Ireland prevail over Australia after improved second half showing

IRELAND made it three wins from four in the Autumn Nations Series after securing a hard fought 22-19 victory over Joe Schmidt's Australia side at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

An improved second half showing proved crucial in Ireland's success as the home side equalled their longest-ever winning run against the Wallabies, which also saw them win four games in a row between 1958 and 1968.

Ireland have now won five out of the last six matches between these two sides.

The last four fixtures between Ireland and Australia in Dublin have all been decided by a three-point margin, with Australia's last away win against Ireland in 2013.

Gus McCarthy’s late try helped the hosts narrowly come out on top against former head coach Schmidt in an engrossing encounter marking the 150th anniversary of Irish rugby.

Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris also crossed for Ireland on a landmark afternoon when Cian Healy moved ahead of Brian O’Driscoll as the country’s outright most-capped player.

Australia threatened to spoil the party and led for the majority of the match thanks to Max Jorgensen’s score and four penalties and a conversion from fly-half Noah Lolesio.

But replacement hooker McCarthy touched down in the 73rd minute to ensure Ireland end an inconsistent autumn

The Ireland starting line-up included just one Munster player, Tadhg Beirne, who lined out in the back-row. However, flanker Peter O'Mahony, scrum-half Craig Casey and out-half Jack Crowley made handsome contributions to the home victory when introduced from the substitutes' bench in the second period.

In ideal playing conditions, Australia hit the front in the ninth minute when out-half Noah Lolesio kicked the visitors in front from a penalty goal after Ireland second row Joe McCarthy was penalised.

Joe Schmidt's Australia side then increased their advantage at the of the first quarter when, with the match referee playing an advantage to the Wallabies, winger Max Jorgensen dotted down in the left corner. Out-half Lolesio also added the extras for a 10-0 advantage.

Ireland needed to respond quickly and to their credit the home side did so and in some style in the 24th minute

Ireland went off the top from the lineout and a powerful carry from captain Doris brings them deep inside the Wallabies '22

Winger Mack Hansen continued the attack, and with Ireland earning a penalty advantage, scrum-half Gibson-Park played a short ball to flanker Van der Flier who powered over from close range.

Prendergast was off target with his poorly struck conversion attempt.

The see-saw nature of the scoring continued as Lolesio kicked a second penalty for the visitors on the half hour mark to put them two scores ahead at 13-5.

That was the way the score remained until full-time as Ireland continued to hinder their prospects with a large number of unforced errors.

Ireland opened the second half brightly and Prendergast cut into the Wallabies lead with a 42nd minute penalty which was kicked from 40 metres out.

The home side then hit the front with an excellent converted try in the 50th minute.

Ireland opted to kick to the corner off a penalty award. Winning clean possession from the line-out, James Lowe linked up with Henshaw who was stopped short of the tryline.

The ball was quickly recycled by the home side and Gibson Park found captain Caelan Doris, who dived under the posts to score.

Prendergast's straight forward conversion had Ireland 15-13 to the good.

However, the lead was short-lived as Lolesio converted a 55th minute penalty after Tom O'Toole was penalised for not releasing after the tackle.

Munster flanker Peter O'Mahony received a huge ovation from the full house attendance as he was introduced as a replacement near the end of the third quarter.

Ireland then fell further behind in the 63rd minute when Lolesio kicked his fourth penalty of the game, this time from close to the half-way line as Joe Schmidt's side's advantage was pushed out to four points at 19-15.

The Munster half-back pairing of Craig Casey and Jack Crowley was then sprung from the substitutes' bench with 15 minutes remaining and Ireland looked to hit back in their final fixture of the Autumn Nations Series for this season.

History-maker Cian Healy, whose sons Beau and Russell were among the matchday mascots, came on for his 134th international appearance in the 67th minute, with O’Driscoll among those applauding from the stands.

Fellow front-row replacement McCarthy saved the day seven minutes from time when striking for a precious try to deny Schmidt a winning return to Dublin, with Jack Crowley adding the extras.

SCORERS: Ireland: Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Gus McCarthy try each, Sam Prendergast two pens, con, Jack Crowley con. Australia: Max Jorgensen try, Noah Lolesio four pens, con. 

IRELAND: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki; James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt). Replacements: Tom O'Toole for Bealham, Ian Henderson for McCarthy, Peter O'Mahony for Ryan (all 53 mins), Gary Ringrose for Aki (55 mins), Jack Crowley for Prendergast, Craig Casey for Gibson-Park (66 mins), Gus McCarthy for Kelleher, Cian Healy for Porter (both 67 mins).

AUSTRALIA: Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt) Replacements: Allan Alaalatoa for Tupou (46 mins), Isaac Kailea for Slipper (50 mins), Billy Pollard for Paenga-Amosa (56 mins), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto for Williams (59 mins), Tate McDermott for Gordon (61 mins), Tane Edmed for Lolesio (73-77 mins), Langi Gleeson for Valetini (73 mins), Harry Potter for Kellaway (78 mins).

REFEREE: Andrea Piardi (ITA)