Ireland 46; Australia 19
Ireland Scorers - Tries: M Hansen 3 tries, C Doris, R Baird and R Henshaw 1 try each; S Prendergast 2 cons, 1 drop goal; J Crowley 1 pen and 3 cons.
The jury is still out on this current Ireland side but there is no doubt that they have improved over the three games played in the November Series from an abject loss to New Zealand to a fair performance against Japan to a more presentable showing against Australia in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Of course the big test will come this Saturday when the side that Head Coach Andy Farrell is seeking to rebuild for the upcoming Six Nations and to the World Cup two years away, face World Champions South Africa, who have gone onto another level since our recent victories over them in France and in their own back yard in the summer of 2024.
In a game against Australia which was dominated by an Australian native – Mack Hansen, who scored a hat-trick of tries for Ireland in the first half – Farrell’s men showed more glimpses of improvement and more innovation in their play to suggest they will be up for this biggest test of all.
There was also the boost of how the likes of our other try scorers Caelan Doris, Ryan Baird and Robbie Henshaw played with Baird the outstanding Ireland performer over the three games this month.
It led to a feel-good after the performance, something Conan touched on when commenting after the game.
“It was unbelievably enjoyable; to be at home putting in a good performance, Saturday night, atmosphere was unreal. We had some really good moments, some unbelievable bits of play, like that last 20, 30 minutes was brilliant from the lads.
“It was a real stepping stone, the best performance we’ve had in the last few weeks, so the lads are happy and it’s a brilliant launch-pad for next week. To be out there winning in a green jersey, it doesn’t get any better,” he claimed.
Ireland looked to have had their momentum stalled by allowing a 19-0 lead to be cut to 19-14 at the interval, and with the Wallabies having the wind in their tails, it looked far from a foregone conclusion as Ireland turned over for the second half.
However, the hosts upped their game and by scoring three tries as well as a penalty and a drop goal, we ended 27 points ahead of a disappointing Aussie outfit who failed miserably in coach’s Joe Schmidt’s final game against his former team.
Analysing the game, Conan went on: “You always want to be playing well but the reality of international rugby is it can’t always go your way. There’s been bits over the last few weeks that have gone really well for us and then bits that we haven’t been happy with.
“Australia didn’t have to spend a lot of energy to get two scores, so that was a bit disappointing. But you’re not playing against mugs. You’re playing against good players and teams that are unbelievably motivated and want to go well, especially off the back of a loss last week.”
Ireland have won four of the past five meetings against South Africa between the sides. Added Conan: “They’re a good team, aren’t they? You see what they’re doing with the bench and how they apply their forwards. They’re changing the game and it’s great to see. It’s innovation, it’s interesting, it’s getting eyeballs on the game and they’re going really well. They’re an unbelievably physical side and deserve to be the best in the world, so it’ll be a huge challenge for us.
“But we love a challenge. We love having to be better and grow bigger.”
Ireland: M Hansen; T O'Brien, R Henshaw, S McCloskey, J Lowe; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; P McCarthy, D Sheehan, T Furlong; J Ryan, T Beirne; R Baird, C Doris (capt), J Conan Replacements: R Kelleher (Sheehan 57), A Porter (Porter 48), T Clarkson (Furlong 57-72 HIA), N Timoney (Conan 48), C Prendergast (Ryan 57), C Casey (Gibson-Park 71 (Hansen 72)), J Crowley (Prendergast 61), B Aki (McCloskey 27).
