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It’s becoming an all too familiar story for Wallabies supporters: the side have fallen by just three points in the final moments, with poor discipline and injuries costing Australia a loss to Ireland on Sunday morning.
Dave Rennie’s men had most of the possession during the game, but went down 13-10 to world number one; who played to over 50,000 patriarchal Irish fans at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
With just two minutes remaining, Australia were three points behind and had a chance to level the scores with a penalty, but opted to go for the try and were subsequently penalized – effectively ending their chances.
The test resembled a chess match in that both sides took an engaging and methodical approach to the game, but in the end, discipline (or lack thereof) and injuries had a major impact on the Wallabies’ fortunes.
A familiar scene: Wallabies stars can’t believe they lost another close call against Ireland in Dublin on Sunday
Star player Taniela Tupou was carried off with what appeared to be a serious leg injury, while Hunter Paisami (medial knee ligament), Dave Porecki (head punch), Rob Valentini (foot) and Andrew Kellaway (foot) all failed to complete the match.
Despite the result sending Australia to their third straight defeat, Rennie said he was proud of the way his side finished another injury-marred game.
‘It was a difficult match. The guys showed an awful lot of character to stay in the fight; but we are gutted,” he said after the match in Stan Sport’s broadcast.
“We got a lot of injuries and lost players early and had to play with 13 for a while… we had a lot of possession, but credit to the Irish, they defended really well.”
Of course, the blame for the loss to a well-trained Irish side cannot be laid on injuries, as usual it was the Wallabies’ lack of discipline and attention to detail – often at the most crucial moments – that bore the brunt of the side.
In particular, a yellow card for Folau Fainga’a for an unnecessary penalty cost the team dearly.
Folau Fainga’a receives a yellow card just before half-time for an unnecessary ‘roll of the neck’ penalty
Late in the first half, a ‘mind-boggling’ decision by Fainga’a to take off an Irish player, when the ball was passed 20 yards back to take a kick, led to the hooker being booked.
It meant Australia had to play with 13 men and uncontested scrums for several minutes as Porecki’s were already out and unable to return. Fainga’a was knocked down by former Wallabies lock Justin Harrison in a scathing reprimand.
“He lacks the poise and maturity of a test player,” said a stunned Harrison as referee Ben O’Keefe sent Fainga’a off three minutes before the break.
A lost-looking Dave Rennie cuts a solemn figure after another Wallabies loss on Sunday
It was just another ‘roll of the neck’ penalty in a match ravaged by the phone calls – which Harrison and fellow former Wallabies star Tim Horan thought were unnecessary.
The level of fouls was so high that as early as 30 minutes into the first half O’Keefe could be heard saying there was ‘constant foul play’ as he warned both captains.
Wallabies scrum half Nic White looked to have opened the scoring as he took off through a hole in the defense and dove in to score just three minutes into the game – but the TMO quashed the try after a questionable ‘neck roll’ from Porecki at the to break down.
Mark Nawaqanitawase was brilliant for the Wallabies and was a constant threat in attack
A 21-stage march saw the Wallabies advance to within 10 yards of their try line midway through the half – but once again a neck roll ended their chances, and both Harrison and on-pitch captain James Slipper noted how the Irish players shrewdly were slowing down. the malfunction.
Jack Crowley, who was captained at the last minute by injury, was hugely impressive for the men in green standing in for Johnny Sexton.
The arm wrestling continued, with neither side giving an inch except for the 12 penalty kicks awarded by each side.
The deadlock was finally broken 14 minutes before the full-time siren as Ireland’s center Bundee Aki crossed on the back of – surprise, surprise – another unnecessary Wallabies penalty with Crowley adding the extras with the poise of a seasoned veteran.
The Wallabies returned just minutes later, with a raging Will Skelton carrying five defenders to the try line before hands saw Jordan Petaia go out and Foley leveled the scores with a successful conversion.
Bundee Aki, who scored a try for Ireland, celebrates his side’s heart-stopping victory
Jordan Petaia (left) scores a try for Australia to level the scores with just minutes left
Scores tied, and it felt like deja vu.
The Wallabies had all the momentum, all the possession (409 yards off 63 runs instead of 39/227) and were starting to find it easier to break the line.
It’s enough to give even the most ardent Wallabies fans a pit in the stomach.
Sure enough, the Wallabies scrum, who had been ironclad for the last 75 minutes, conceded their first penalty of the match – with substitute fly-half Ross Byrne calmly blasting into goal.
The Wallabies threw everything to the Wolfhounds in the dying minutes, but two fouls with victory in sight ended their chances and took the side to yet another defeat that ended with the question, “What if?”
Powerhouse Wallabies lock Will Skelton leaves several defenders in his wake as he runs on Sunday morning
Mark Nawaqanitawase, Tom Wright and Petaia were brilliant at the back and finally wanted to bring some much needed cohesion to the side; while Skelton and Valetini work hard in rush hour.
Former Brumbies winger Mack Hansen got the last laugh with a strong performance, while Crowley and Caelan Doris were two of Ireland’s best.
A heartbreaking loss, of course, but there was no doubt in Harrison that their side had regained some of the jersey pride after last weekend’s diabolical loss to Ireland.
A dejected Nick Frost looks to the sky after Australia crashes into Ireland in Dublin on Sunday morning (AEDT)
“There was a lot of fun about the performance… physically I thought they (Australia) were really aiming tonight; Skelton was huge and Mark Nawaqanitawase looked so comfortable and dominated possession,” Wallabies legend Drew Mitchell said on the broadcast.
“But there was one thing I didn’t like and that was the scoreboard.
“I feel like the story is again the Wallabies’ lack of discipline…again we are talking about fine margins, a lack of discipline, focus and concentration…repeated offenses that proved to be crucial,” said Mitchell . .
Slipper admitted that while he was proud of the determination the side showed, it was devastating to once again fail to capitalize on the big moments.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game. I’m just disappointed with the way it ended,” he said after the game.
“We had a chance to win the game, but test matches are won in big moments and at the end of the day we lost them.
“However, we wanted to react after last week’s loss, and I think we did,” Slipper said.
Ireland weren’t at their best – that’s for sure – but the fact that this well-practiced side was able to stay so calm despite wave after wave of Aussie attacking phasing shows exactly why they are the number one team in the world.
Irish players celebrate after the final siren confirms their three-point victory over Australia – their third in a row
Stand-in captain Peter O’Mahony said it was the home crowd that helped get the side over the line.
“It was a serious test match,” said a relieved O’Mahoney after the match.
“We were under the pump in the first half and didn’t have much possession, but I’m really happy with the way the guys dug in defensively.
“It wasn’t one of our better performances…but to finish the year in front of our home crowd with a win is very important to us,” said O’Mahoney.
Australia will now look to avoid the unwanted record of the worst performing Wallabies side since 1958 against Wales next Sunday morning (2.15am AEDT) in their final game of the spring tour.