Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Ireland’s Nations Championship opener against the Wallabies.
Ciarán Kennedy here to bring you all the action as it happens. We can start with some breaking news, with confirmation that Robert Baloucoune has been ruled out with a hamstring problem.
So, with the Ulster man out, Jimmy O’Brien comes straight into Ireland’s starting XV for his 12th cap.
Kick-off in Syndey is at 11.10am Irish time.
3 hrs ago
10:39AM
Here’s the updated Ireland team with that Baloucoune/O’Brien change:
Some kick tennis to eased us into this one, before Carter Gordon sends a bomb into the Ireland half. Ireland lose the ball at the lineout, with Harry Wilson applying pressure, and the Wallabies get into the Ireland 22.
Schmidt’s men work their way up with a series of sharp passes, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Max Jorgensen both prominent, before the ball is worked wide to Dylan Pietsch, who gets his side up and running on the scoreboard. The conversion is missed.
2 hrs ago
11:18AM
6mins: Australia 5 Ireland 0
Ireland almost straight back in it as the Wallabies look shaky off the restart, with Carter Gordon knocking the ball dead, not deliberate, leading to a goal-line drop out.
The Connacht man rises to win the ball at the lineout, Ireland maul forward before breaking off. Stuart McCloskey has a hard carry, the ball is recycled, and from a stranding start Prendergast does really well to muscle his way over.
His younger brother, Sam, adds the conversions and Ireland lead.
Gordon gets his side moving with the linebreak, then it’s moved wide right again. Cian Prendergast is slow to react and Jamie Osborne gets a bit stuck and doesn’t commit as the ball is pushed out to Jock Campbell, who runs in Australia’s second. The conversion is missed again.
Quality from Ireland. Multiple Australian infringements leads to an Ireland penalty.
Sheehan taps it, and it looks as though he’s going to barrel into the waiting Wallabies defenders. Instead, he whips a quick no-look pass inside to Van der Flier, who slices through.
Really nice inventive move. This is breathless stuff! Prendergast sends the conversion wide.
The Wallabies slice Ireland open again and look certain to score, only for Keenan to get back with a brilliant cover on Lonergan.
It only stops the bleeding momentarily. Australia keep possession and keep the pressure on, with lock Josh Canham getting over for the home side’s third.
Prendergast’s pass to Keenan is picked off by Jorgensen and the Wallabies are away. McCloskey chases back hard – think Marcus Smith in Twickenham – but this time doesn’t get back in time as Jorgensen gets the offload inside to Longergan. Conversion is good.
Australia have the bonus point and with less than 30 minutes played Ireland trail by 12.
2 hrs ago
11:47AM
34mins: Australia 24 Ireland 12
Ireland try to build some phases but they are under intense pressure from the Wallabies, who look so sharp in defence. Ireland eventually turn the ball over through a knock-on and there’s a lot of frustrated/confused looking faces in green jerseys, not happy with how Aukuso-Sua’ali’i came into the ruck.
Lonergan is off to get a blood injury cleaned up, Tate McDermott is in.
2 hrs ago
11:50AM
37mins: Australia 24 Ireland 12
Ireland lose another lineout, and Australia are back on the front foot. Ryan shoots out as the Wallabies break through, and Sua’ali’i is tearing for the line – only to be denied by another superb tackle by Keenan.
2 hrs ago
11:53AM
TRY! Australia 24 Ireland 17 (Gibson-Park)
1 hr ago
11:55AM
40mins: Australia 24 Ireland 19
Just superb from Ireland, who look to play off scrum in their own half with the clock in the red. Brilliant, quick hands get Ireland up the pitch and through the Wallabies – Prendergast wide, Furlong out the back – and it ends with Gibson-Park cutting through to score. Wonderful, ambitious play and it’s a five-point game at the break. Phew!
1 hr ago
12:09PM
The second half has just kicked off.
