Ireland have won the Lansdowne Cup with a heartstopping 20-16 win over Australia in the series-deciding third rugby Test in Sydney.
A ground-record 44,085 fans packed into Allianz Stadium on Saturday night to see the reigning European champions hold off the Wallabies in a gripping series finale laced with drama and controversy.
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Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was visibly furious throughout the match, as French referee Pascal Gauzere made a series of bewildering decisions against the home side, allowing Jonny Sexton to ultimately boot the Irish to a famous victory through five penalty goals.
Flanker and man of the match CJ Stander scored Ireland’s only try in the 45th minute, before winger Marika Koroibete replied with Australia’s lone five-pointer shortly after to cut the visitors’ lead to a point and set up a grandstand finish.
A late Sexton penalty goal gave the visitors a touch more breathing space but there were hearts in the mouths of every men in green right up until the fulltime whistle. The television match official (TMO) agonised over a possible intervention in Australia’s favour in the final minute.
After several minutes, the TMO eventually decided there was inconclusive evidence to penalise winger Jacob Stockdale for a deliberate knockdown that would have given the Wallabies one last attacking chance in front of the posts.
Ireland’s victory, a week after they levelled the series in Melbourne with their first Test win in Australia in 39 years, consolidated their world No.2 ranking and denied the Wallabies a first three-Test series win since beating the British and Irish Lions in 2002.
Both sides played most of the match without their captains and inspirational No.7s after Michael Hooper suffered a hamstring injury in the 16th minute and Irish flanker Peter O’Mahony was concussed on the half-hour mark.
There was drama even before kickoff, with the Irish team’s arrival at the ground delayed by half-an-hour after being caught in traffic.
Coach Joe Schmidt was livid.
His mood might have lightened after an early Sexton penalty goal gave his side a 3-0 start.
With Kurtley Beale controlling field position with clever tactical kicking and David Pocock dominant at the breakdown, the Wallabies nudged ahead 6-3 with two penalties to Bernard Foley.
But the home team suffered a huge blow when Hooper limped off and momentum – and the weight of possession and territory – shifted Ireland’s way almost immediately.
Despite being a man down after Stockdale was yellow-carded for an elbow to Nick Phipps’ throat, Ireland regained the lead after two more Sexton penalties before the Wallabies had Israel Folau contentiously sent to the sin bin.
The TMO deemed Folau had unnecessarily “placed” his hand on O’Mahony during an aerial challenge, resulting in the Ireland captain landing awkwardly on his head – and having to be taken off on a medicab.
Ireland carried a 12-9 lead into the break via a fourth Sexton penalty after the halftime siren had sounded. Stander’s try left the Wallabies desperately chasing the game over the last half hour.
“Some things didn’t go for us. You need a few things to go for you in a game,” said a shattered Cheika.
“It could have gone either way. It was pretty tight. I really feel for our supporters who came out here tonight.
“It was an electric atmosphere and I promise you we’ll be back for the next (Bledisloe Cup) series against New Zealand in better shape and we’ll be trying our best to make them proud.”
Baz
Guest
Yeah but Poey did have a significant impact at the breakdown where Hooper would have had less impact. Accept your point about speeding the game up. Unfortunately the Irish didn't cooperate and found any number of ways to slow the game down and rest their forwards. I also think Tui and Samu gave Australia some large physical ball runners which you need when you have a break down specialist like Poey. As I said it is impossible to quantify/qualify the impact but Cheik will persist with the Pooper so I guess we will learn a bit more come Bledisloe.
RobC
Roar Guru
On second thought... Could be the Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Derm
Roar Guru
Those aren’t real hands. Photoshop definitely. Or CJ Stander’s. Or eh, maybe that’s a shot from the Six Nations against Wales. Are you sure that’s O’Mahony? Looks a bit like Eben Etzebeth to me...
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Feel for Hooper though as he's by far the most genuine player game after gam every time he plays, but Pocock will need to learn to limit his chat and back chat to the Referee as that French guy was lenient but there's Referees That won't tolerate that amount of moaning and telling him his job! Zip it Poey!
Paulo
Roar Rookie
So late in a RWC cycle, I suspect he is safe. And the series was tight really, against the #2 ranked team in the world, so still a loss, but some mitigation there on the balance of things.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Cynical play by Ireland? Are you suggesting the Irish deliberately lifted their player, and then when Folau collided with that player, they dropped him, so Folau would get carded? I cant imagine just lifting a player could be called cynical, so I assume you are meaning a deliberate drop?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Solidgold, it wast overturned because the contact in the air was ok, it was overturned because of a collision with ALB 8m further up the field. The ruling never once said the contact was ok.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
aussKiwi! ! Onya Cuz', posts like that from that Realist dude just show how small minded they really are and unsure of themselves also, and as a rule they don't know as to what the hell they're talking about to people who blog on here expressing an opinion anyway! ~ simply because he or they don't like the said opinion! If you are honest and tell it like it is or was, in your opinion, never be afraid to say it, and if Realist and co don't like it because of the single eye shade they wear, stiff bikkies for them! I have never been able to see any point at all of glossing over a poor display by any team in any sport, so why do it! I'm and old dude mate and I would say that I've forgotten more about rugby than Old Realist will ever get to know! Cheers mate!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Marshall! Refereeing at the moment is diabolical all over the rugby playing World, in most cases you can't blame the players or the Referees as they are saddled with the most ridiculous Laws that I would say even they in a lot of cases don't understand, it's very obvious the players in the majority certainly don't in the main as you only need to see the looks on their faces more often than not when they get pinged for something they don't even know about! The current Laws at the moments are ruining the game of rugby, ~ not all of them, but a hell of a lot, these Laws are open to so many different interpretations, and that's bad for the game!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Mapu! Kia ora ehoa!! ~ just be careful how hard you bag the Aussies mate else they'll descend on you with a number six boomerang!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Derm! Thanks for that mate and on reflection, you're bang on, it's the end result that counts every time, fair or foul, ~ I still say the Ireland boys got dudded by the Ref' particularly in the second half tho! Cheers!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Be an honest Aussie mate!!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Ex Forcey! Twiggy Forrest is the best thing that ever happened to Western Australia, and it shows with al, the good crowds rah, rah etc, long may it continue, should be better next Season when they travel, let's just see! The first bit of your post is a tad wrong though as the Exodus as you called it, is annoying but Aussies; problems lie with the fact they've got a very poor structure of upcoming players of quality, and until they get that they are always going to struggle, ~ whereas in New Zealand the defection rate of players for overseas is far greater than Australia without worrying top rugby one bit as the newer players are coming through to the very top all the time and in fact there was three brand new players for the All Blacks against France and they all went extremely well indeed!~ sadly most of those defectors are or have been top players and leave for the big dollar!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
KiwiHaydn! ~ Just be a bit careful cuz' about who you bag on here else you may have the full wrath of the Cyclops ones supporting Australia!, ~
RobC
Roar Guru
regarding the outcry against the Izzy yellow: https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0761c08610522c6612695cae4860b2504db306a3b8d85b504323ae37066f8506.jpg
double agent
Guest
I used to follow League too until it became so boring.
double agent
Guest
They've been doing it for years.
double agent
Guest
Are you talking about different games with different refs? Btw what is a handle?
double agent
Guest
I don't understand why you come on here Kirky.
double agent
Guest
Yes it was all Phipps' fault.