Here’s the report from the game...
Summary
So a dramatic finish to a remarkable game of rugby - one fiercely contested by both sides - as in fact all three matches of this series have been.
It was to be seen whether game three would see the impressive running rugby from the Wallabies in game one triumph over the formidable Irish defence that won game two. Folau showed glimpses of his aerial presence early on as Australia kicked short from the restarts, but the fullback was sent to the side for a yellow card challenge that saw captain O’Mahony injured.
Stockdale too saw a contentious yellow card for a raised forearm, but the Irish showed their tremendous will by outscoring the Australians during that period in which they were down a man.
The first half was the battle of the boots - where despite a miss from long range from Murray the Irish emerged narrowly on top.
Things began to open up in the second half and it was set for a barnstorming finish before Foley missed a crucial kick to put Australia in front with fifteen to go.
The Irish defence stood, as it has so often across the series, resolute. And despite late drama with the TMO, were probably good value for their win.
A terrific June Test series, and a great win for the Six Nations champions who end this remarkable year on a high.
Peter O’Mahony is handed the series trophy - he offers some gracious words as his teammates wait to raise the Lansdowne Cup. It’s a tickertape of emerald green as the players celebrate!
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What a remarkable end to one of the most tightly contested June Test series we’ve seen in a while!
There’s been plenty of noise about TMOs in recent weeks; will this decision add to the rumbling discontent?
Irish fans won’t complain; but I’m sure we’ll hear something from Michael Cheika on this one post-game.
In real-time was there a slight deviation on Foley’s pass after it moved past the Irish winger?
That’s immaterial now, and in truth, the win was in Australia’s hands but for Foley’s late penalty miss.
What. Scenes.
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Full-time: Australia 16-20 Ireland
80 min: Wowee. What high drama here!
The TMO has adjudicated that he lacked clear evidence of a touch from Stockdale; given the siren had sounded just seconds before, it’s full-time.
Game over! Series over! The Irish have done it - they claim a first series win on Australian soil since 1979!
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80 min: We’re back to the TMO, has Stockdale got the slightest of fingertips on that Foley pass? Was it a deliberate knockdown?!
We got upstairs, and the images are hard to judge whether or not the young winger has touched it. Huge drama and what a big moment here.
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Penalty! Australia 16-20 Ireland
78 min: No mistake from Sexton and the Wallabies will need something very special from here!
They’re ball in hand here, Australia about 30m out and they’re making strong metres. Simmons with the one-out run, they’re just 15m out and the final siren sounds.
Foley forces a pass and but it goes behind the runners! Ball into touch, is that it? Is it over?
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77 min: Ireland win the throw from the replacement hooker Herring, and a huge moment! Latu is penalised for not releasing; and it’s not gone over well with the home crowd. Adjudged to have not been supporting his own weight, but gee, that was tough wasn’t it?
75 min: Australia win the lineout and spread wide. Folau finds some metres in the middle of the pitch, but support doesn’t arrive in time and the Wallabies concede huge metres with a loose ball. They’re back to their 22 and Beale is forced to bomb an effort high.
Ireland look to bring it out and Folau is penalised. Under four minutes to play, and we’ve just one point in this one!
73 min: We pack down for the scrum right on halfway. Decent push from Australia but Ireland spread it wide. We break once again as Sexton receives some treatment. Huge hit on the playmaker by Kerevi, as Hodge does well to drag Larmour into touch.
71 min: More interchanges as we break for an Australian lineout. Simmons wins the feed but they’re forced back once again by some fierce Irish defence. And the baby-faced Powell concedes a turnover for a forward pass! A tight call that, and Michael Cheika in the coach’s box is absolutely raging. Drinks fly everywhere as he bangs the table!
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69 min: Ireland scamper shortside and Larmour makes some good metres, they’re back to the halfway line - it’s becoming slightly more open after defences being on top for so long in this match.
But Powell nabs in intercept! And Australia get it back. Very end-to-end all of a sudden, as Ireland win a turnover one or two phases later.
67 min: Australia with it and a decent break by Kerevi, he almost busts clear but the covering Irish defence prevents him offloading to Folau. But it’s an average ball back to Foley and he knocks on!
Not his best few minutes in international rugby, scrum to Ireland.