1 hr ago
12:14PM
44mins: Australia 24 Ireland 19
McCloskey makes a great break, all power and pace.
Ireland then win a lineout and move the ball across the pitch, Gibson-Park nudges a kick through but it’s not his best and the Wallabies deal with it easily.
There’s an infringement on James Ryan in the air at the lineout, so Ireland get to kick to the corner. Cian Prenderast wins it at the front under pressure but the ball is lost somewhere along the way and Australia are pinged again.
Ireland go for the tap-and-go, and try the Sheehan-Van der Flier link again. This time the home side deal with it, but Ireland keep possession and with patient play, Gibson-Park sends Keenan through a gap to score. Prendergast converts and Ireland lead by two.
1 hr ago
12:23PM
52mins: Australia 24 Ireland 26
Andy Farrell is going to his bench.
Tom Clarkson, Jeremy Loughman, Tadhg Beirne and Nick Timoney are in.
Tadhg Furlong, Tom O’Toole, Cian Prendergast and Josh van der Flier are off.
First job for the new forwards will be an Australian scrum.
Beirne making his presence felt at the lineout already. His second win in the air sets up and Irish maul with Ryan and McCarthy pumping their legs before Sheehan bursts through. Prendergast converts and Ireland lead by two again.
1 hr ago
12:34PM
Oh hang on, TMO check…
It’s James Ryan, who breaks off the maul and comes into slight contact with Rob Valetini, stopping a potential tackler.
No try.
Sheehan isn’t happy, claiming there’s three potential penalties against Australia before Ryan breaks off.
1 hr ago
12:36PM
Loughman has taken a nasty bang to the head, colliding with Valetini’s knee. That will be the end of his game, with the Munster prop currently down receiving treatment on the pitch.
1 hr ago
12:37PM
Ciarán Frawley and Craig Casey are on for Jamie Osborne and Garry Ringrose.
Thankfully, Loughman is back on his feet but his game is done, so Tom O’Toole is back on.
1 hr ago
12:46PM
69mins: Australia 31 Ireland 26
Under pressure, James Ryan knock-on a high Gibson-Park pass in front of the posts. Australia then win a scrum penalty. Big moment.
1 hr ago
12:49PM
72mins: Australia 31 Ireland 26
Jimmy O’Brien pinged for obstruction, but I’m not sure he knew a whole lot about it. Wallabies call for the kick but send it wide.
59 mins ago
12:55PM
76mins: Australia 31 Ireland 26
Prendergast kicks to the corner, McCarthy wins the lineout.
Ireland then move the ball across the pitch and back again, with penalty advantage all the way. When the move eventually breaks down Ireland decide to go for the tap-and-go.
Big, big moment.
Kelleher makes the first drive, the ball is then moved inside but spilled off McCloskey’s pass to Aki.
McDermott is sent to the bin and Ireland will have another shot.
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As it happened: Australia 31 Ireland 33, Nations Championship
LAST UPDATE | 59 mins ago
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Ireland’s Nations Championship opener against the Wallabies.
Ciarán Kennedy here to bring you all the action as it happens. We can start with some breaking news, with confirmation that Robert Baloucoune has been ruled out with a hamstring problem.
So, with the Ulster man out, Jimmy O’Brien comes straight into Ireland’s starting XV for his 12th cap.
Kick-off in Syndey is at 11.10am Irish time.
Here’s the updated Ireland team with that Baloucoune/O’Brien change:
Ireland (v Australia):
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Jimmy O’Brien
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jamie Osborne
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Tom O’Toole
2. Dan Sheehan (captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. James Ryan
6. Cian Prendergast
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher
17. Jeremy Loughman
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Tadhg Beirne
20. Nick Timoney
21. Craig Casey
22. Ciaran Frawley
23. Bundee Aki
And here’s a reminder of how Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies line up:
Five minute to kick-off, the teams are heading out for the anthems now. Let us know your predictions in the comments.
