lolesio, who was excellent from the boot in Dublin, has additionally established himself as Schmidt’s man at No. 10.
Armed with a taking part in type that’s each engaging and environment friendly, with a reliable younger chief in Harry Wilson, the Wallabies picked up the items and put within the constructing blocks of a crew that may enhance additional in 2025.
Are the Wallabies again, then?
“We simply received to maintain rolling, hold working,” Fraser McReight mentioned postmatch.
Hold rolling certainly.
Learn extra:
– RFU boss obtained £400k pay rise amid report losses, job cuts
– Watch: ESPN’s Tom Hamilton reacts to England vs. Japan
– The drive to win a Rugby World Cup three-peat binds the Springboks’ DNA
– Wallabies’ rose-tinted glasses dislodged as Grand Slam hopes shattered