65 min: And he’s missed it! It drifts right across the face of the posts.
The local commentators really built up what a crucial kick that was and how much Foley loves the big moments, but he’s duffed that. Huge let off, Ireland!
62 min: The Wallabies scrum resists the big push from Ireland. Tupou endures a huge amount of pressure, before the Australian pack counterpunches and earns the penalty.
They win the lineout and spread wide. Folau joins the backline move before Koroibete goes on a dancing run in-field. They’re inside the 22. 8th phase Simmons picks and drives. Powell goes on a solo run and is absolutely monstered by Furlong. A bear hug and he envelopes the scrum-half!
But we come back for a penalty against Henshaw. And this time the Wallabies opt for the kick at the sticks.
60 min: Australia with it around halfway after Murray’s box kick. Foley kicks down the middle but it’s Larmour, freshly on for Kearney who brings it back at pace.
Tui with a huge hit on Aki, and we’ve another break in play as both sides freshen their packs. Powell on for Phipps amongst many other changes, and it’s the new man who feeds a Wallabies scrum.
58 min: Tupoa fresh onto the field with a terrific bash and carry, and the Wallabies probe the fringes once more. They swing right, but Kerevi just puts a foot in touch! What a let off!
He was isolated and the Irish defence swarmed. Scrum to the visitors.
57 min: Ireland restart and what a big moment we have here! Latu with a huge tackle on Kearney and Australia earn the penalty. They kick for touch and now they’ve got the chance to build more momentum.
Try! Australia 16-17 Ireland
55 min: Terrific kick in behind from Foley. The Irish defence rushes up and the fly half rolls it in. Koroibete regathers and does brilliantly to shake of Kearney. Sexton with the covering tackle, but he can’t prevent the winger from crossing!
No mistake from Foley with the conversion, and we’re back to a one-point game.
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53 min: Excellent lineout defence once again from the Irish who force Australia backwards. They’re around the 22m now.
This is remarkable, a few phases later and Australia are back around 40m out - every time they spread it, they lose metres!
They spin to probe down their left, and Foley kicks crossfield. Has he found Koroibete?
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51 min: Australia with it centrally, as they build the phases. The crowd come to life, the Wallabies are about 5m short. Phipps with a big cutout pass, Foley bats on towards Folau.. but he can’t regather!
Murray pinged for offside and it’s a penalty to Australia. They kick to touch once again. Offensive lineout to come.
49 min: Big push from Australia as the scrum is set down. It collapses however and we reset.
The scrum pivots sharply, and it’s a penalty to Australia. Curiously, they kick for touch rather than taking the three! Brave, or foolish? We’ll find out shortly.
47 min: Australia on the attack now after a quick penalty shortly after the restart.
Deary me, just as they look to build some positive momentum the Wallabies have been their own undoing. Foley with the knock on, and they squander the opportunity.
Try! Australia 9-17 Ireland (Stander)
44 min: Ireland kick to touch once more, they win a big throw at position number six and the forwards get the pack moving. CJ Stander at the back and he gets it down cleanly!
Sexton with the conversion attempt; but he’s missed it! Again not the most difficult chance; Ireland fans will hope that doesn’t come to haunt the visitors.
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43 min: The Wallabies withhold the initial push, and Ireland get within a metre of the line before Australia are penalised for collapsing the maul.
We’ve got an injury break, while Coleman is down with a potential thigh/knee injury.
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42 min: We’ve got another break for the TMO as the referees look to see if Coleman has infringed with an illegal clean out.
Penalty to Ireland, and this time they kick for touch. Big chance for an offensive lineout. Will we see the first try of the game?
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Second-half: Australia 9-12 Ireland
40 min: And no time to read the tea-leaves of that first forty, as we’re back underway here in Sydney! Ireland kick off, Australia look to get out of their own half.
And if you missed the earlier Test result from across the ditch, it’s been more misery for the French who finish their trip to New Zealand in disappointing fashion, on the end of another lopsided scoreline, but one sadly not without a touch of controversy once more.
So, your impressions on that opening stanza? And those two yellow cards? Were either of them rightly deserved?
I can’t tell if we have a ‘proactive’ referee here today, or maybe both sides have just been showing some indiscipline?