Bit of a timing issue with the Ireland anthem. Tadhg Furlong seems to be enjoying it anyway.
KICK-OFF
TRY! Australia 5 (Pietsch) Ireland 0
4mins: Australia 0 Ireland 0
What a start for the home side!
Some kick tennis to eased us into this one, before Carter Gordon sends a bomb into the Ireland half. Ireland lose the ball at the lineout, with Harry Wilson applying pressure, and the Wallabies get into the Ireland 22.
Schmidt’s men work their way up with a series of sharp passes, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Max Jorgensen both prominent, before the ball is worked wide to Dylan Pietsch, who gets his side up and running on the scoreboard. The conversion is missed.
6mins: Australia 5 Ireland 0
Ireland almost straight back in it as the Wallabies look shaky off the restart, with Carter Gordon knocking the ball dead, not deliberate, leading to a goal-line drop out.
TRY! Australia 5 Ireland 5 (Cian Prendergast)
12mins: Australia 5 Ireland 7
Ireland hit back through Cian Prendergast.
The Connacht man rises to win the ball at the lineout, Ireland maul forward before breaking off. Stuart McCloskey has a hard carry, the ball is recycled, and from a stranding start Prendergast does really well to muscle his way over.
His younger brother, Sam, adds the conversions and Ireland lead.
TRY! Australia 10 (Campbell) Ireland 7
15mins: Australia 10 Ireland 7
We have a game on our hands here.
Gordon gets his side moving with the linebreak, then it’s moved wide right again. Cian Prendergast is slow to react and Jamie Osborne gets a bit stuck and doesn’t commit as the ball is pushed out to Jock Campbell, who runs in Australia’s second. The conversion is missed again.
TRY! Australia 10 Ireland 12 (Van der Flier)
20mins: Australia 10 Ireland 12
Quality from Ireland. Multiple Australian infringements leads to an Ireland penalty.
Sheehan taps it, and it looks as though he’s going to barrel into the waiting Wallabies defenders. Instead, he whips a quick no-look pass inside to Van der Flier, who slices through.
Really nice inventive move. This is breathless stuff! Prendergast sends the conversion wide.
TRY! Australia 15 (Canham) Ireland 12
25mins: Australia 17 Ireland 12
The Wallabies slice Ireland open again and look certain to score, only for Keenan to get back with a brilliant cover on Lonergan.
It only stops the bleeding momentarily. Australia keep possession and keep the pressure on, with lock Josh Canham getting over for the home side’s third.
Gordon converts.
TRY! Australia 22 (Lonergan) Ireland 12
27mins: Australia 24 Ireland 12
Prendergast’s pass to Keenan is picked off by Jorgensen and the Wallabies are away. McCloskey chases back hard – think Marcus Smith in Twickenham – but this time doesn’t get back in time as Jorgensen gets the offload inside to Longergan. Conversion is good.
Australia have the bonus point and with less than 30 minutes played Ireland trail by 12.
34mins: Australia 24 Ireland 12
Ireland try to build some phases but they are under intense pressure from the Wallabies, who look so sharp in defence. Ireland eventually turn the ball over through a knock-on and there’s a lot of frustrated/confused looking faces in green jerseys, not happy with how Aukuso-Sua’ali’i came into the ruck.
Lonergan is off to get a blood injury cleaned up, Tate McDermott is in.
37mins: Australia 24 Ireland 12
Ireland lose another lineout, and Australia are back on the front foot. Ryan shoots out as the Wallabies break through, and Sua’ali’i is tearing for the line – only to be denied by another superb tackle by Keenan.
TRY! Australia 24 Ireland 17 (Gibson-Park)
40mins: Australia 24 Ireland 19
Just superb from Ireland, who look to play off scrum in their own half with the clock in the red. Brilliant, quick hands get Ireland up the pitch and through the Wallabies – Prendergast wide, Furlong out the back – and it ends with Gibson-Park cutting through to score. Wonderful, ambitious play and it’s a five-point game at the break. Phew!
