R33F
20-11-2006, 02:39 PM
http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/11/20/1163871298426.html
Wallabies go down to Ireland
Ireland 21 Australia 6
Ireland lived up to the hype to inflict a record-equalling 21-6 Test victory over Australia in abominable conditions at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.
Everything went to script for the Irish, who rose to second in the world rankings - their highest ever standing - following a landmark win on a painfully wet and windy autumn afternoon in Dublin.
A brilliant first-half performance, which veteran local commentators rated as the finest rugby they had ever seen from the Irish, gave the home team a 15-3 lead at the break.
Running into a howling gale in the second section, the Wallabies were never going to recover.
"The damage was done in the first half," said Australian coach John Connolly.
After an early penalty goal from skipper Stirling Mortlock gave Australia a 3-0 lead, Ireland completely dominated the remainder of the half and only trysaving tackles from Matt Giteau, Mark Gerrard and Chris Latham prevented the Irish from establishing an even greater advantage at the interval.
Five-eighth Ronan O'Gara levelled the scores with a penalty in the 16th minute after the Wallabies were forced to repel 21 phases of Irish attack inside their own quarter.
Ireland finally breached the Wallabies line through a try to Denis Hickie 11 minutes later after Latham had denied the veteran winger on an earlier occasion with some desperate cover defence.
Ireland continued to mount assault after assault before fullback Geordan Murphy completed a breathtaking movement on the stroke of halftime to leave the Wallabies staring down the barrel of only their second defeat against the men in emerald green in 27 years.
O'Gara set Gordon D'Arcy free 40 metres out from the Australian line and, after his incisive run, the classy centre put Hickie away down the sideline and Murphy loomed in support inside to score.
Australia edged to within nine points with another penalty to Mortlock straight after halftime but two replies from O'Gara sealed the Wallabies' fate as conditions deteriorated.
Having dispatched South Africa 32-15 last week, Sunday's success gave Ireland back-to-back wins over southern hemisphere opposition for the first time since 1967.
The 15-point triumph also equalled Ireland's biggest winning margin against Australia, matching the 27-12 victory in Brisbane in 1979.
"In difficult conditions. I thought we were outstanding," Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan said.
"We held onto the ball and didn't give them possession to play with. We were rewarded with two excellent tries.
"We had a job to do in the second half and I think we got the balance right. We were a bit too flamboyant at times but I am happy with the performance.
"It was about being patient with the football. It wasn't pretty but it was effective."
Australia's cause was not helped by five-eighth Stephen Larkham being forced from the field with concussion after just 30 minutes.
The match was realistically out of reach by the time his replacement Mat Rogers and flanker Phil Waugh were sin-binned, along with Ireland No.8 Denis Leamy, for fighting 13 minutes into the second half.
Connolly and Mortlock acknowledged the Wallabies simply failed to cope with the conditions.
"It was pretty tough conditions, closest to the toughest and wettest conditions that I've played in and they certainly played better in the conditions than what we did," Mortlock said.
The Wallabies now head to Edinburgh for the final leg of their four-Test tour of Europe.
Australia A plays Scotland A in Perth on Tuesday night before the Wallabies take on Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Ireland 21 (D Hickie, G Murphy tries; R O'Gara conv; R O'Gara 3 pen goals)
Australia 6 (S Mortlock 2 pen goals)
Yellow cards: P Waugh, M Rogers (Aus), D Leamy (Ire)
Referee: Marius Jonker (RSA)
At: Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Attendance: 41,000
Wallabies go down to Ireland
Ireland 21 Australia 6
Ireland lived up to the hype to inflict a record-equalling 21-6 Test victory over Australia in abominable conditions at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.
Everything went to script for the Irish, who rose to second in the world rankings - their highest ever standing - following a landmark win on a painfully wet and windy autumn afternoon in Dublin.
A brilliant first-half performance, which veteran local commentators rated as the finest rugby they had ever seen from the Irish, gave the home team a 15-3 lead at the break.
Running into a howling gale in the second section, the Wallabies were never going to recover.
"The damage was done in the first half," said Australian coach John Connolly.
After an early penalty goal from skipper Stirling Mortlock gave Australia a 3-0 lead, Ireland completely dominated the remainder of the half and only trysaving tackles from Matt Giteau, Mark Gerrard and Chris Latham prevented the Irish from establishing an even greater advantage at the interval.
Five-eighth Ronan O'Gara levelled the scores with a penalty in the 16th minute after the Wallabies were forced to repel 21 phases of Irish attack inside their own quarter.
Ireland finally breached the Wallabies line through a try to Denis Hickie 11 minutes later after Latham had denied the veteran winger on an earlier occasion with some desperate cover defence.
Ireland continued to mount assault after assault before fullback Geordan Murphy completed a breathtaking movement on the stroke of halftime to leave the Wallabies staring down the barrel of only their second defeat against the men in emerald green in 27 years.
O'Gara set Gordon D'Arcy free 40 metres out from the Australian line and, after his incisive run, the classy centre put Hickie away down the sideline and Murphy loomed in support inside to score.
Australia edged to within nine points with another penalty to Mortlock straight after halftime but two replies from O'Gara sealed the Wallabies' fate as conditions deteriorated.
Having dispatched South Africa 32-15 last week, Sunday's success gave Ireland back-to-back wins over southern hemisphere opposition for the first time since 1967.
The 15-point triumph also equalled Ireland's biggest winning margin against Australia, matching the 27-12 victory in Brisbane in 1979.
"In difficult conditions. I thought we were outstanding," Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan said.
"We held onto the ball and didn't give them possession to play with. We were rewarded with two excellent tries.
"We had a job to do in the second half and I think we got the balance right. We were a bit too flamboyant at times but I am happy with the performance.
"It was about being patient with the football. It wasn't pretty but it was effective."
Australia's cause was not helped by five-eighth Stephen Larkham being forced from the field with concussion after just 30 minutes.
The match was realistically out of reach by the time his replacement Mat Rogers and flanker Phil Waugh were sin-binned, along with Ireland No.8 Denis Leamy, for fighting 13 minutes into the second half.
Connolly and Mortlock acknowledged the Wallabies simply failed to cope with the conditions.
"It was pretty tough conditions, closest to the toughest and wettest conditions that I've played in and they certainly played better in the conditions than what we did," Mortlock said.
The Wallabies now head to Edinburgh for the final leg of their four-Test tour of Europe.
Australia A plays Scotland A in Perth on Tuesday night before the Wallabies take on Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Ireland 21 (D Hickie, G Murphy tries; R O'Gara conv; R O'Gara 3 pen goals)
Australia 6 (S Mortlock 2 pen goals)
Yellow cards: P Waugh, M Rogers (Aus), D Leamy (Ire)
Referee: Marius Jonker (RSA)
At: Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Attendance: 41,000