Half-time: Australia 9-12 Ireland
Nicely struck, and that’s bisected the posts perfectly.
So! That’s the first 40. Some trademark tough defence from the Irish; I don’t know that the Wallabies fashioned a single line break in that whole half.
We go into the sheds, 21 points scored, all from the boot.
Penalty! Australia 9-9 Ireland
39 min: Foley strikes it cleanly, and we’re all square once again. Folau itches on the sideline; he’s got about 30 seconds left to wait.
Ireland kick deep from the restart, and with four seconds left we’ve got time for you guessed it, one more penalty!
Haylett-Petty spills the highball and it falls forward to a teammate; so we’ve got a penalty to Ireland. Smart quick and short kickoff from Sexton to earn the infringement, can he make it count? 35m out - dead in front.
36 min: Australia restart and after a few phases Murray opts for the box kick. The Wallabies win their lineout and get a decent drive moving.
Penalty to Australia, Scannell pinged for joining the maul incorrectly. It’s been stop-start, there’s no doubt of that.
The Wallabies kick for touch, and take the lineout about 10m out. A strong defensive push from Ireland so Australia looks to spread it. They’re pushed back to the 22, but it’s another penalty, this time for offside and Foley points to the sticks.
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Penalty! Australia 6-9 Ireland
34 min: No mistake. Bad news from the bench as O’Mahony fails his concussion check, and now both sides are without their starting captains!
Sexton and Pocock become the new leaders on the field.
33 min: Anyway, back to the action, and now it’s Australia who are down a man.
Ireland build and build, and they lay siege to the Wallabies’ line. Murray looks to squirm over from about a metre out; did he get a bit of the post with the ball there?
No, say the men upstairs, so we come back for a penalty against Coleman for offside.
Just me or have we seen a few penalties early on? Ireland opt for the shot at goal.
30 min: And we’ve got a penalty and a yellow card for Folau!
Another tough call here, and the crowd aren’t happy. Nor are the commentators (albeit their neutrality could be questioned).
O’Mahony was being lifted, Folau was adjudged to have been contesting fairly initially, but then made contact in the air with the Irish skipper, who landed heavily on his back.
Bad news for the Irish captain too, who leaves the field on a medicab. An awful end to his landmark 50th appearance.
Penalty! Australia 6-6 Ireland
30 min: Apologies, it’s Sexton who takes that one, from shorter range. No mistake.
Again Australia go short, and again it’s Folau who rises well. He makes contact with O’Mahony in the air and it’s a nasty landing for the skipper. The TMO takes a closer look.
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28 min: Ireland on the attack, once again. Is this the side with the man disadvantage? Penalty advantage once again, as Samu is penalised for a tackle without the ball.
And Murray should make a better fist of this one. Dead in front from about 20m out.
26 min: Some good work from Ireland, they build the phases relentlessly, the crowd comes to life as they’re pulled down about 5m out. But after 17 phases, they’ve coughed it up, just on the try line!
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24 min: Ooh, and Murray misses the penalty attempt!
A curious kick that, he seemed to really get under it, and it’s drifted past the left upright. Very gettable from the scrum-half, that.
Penalty! Australia 6-3 Ireland
Aand.. close, but just inside the post! It floated agonisingly near to the right upright, but Foley adds the three.
Sexton restarts, and Australia claim around their 22. They boot it down the guts and Ireland regather on around the halfway line.
Penalty Ireland, Kepu caught for not rolling away. And that looked pretty tough as well! The break in play will see no complaints from the Irish as they await Stockdale’s return.
21 min: Our French referee isn’t too happy with what he’s seen. And Stockdale gets a yellow card!
Gee. That seemed a bit stiff, no? I mean he appeared to connect with the face, but was it necessarily malicious? A penalty might have sufficed. Tough one for the visitors.
What can the Australians make of their one-man advantage?
19 min: No problems this time.
Ireland struggle to get out initially, but it’s a great crossfield kick that gets them moving. Earls regathers but they’re penalised once more, the Irish.
There’s a few bodies down here, and a few video moments to examine. Kearney is injured in backplay, and Stockdale appears to have caught Phipps with a forearm. We break for a TMO examination.
16 min: Ireland get half a drive moving from the scrum, nice forward strength from the visitors, but would you believe it - Pocock’s poached another one!
