Ireland clinch series in tense finale
MATCH REPORT: Ireland secured a rare series victory over Australia after they edged the home side 20-16 in a tense third Test in Sydney on Saturday.
Ireland won. They won the match and they won the series . It was just two Tests to one, but it made a bit of history, for it was the first three-Test series between Ireland and Australia.
In 1979 Ireland won two Tests in a series in Australia but then that was a two-Test series.
This has been a great series of exciting rugby which ended after a long period of breath-holding while the referee and the TMO worked out if the final whistle should sound or if there should be a penalty to Australia.
The way the scoring went made the match exciting till Ireland led 17-16 with 25 minutes to play. The teams went back and forth, swapping attack and defence as phases developed – real, advancing phases, not tedious repetitions. And with three minutes to play, the score was still 17-16 after a period when Australia had enjoyed the advantage of possession and territory.
Then Ireland broke out, Australia were penalised and Ireland led 20-16.
Australia won the kick-off and attacked with desperation while the Irish defended with desperation. The final siren sounded and still Australia attacked but a pass went into touch.
There followed a long investigation with many replays to see if Jacob Stockdale had knocked the pass forward. The TMO conceded that there was no “clear and obvious” evidence that his hand had touched the ball, not even a finger. And so the final whistle was allowed to be blown.
It was a compliment to both teams that Allianz Stadium in Sydney had its biggest crowd ever for a sporting event – 44 085, just a few hundreds short of capacity.
Ireland also won the singing with Olé and Athenry. Australia’s biggest sound was the booing that accompanied Jonny Sexton’s penalty that took Ireland’s score to 20.
A blow for the Wallabies was losing captain Michael Hooper after 21 minutes, apparently with a hamstring injury. He is such an important player in whatever team he plays. Andrew Pocock took over the captaincy and spent much time trying to referee the match.
After 30 minutes, Ireland, too, lost their captain, Peter O’Mahony, when he ad Israel Folau leapt for the ball at a kick-off. O’Mahony crashed to ground and was taken off on a mobile stretcher while Folau went off to the sin bin.
The match was thrilling, gripping, and full of life, even though there were no tries in the first half and just two, one each, in the second half.
At half-time the score was 12-9 to Ireland, four penalty goals to three penalty goals. The scoring went, Ireland first, 3-0, 3-3, 3-6, 6-6, 9-6, 9-9 and 12-9.
Each side suffered a yellow card – Jacob Stockdale of Ireland for an elbow into the facial area of Nick Phipps as he tries to ward off Phipps’s tackle and Folau when he and O’Mahony collided in midair.
After Sexton had opened the scoring, a magnificent kick by Kurtley Beale down towards Ireland’s left corner, produced a five-metre scrum for Australia. They bashed and then settled for a Foley penalty. 3-3 after 12 minutes.
When Stockdale was off, each side scored a penalty goal and when the tough wing came back, the score 6-6. Much the same happened when Folau sat out for 10 minutes and returned at 9-all.
The scoring in the second half started with a try. Sexton kicked a long way downfield. Phipps got to the ball near his goal-line. The Irish got to Phipps and Australia were penalised. Ireland kicked out for a five-metre line-out and mauled. Australia were penalised again, and again Ireland formed a maul. This time they raced it to and over the goal-line for a try credited to CJ Stander. 17-9 after 44 minutes.
Then it was Australia’s turn to attack with five-metre line-outs from penalties. They went through 14 phases till Foley grubbered behind the defenders. Marika Koroibete ran on the bouncing ball, squeezed past two defenders and scored. That made it 17-16.
Australia had the upperhand, but Foley was just to the left with a penalty attempt.
When Ireland, defending heroically, broke out Tolu Latu was penalised at a tackle and Sexton made it 20-17.
Australia need a try in just under two minutes to win an d the end with all that drama and tension.
Man of the Match: There were Australian contenders – Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Lukhan Tui, Sekope Kepu and Brandon Paenga-Amosa – and the rest of the brave 23. For Ireland there were contenders – Jonny Sexton, Rob Kearney, James Ryan, Robbie Henshaw and Conor Murray – and the rest if the brave 23. Our choice is CJ Stander from George in the Western Cape for the heroic way he carried the ball, his heroism on defence and the way he could inspire others.
Villain of the Match: The two yellow cards seemed accidents rather than nastiness, there was a playground scuffle but by and large the players were intent on what they were doing in a sporting way, even lifting opponents off the ground. No villains, lots of heroes.
Moment of the Match: Maria Koroibete’s try as Australia found a way to break a stranglehold.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Try: Koroibete
Con: Foley
Pens: Foley 3
For Ireland:
Try: Stander
Pens: Sexton 5
Yellow cards: Jacob Stockdale (Ireland, 20 – foul play, leading with the elbow); Israel Folau (Australia, 31 – dangerous play, playing the man in the air)
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Lukhan Tui, 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 Ned Hanigan, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Joe Powell, 23 Reece Hodge.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 6 Christiaan Stander, 5 James Ryan, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 John Ryan, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jordan Larmour.
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Cam Stone (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
