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The Wallabies have fallen 26-23 to Ireland in Dublin to suffer their first back-to-back spring tour defeats in almost a decade.
Australia fought back from 17-0 early to be level at halftime before being edged out in a tense second half on Saturday at Lansdowne Road.
Controversial utility Kurtley Beale made his return off the bench, halfback Nick Phipps scored a double and recalled centre Matt Toomua impressed, while big winger Henry Speight had a solid Test debut.
But Australia’s failure to bounce back from last week’s 29-26 loss to France means they head into next week’s clash with England at Twickenham facing the prospect of losing three spring tour matches for the first time since 2005.
The Wallabies’ only victory that year came at Lansdowne Road but they returned this week having been overtaken in the rankings by Europe’s form team, who beat South Africa a fortnight ago.
Chasing a seventh straight Test win, the Irish raced to a 17-0 lead thanks to some clever early kicking tactics, with superstar five-eighth Johnny Sexton the architect.
His pin-point cross-field effort led to winger Simon Zebo’s opening try in the 12th minute before Tommy Bowe extended the lead with an 85-metre intercept try three minutes later.
Phipps was at fault for the try but made amends when the Wallabies hit back through his brilliant 50m individual effort.
The Wallabies looked increasingly dangerous in attack as the half wore on and scored again through Bernard Foley in the 22nd minute, the TMO awarding the try despite what looked like a clear forward pass in the lead-up.
Phipps finished off a superb team move involving Speight, Toomua and Foley to get the visitors back on level terms.
Foley was having an off night with the boot but put Australia in front for the first time with a 36th-minute penalty before Sexton squared the ledger on the stroke of halftime.
Both sides traded three-pointers early in the second half, including a scrum penalty for the Wallabies, who looked improved at the set-piece for much of the game.
Beale – back in the team for the first time since the text message scandal – came off the bench in the 46th minute after an injury to Tevita Kuridrani but he couldn’t make much of an impact in attack.
Sexton kicked the decisive penalty in the 63rd minute after fullback Rob Kearney had earlier struck the upright with a long-range drop-goal attempt.
Veteran playmakers Quade Cooper and Will Genia had the chance to close out the game but Australia’s attack broke down at the crucial moments, with Ireland claiming another big southern hemisphere scalp to rapturous applause.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.