He’s something else, isn’t he? Beale kicks for touch from the following regather and they’ve moved Ireland all the way back to their own 22. A pressure throw for the late call-up, Scannell.
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14 min: It’s not a clean gather, but the Irish do win the lineout. Toner with a bullocking run but he’s well met by Pocock.
Henshaw finds half a hole and moves within about 10m of the line. And just as the Irish look to really mount an attack here it’s Pocock showing his trademark thigh-strength, and we’ve a turnover!
Not good news for Australian fans though, as the Wallabies skipper Hooper makes for the sideline. Might be a hamstring injury? Huge blow. Pete Samu enters the fray in his place.
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Penalty! Australia 3-3 Ireland
And we’re level once more.
Hooper regathers a deep kickoff inside his 22 and makes some decent metres. Beale kicks for touch, and finds it about 10m shy of halfway.
11 min: Australia push from the scrum, they get within about 2m but are rebuffed. Pocock loses the ball off a inside pass from Phipps, but the referee pulls it back for an earlier offside indiscretion.
Now it’s Foley with the chance to level from just to the right of the posts.
Penalty! Australia 0-3 Ireland
8 min: Well, they’ve had 30% position across the first eight minutes but it’s the visitors who draw first blood. Wasn’t the prettiest off the boot, but it got there from Sexton.
An error by Kearney on the restart however, Beale’s kick is regathered by Ireland’s No15 just in the field of play, but he steps on the line in-goal, and it’s a 5m scrum for the Wallabies!
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6 min: Deary me, not sure if that was a set play but Scannell’s only found Coleman with the throw. Australia turn it over however and now it’s the big second rower who’s penalised for not rolling away.
Ireland will look to take the points, Sexton lines up the kick from about 40m out.
5 min: Good metres here by the Irish, but we’ve come back for an infringement. Kepu is penalised for a late hit on Sexton, and Ireland kick for touch.
Good position here, they have an offensive lineout around the 22m line.
3 min: Australia build the phases, but without necessarily a lot of penetration. Eight phases in and they’re more or less still 40m out.
Foley tries a chip and chase but the Irish defence beats Folau to the contest. Kearney anticipates and claims, good work from the veteran fullback.
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2 min: Ach, a disappointing start for the late replacement hooker, as Scannell is pinged for a lineout throw that’s deemed not straight.
Australia pack a scrum about 40m out from the Irish line.
Kick off!
1 min: Bernard Foley gets us underway, and an early omen perhaps as Folau rises high to win the short kickoff. The Wallabies spread it wide, with Koroibete running out of room on the right-hand touchline.
Great defence from the skipper O’Mahony, who wins the turnover, early pressure released.
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A lovely welcome to country, to Cadigal/Gadigal land, and Damien Leith (remember him?!) offers a stirring rendition of Ireland’s Call. Idol winner from 2006 Wikipedia tells me, wow does time fly.
The anthem is impeccably observed - plenty of green shirts in the crowd in Sydney, not surprisingly. And so too is the home anthem, sung by Prinnie Stevens. I love it when they go up the octave at the end. I also love it when they hit the note too, but hey beggars can’t be choosers.
And without further ado, here we go!
A pre-game musing from John McEnerney:
@rrjparkin Ireland’s big opportunity to show the world we’re serious contenders, 2 win a series a down under is a serious marker 2 lay down at the end of a grueling season. Sexton 2 run the show again he’s some buachaill(boy in Irish). Close 1 again but the green machine 2 win it
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) June 23, 2018
Some might argue the bigger statement has already been made in the Six Nations, especially given England’s emphatic June series down under (and subsequent demise); but it’s a good shout on the importance of the result in the context of a long season. If Ireland do go down tonight, freshness may very well be a key factor.
We’ve got our teams heading out onto the field - kickoff won’t be too far away!
A nice moment pre-game, with Australia’s Rugby Sevens captain James Stannard receiving a lovely acknowledgement to his services to the game.
As you might recall he recently announced his retirement following a ‘coward punch’ attack that sadly ended his career ahead of next month’s World Cup.
Nice to see him able to share this moment with his family, by the look of it he’s got Dad’s noggin.
