Ireland have won the Lansdowne Cup with a heartstopping 20-16 win over Australia in the series-deciding third rugby Test in Sydney.
More Wallabies
» LORD: Even on points, but Ireland win the cup
» Seven talking points from the third Test
» Wallabies player ratings from the third Test
» Match report: Irish win Test, series
» WATCH video highlights from the third Test
Final score
Wallabies 16
Ireland 20
Finals football! It’s 1-1, and all on the line when the Wallabies host the Irish in a blockbuster game three at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, tonight. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog, starting from AEST.
It has been the two vastly conflicting performances from both sides through the first two matches that makes this game even harder to predict.
In game one, the Wallabies were phenomenal at the breakdown, led by David Pocock and Michael Hooper, and this allowed for Israel Folau and Will Genia to lead the backs around with aplomb.
In a match that provided much positivity for Wallabies fans everywhere, the Irish looked powerless, and eventually went down – giving the home side a 1-0 lead.
Game two saw a much-improved performance from the visitors. Connor Murray and Jonny Sexton were enormous, and skipper Peter O’Mahony was monumental in the forwards.
Australia’s ill-discipline killed them on the night, and the Irish squared the series at 1-1.
So, tonight?
Off the bat, this match-up will be a belter.
Much was made last week of the Irish’s superior ability to control the pace of the game, and their general kicking has been streets ahead of Cheika’s men through this series as a whole.
Indeed, Connor Murray is one of the best kicking halves in the world, and his deliberate ploy to avoid Israel Folau in open play last week reaped rewards. Expect much of the same tonight.
The battle of the breakdown will no doubt be every bit as ferocious as it has been through the first two games. The Irish accuracy at the ruck last week forced the Wallabies to panic, and make mistakes when they did have ball in hand. Where they found easy routes over the game line in Brisbane, there were green jumpers with vigorous line speed in Melbourne.
Was this a case of a poor night for the Wallabies? Or an Irish outfit that had shaken off the travel, and settled into solid patterns.
With all that in mind, what happens tonight?
Caleb Timu is dumped from the matchday 23 for the Wallabies, with Lukhan Tui starting at 6. Ned Hanigan resumes his spot on the bench. Nick Phipps starts for the injured Will Genia, with Joe Powell slotting in on the pine in his place.
For the Irish, Sean Cronin starts at hooker, with Joe Schmidt continuing his ploy of chopping and changing his tight five through the series. Jack McGrath starts at loosehead prop.
In the backs, Garry Ringrose has been dropped from 13, allowing Bundee Aki back into inside centre. Keith Stockdale also returns to the starting XV.
Where the game will be won
Who wants it more?
Ireland would view a 2-1 series win over a big name Southern Hemisphere rival as a major, major scalp. Yes, they’ve had a remarkable last year and a half, but they haven’t proven themselves against Southern Hemisphere opposition in that time. Peter O’Mahony and his men will know the significance of a win this evening.
For Hooper and co, it’s about going back to the Wallabies of game one. Will Genia is a big loss, but if they can play with the defensive intensity that they displayed in the first 80 minutes of this series, they’ll be tough to beat.
Prediction
Ireland are short with the bookies, and I think that’s a tip of the hat to both their improved performance last week, and the loss of Will Genia at halfback. I think it will be extremely close, with a kick either way to win it.
Ireland by 3
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 8pm AEST.
Villan
Guest
Whatever black wave. We should have Chekka as manager as well then we would be the complete whinges
Joe
Roar Rookie
Fair enough. I don't watch 6 Nations so just went by what I saw in these tests so I'll take your word for it that they can score tries. Going by these three tests I didn't think Ireland tested them much and players like Folau and Beale in patches looked more dangerous and likely to break the line. The Ireland wing 11 was dangerous but didn't seem much from the rest.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Richie, it was a penalty. Not because of the situation but because the referee called "release". Even in that situation, and I do not agree with it, but it is the rule. What irks me is that referees are damn useless on refereeing rucks and mauls. But we were lucky on the Pocock penalty where we got 3 points. Pocock's knee was on the ground. For me the Folau Yellow is ridiculous. The Irish Player was lifted, it is the lifter's responsibility to control his decent, not Folau's. And to say Folau dragged him down is BS. Folau's hand went over his back as Folau descended and there was no grab on the player at all. Also the Irish Yellow was tough. The warning to Coleman on the ruck was BS. He is allowed to clear out using one hand and a shoulder. The high tackle - against the Irish - Rugby is becoming a joke. The takeout of Beale was a definite take out - penalty. Then try the AB/French game. The referee block on the French 9 was clearly an error and a scrum should have been reset and no try. I am not saying he would have tackled McKenzie, but the referee block did not allow the play to unfold. Referees and TMO's are not up to standard and are definitely delivering too many errors which impacts games and scores. WR needs to clean up this mess.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Riddler, Foley should have gone to ground and gone through the phases again. Remember the ABs against the Irish coming back to win by moving the ball through the phases and taking it 50 metres. This is what Rugby is. Wallabies try to damn hard to score on each move instead of waiting and phasing . Know when to Holt them and Know when to Fold Them.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Yes it was Foley
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Foley has a man on him for the tackle. Yes there were men outside but common Rugby sense is simple - unless the pass is likely to be 100% or unless you are Sunny Bill, then go to ground and go through the phases again. The Wallaby backs try to hard to win quickly and expect to score tries on every backline move. Simple really; control the ball and phase the rucks again if necessary. Wallabies need brains!!