The second half has just kicked off.
44mins: Australia 24 Ireland 19
McCloskey makes a great break, all power and pace.
Ireland then win a lineout and move the ball across the pitch, Gibson-Park nudges a kick through but it’s not his best and the Wallabies deal with it easily.
TRY! Australia 24 Ireland 24 (Keenan)
47mins: Australia 24 Ireland 26
There’s an infringement on James Ryan in the air at the lineout, so Ireland get to kick to the corner. Cian Prenderast wins it at the front under pressure but the ball is lost somewhere along the way and Australia are pinged again.
Ireland go for the tap-and-go, and try the Sheehan-Van der Flier link again. This time the home side deal with it, but Ireland keep possession and with patient play, Gibson-Park sends Keenan through a gap to score. Prendergast converts and Ireland lead by two.
52mins: Australia 24 Ireland 26
Andy Farrell is going to his bench.
Tom Clarkson, Jeremy Loughman, Tadhg Beirne and Nick Timoney are in.
Tadhg Furlong, Tom O’Toole, Cian Prendergast and Josh van der Flier are off.
First job for the new forwards will be an Australian scrum.
TRY! Australia 29 (McDermott) Ireland 26
54mins: Australia 31 Ireland 26
Australia win a penalty at the scrum, McDermott takes it quick and wriggles his way though a sea of Irish jerseys to score.
Gordon converts and the lead has swung again.
57mins: Australia 31 Ireland 26
The Wallabies pinch a third Irish lineout, from Sheehan aimed at Ryan.
TRY! Australia 31 Ireland 31 (Sheehan)
59mins: Australia 31 Ireland 33
Beirne making his presence felt at the lineout already. His second win in the air sets up and Irish maul with Ryan and McCarthy pumping their legs before Sheehan bursts through. Prendergast converts and Ireland lead by two again.
Oh hang on, TMO check…
It’s James Ryan, who breaks off the maul and comes into slight contact with Rob Valetini, stopping a potential tackler.
No try.
Sheehan isn’t happy, claiming there’s three potential penalties against Australia before Ryan breaks off.
Loughman has taken a nasty bang to the head, colliding with Valetini’s knee. That will be the end of his game, with the Munster prop currently down receiving treatment on the pitch.
Ciarán Frawley and Craig Casey are on for Jamie Osborne and Garry Ringrose.
Thankfully, Loughman is back on his feet but his game is done, so Tom O’Toole is back on.
69mins: Australia 31 Ireland 26
Under pressure, James Ryan knock-on a high Gibson-Park pass in front of the posts. Australia then win a scrum penalty. Big moment.
72mins: Australia 31 Ireland 26
Jimmy O’Brien pinged for obstruction, but I’m not sure he knew a whole lot about it. Wallabies call for the kick but send it wide.
76mins: Australia 31 Ireland 26
Prendergast kicks to the corner, McCarthy wins the lineout.
Ireland then move the ball across the pitch and back again, with penalty advantage all the way. When the move eventually breaks down Ireland decide to go for the tap-and-go.
Big, big moment.
Kelleher makes the first drive, the ball is then moved inside but spilled off McCloskey’s pass to Aki.
McDermott is sent to the bin and Ireland will have another shot.
TRY! Australia 31 Ireland 31 (Clarkson)
78mins: Australia 31 Ireland 33
And there it is! Clarkson picking and going to get Ireland over at the second attempt.
Pressure kick for Prendergast, he nails it, and Ireland lead!
Aki is penalised and an Australian penalty will be the last action of the game.
Donaldson calls for the tee.
Huge, tough kick from a wide position.
He’s missed it! Ireland win!
FULL TIME: Australia 31 Ireland 33
Wow, what a game. Somehow, Ireland come out on top after a thriller in Sydney.
Thanks for joining our live coverage, we’ll have reaction from Murray Kinsella on the ground at the stadium on The 42 shortly.
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