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Here’s what the two coaches had to say pre-game, as reported by Paul Rees:
Michael Cheika:
“We have been looking at a few different things for sure. We can counter their blocking and everything like that with better kicks and a few different things they are not ready for.
“Everything will be on the line. We will be less conservative than we were in the first two matches. It is a grand final and you can’t win it without scoring tries and playing footy. Ireland did well last week to stop us doing that and we are intent on opening up this week.”
Joe Schmidt:
“Guys have every right to come back directly onside and we just worked a bit harder getting back.” (on shutting down Folau)
“You know when Israel wins the ball you have to get someone in behind it. Australia will have the same urgency: it is part of the intensity of a Test match.”
And scarcely have I fired out the team news and we’re got an erratum (sic?) to update.
Cronin is a late scratching; Scannell comes in to replace him.
Update. @SeanCronin2 ruled out of the final test match. @N_Scannell222 starts with @robert_herring2 on the bench. #AUSvIRL #TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/kHIDWxmPv4
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 23, 2018
First things first; some team news.
Australia:
As mentioned in the Preamble, the biggest change for the Wallabies is the loss of Will Genia, and subsequent starting berth for Nick Phipps.
#BREAKING l #Wallabies team to face @IrishRugby in the decider of the Mitsubishi Estate Ireland Series at @AllianzStadium.
— Qantas Wallabies (@qantaswallabies) June 21, 2018
TEAM: https://t.co/vfYr5oUlD1#AUSvIRL #GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/wv5e9RO3Nf
Lukhan Tui is the other new face, coming in at No6 which sees David Pocock shuffle across the backline, and Caleb Timu drop out of the squad all together. There’s no start for Taniela Tupou whose had a strong influence off the bench in games one and two, but he’ll start from the pine once more, where Michael Cheika has again named a 6-2 bench.
Ireland:
Injuries have forced Joe Schmidt to shuffle a little more than perhaps he would have liked, with Dan Leavy, Garry Ringrose and Andrew Conway all in the treatment room.
Here’s your Ireland team for the series decider #AUSvIRL on Saturday. #TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/aXOTQjLo0V
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 21, 2018
In their stead comes Jack Conan at No8, with Bundee Aki in the centres after shaking off an ankle niggle and Jacob Stockdale back on the wing. Not too shabby a replacement given the season he’s had, with the 22-year-old telling media he’s worked hard on his aerial defence after missing game two.
There’s a rare start for Sean Cronin (53 of his 62 caps have come off the bench) who will look to make amends for his game two axing, with Jack McGrath also returning to the front row to mark his 100th Test.
So five changes in all; less than the eight we saw for game two with Joe Schmidt still tinkering with his squad with the forthcoming World Cup presumably in mind.
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Hi all! I hope this finds you well from wherever around the world you’re following this coverage.
Remarkably it’s the first ever time Australia and Ireland have engaged in a three-Test series, so perhaps that adds extra bragging rights tonight.
I’m Richard Parkin, your host for the evening, and if you incidentally would like to earn bragging rights of your own, don’t forget to join our live coverage by sending through your best stats, quips or general feel-pinions. Via email (richard.parkin.casual@theguardian.com) or twitter (@rrjparkin) or feel free to just comment below-the-line. Imagine this blog as one big happy train ride, rather dry if you’re all just looking at your phones, and exponentially better when the carriage is rocking with sea shanties. Join in!
Preamble
Game three and a series decider - in what seems one of the more finely-poised June Test battles in recent years.
Australia may have excelled in the air in game one to win 18-9 but led by Peter O’Mahony and Tadhg Furlong the Irish greatly neutralised the attacking potency of Israel Folau and muscled up to win 21-26 in game two.
So now to Sydney, where the home side have remarkably failed to win in over three years. The news that halfback Will Genia had suffered a broken arm during game two is certainly one of the bigger challenges facing the hosts; how well will notorious ‘shoe thrower’ Nick Phipps perform in his stead?
Both sides have made additional changes (which we’ll get to in a moment) but perhaps more important than personnel will be the broader tactics employed? Will Australia return to a more free-flowing style as seen from the series opener, or can Ireland maintain the ferocious muscularity demonstrated in game two? We’ll find out soon enough, so pop the kettle on, crack open the soya snacks and don’t miss a beat here.
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