Cathal
Guest
"in the backline, Ireland gave nothing" Who was top try scorer in the 6N? Earls & Stockdale made 6N team of the season? Ringrose probably would have also if he got a full champion ship. Individually they are among the best in Europe but collectivly for Ireland it doesnt gel, just have to watch the Leinster backline in play to see how dangerous they are. 20 tries in 5 games means either they have the best pack ever to have exsisted otherwise they must have some backline.
Derm
Roar Guru
Only to narrow-minded, conspiracy-led NZ fans, Tman. From my hammock, the Oz boys are all fair dinkum..... And you, of course, when you're behaving yourself.... :)
Dublin Dave
Guest
I thought Ireland tonight out-Aussied the Aussies. Soaked up pressure, forced the opposition to take the initiative, closed them out well, then took their chances when they arose. Thought Stockdale didn't make contact with the ball last play. Maybe all rugby sleeves should be fitted with a Snickometer for such occasions? Of course if we did that the Wallabies would all start wearing Aussie Rules style sleeveless shirts/jumpers/jerseys/guernseys. ?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Starting to look like an annoying winner derm, careful you dont fall iff that hammock?
Dublin Dave
Guest
Of course you can contest in the air. The ref even said the contest for the ball was fine. You just can't tug at your airborne opponent on the way down. That's what he was carded for. And rightly so.
Harry
Guest
Yeah losing 2 in a row to a team we haven't lost to in 39 years in Australia is a great trajectory. Not.
Marius Ciliers
Roar Guru
Congrats Ireland. Some dodgy calls going both ways by the Officials. But a thoroughly deserved victory and series win. See u at the WC. Now for the Boks to Seal that 3-0 series win over emm popms.ghehehe
ethan
Guest
Exactly. I can understand how the TMO came to his decision as the Irish player touching the ball was not very conclusive. But they kept playing the wrong angles over again. And the best angle clearly shows a deviation in the flight path of the ball, which can only happen one way. That was far from the worst call of the night, but was just the cumulation of a horrible nights refereeing.
Derm
Roar Guru
Except it was the TMO who had the greatest influence on the entire series and he comes from.... New Zealand. Therefore, it’s all New Zealand’s fault that Australia lost, players got injured, bus was delayed to the stadium, Shergar being kidnapped and why we haven’t had world peace yet.
Derm
Roar Guru
“its because I haven’t watched too much Union in a while“ Fair comment.
Richie Walton
Roar Guru
The view from the Irish goal line is far more conclusive, you can see the ball deviate upwards. The video and angle are actually shown at the bottom of this page if your an Aussie-based user. Regardless, we should’ve scored. I hate the intentional knock-on rule. The one called on Folau was a joke as he’s attempting a tackle. Both plays should simply result in a knock-on and scrum or an advantage to the attacking team if they regather.
Richie Walton
Roar Guru
Not sure they are clearly the better team. Points were even over the 3 games and the wallabies had double the tries. The Irish are clinical at the breakdown, defend well and kick well from hand, but offer very little in terms of attacking rugby or ball running. In the modern game that wins matches. The Walllabies show shades of brilliance and are constantly a threat, but are straight up their own worst enemies when it comes to discipline. Decision-making and general skill errors cost us more than anything Ireland offer up.
double agent
Guest
He should've passed short to Kerevi or not passed at all.
Richie Walton
Roar Guru
Never called ruck though. Release the player or release the ball?