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Ireland keep series alive with Melbourne win

MATCH REPORT: Six Nations champions Ireland dominated territory and possession to beat the Wallabies 26-21 and level their three-Test series in Melbourne on Saturday.

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Star flyhalf Johnny Sexton proved the difference with two conversions and four penalties as Ireland won their first Test in Australia for 39 years.

The Irish, stung 9-18 in last week’s first Test, made eight team changes and frustrated the Australians into errors to take the series to a decider in Sydney next week.

The Wallabies scored three tries to two but the world number two-ranked Irish controlled the ball at the breakdown and profited from Australia’s ill-discipline.

Ireland led 16-14 at half-time and clinched the Melbourne Test with a charging try from front-rower Tadhg Furlong in the 54th minute.

The Australians fought back with a late converted try to Taniela Tupou, but the Irish defence held firm to close out the win.

The Wallabies got off to a flying start when Bernard Foley’s inside ball put Kurtley Beale into a gap and the inside centre beat two Irish tackles to score under the crossbar in the second minute.

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But Ireland took quick advantage of wing Marika Koroibete’s yellow card for a lifting tackle when Conor Murray put wing Andrew Conway over in the right-hand corner to level the scores in the seventh minute.

Sexton kicked the Irish to a 13-7 lead with two penalties from Australian indiscretions before Koroibete returned to the field.

Sexton landed another penalty for a deliberate knockdown by Caleb Timu, with Ireland dominating territory and possession.

But the Wallabies were awarded a penalty try when a rolling maul was illegally brought down and Cian Healy was yellow-carded, reducing Ireland to 14 men.

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The Wallabies suffered a blow when scrumhalf Will Genia went off late in the first half with a right arm injury and replaced by Nick Phipps.

Sexton missed a chance to kick Ireland further ahead in the 30th minute and led 16-14 at half-time.

Ireland lost prop Healy with a knee injury shortly after the resumption, and wing Keith Earls lost the ball over the try-line.

But Furlong’s first Test try and a Sexton conversion pushed the Irish out to a 23-14 lead, which Sexton extended with a penalty in the 66th minute.

There was a late flurry by the Wallabies, with Tupou scoring after replacement front-rower Jack McGrath received a yellow card for a deliberate knock down.

Ireland were on an unbeaten run of 12 internationals until last week, but they have now ended a losing streak of 11 straight Tests against the Wallabies in Australia.

Man of the match: Tadhg Furlong was immense throughout the match. He carried the ball with great power and he did his part on defence. He also scored a crucial try.

Moment of the match: Tadhg Furlong’s try in the 53rd minute played a big part in the overall result.

Villain of the match: None

The scorers:

For Australia:
Tries: Beale, Penalty Try, Tupou
Cons: Foley 2

For Ireland:
Tries: Conway, Furlong
Cons: Sexton 2
Pens: Sexton 4

Yellow cards: Marika Koroibete (Australia, 6 – dangerous tackle); Cian Healy (Ireland, 26 – cynical play, collapsing the maul); Jack McGrath (Ireland, 76 – cynical play, deliberate knock down)

Teams:

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Caleb Timu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 David Pocock 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Lukhan Tui, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Nick Phipps, 23 Reece Hodge.

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Christiaan Stander, 7 Dan Leavy, 6 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 5 James Ryan, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 John Cooney, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Jordan Larmour.

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

AFP & @rugby365com

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