DUBLIN // Ireland beat Australia 26-23 in a thriller on Saturday that featured five tries in the first half and secured their first November series sweep in eight years to lay down a marker for next year’s World Cup.
Since Joe Schmidt took charge just over a year ago, Ireland have beaten South Africa, narrowly missed out on a first victory over New Zealand and won the Six Nations but their latest scalp may be the most hard fought yet in a remarkable game of rugby.
The hosts led 17-0 after 14 minutes thanks to tries from wings Simon Zebo and Tommy Bowe but Australia replied with three of their own to square it up at halftime before flyhalf Jonathan Sexton kicked his side to victory in a bruising second period.
“We got off to a great start but allowed them back into the game with some poor defending but they’re a great side,” captain Paul O’Connell said in a pitchside interview.
“We haven’t finished games really well so to keep them out was very satisfying. It’s a brilliant win against a really good side.”
Ireland took up where they left off against the Springboks, their aggressive defence not handing the visitors an inch.
Aware of his surroundings as ever, flyhalf Sexton found space in behind following a turnover and Zebo won a race to collect his pin-point kick and dive over.
Setting the tone for what was to unfold, Australia came right back only for Bowe to intercept what was certain to be a try for the visitors and run the length of the field to put Ireland 17-0 ahead.
The home side were rampant but some hesitant defending following a Nick Phipps interception let the scrumhalf run clean through to grab a vital seven points for the Wallabies.
The Australians seized the momentum with a second, albeit controversial, try.
Australia coach Michael Cheika was philosophical about the Wallabies’ first defeat in Ireland since 2006.
“I’m not an excuse maker, it’s still such early days in how we want to play,” he said. “All in all I thought it was an improved performance from the week before and disappointed not to get the result.”
The victory made it seven in a row for Ireland heading into the defence of their Six Nations title next year.
New Zealand marked Richie McCaw’s milestone 100th game as captain by rallying to defeat Wales 34-16 at Millennium Stadium last night.
The All Blacks capped their November campaign by again digging deep when Wales threatened a shock, showing their class as world champions to pull away with three tries in the final 11 minutes from Beauden Barrett (2) and Kieran Read.
All the tries came in the second half with Julian Savea and Jerome Kaino also crossing for the All Blacks. Rhys Webb touched down for Wales, who led 16-15 with 13 minutes left after Leigh Halfpenny’s third penalty.
South Africa claimed an unconvincing 22-6 victory over Italy yesterday with a late try from Bryan Habana adding some respectability after a lacklustre performance in Padova.
The Boks scored three tries, the others coming from Coenie Oosthuizen and Cobus Reinach, but showed none of the accuracy that helped them beat England at Twickenham last weekend, against an Italian side full of guts and passion.
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer will be scratching his head looking for positives from the game with five matches to go until next year’s World Cup. Their other points came from a Pat Lambie penalty and two conversions from Handre Pollard.
Italy contested and forced the visitors into errors, with their points coming from two penalties by fly-half Kelly Haimona.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Bakkies Botha, renowned for his fearsome physical presence in the second row, announced his international retirement yesterday but will continue to play for French Top 14 side Toulon.
The World Cup-winning lock, 35, made his final appearance for the Springboks when coming off the bench in their 31-28 victory over England last weekend and finishes his career with 85 caps.
Scotland ran in five tries and conceded none to record an emphatic 37-12 win over Tonga, their second victory in three November test matches, at Kilmarnock.
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