Dublin: The Wallabies have tied their high-water mark for losses in a calendar year but coach Dave Rennie is adamant the team is “not far away” and showing admirable character despite another narrow defeat.
After a tryless first half, Ireland snatched a 13-10 victory against the Wallabies to extend their unbeaten record at home to 12 straight wins.
After three one-point results in as many weeks, Australia watched in disbelief as Ireland replacement Ross Byrne nailed a tricky penalty to put the world No.1 side ahead by three points with four minutes remaining.
Australia had a late chance to clinch victory – they turned down a penalty that would have levelled scores – before Jake Gordon, forced to play on the wing due to mass injuries, was penalised for joining a rolling maul illegally. The Wallabies were attempting to score a match-winning try.
Jed Holloway then picked off a lineout, giving Australia one more chance at victory, before Bernard Foley coughed up possession. Ireland then kicked the ball out to inflict another crushing blow on an already wounded Wallabies side.
It was Australia’s third loss from four matches on their European tour and ninth defeat from 13 starts this year.
Bernard Foley makes a try-saving tackle on Mack Hansen.Credit:AP
Only once before (2018) have the Wallabies chalked up so many defeats in a calendar year.
The fine margins make it extremely difficult to get a gauge of how the team is faring 10 months out from a World Cup.
“We’re not far away,” Rennie said. “We played the top two ranked sides in the world [France and Ireland]. We probably did enough to beat both of them but didn’t. We’ve got to look at why. There’s a huge amount of character in this group.
“It was gutsy. We hung in the fight. Gutted for the boys because it was very winnable.”
On a chaotic night where five influential Wallabies players – Hunter Paisami (knee), Dave Porecki (concussion), Rob Valetini (ankle), Taniela Tupou (knee) and Kellaway (foot) – picked up potentially tour-ending injuries, Australia trailed 3-0 for most of the match but levelled scores at 3-3 with 25 minutes remaining.
A 66th-minute try from Ireland replacement Bundee Aki in his comeback match looked to be the difference before Jordan Petaia pulled a five-pointer out of nowhere for the Wallabies with ten minutes to go.
When Bernard Foley nailed the conversion, it was 10-10.
After Byrne added another three points off the back of a scrum penalty, the Wallabies were on the receiving end of a technical penalty.
Mark Nawaqanitawase had another strong game in his second Test.Credit:AP
Said Rennie of the Gordon penalty: “It’s very technical. Most times it wouldn’t be picked up.”
Of the decision to chase a try in the final minutes, Rennie added: “If it had been right in front of the posts, we may have thought differently. We supported the call [kicking for touch].”
The Wallabies punched above their weight, even until the dying minutes.
“We had a fair bit of adversity tonight,” Rennie said. “We ended up having to play with 13 at one stage. There was a huge amount of character but [there is] frustration because we had our opportunities and you’ve got to give credit to the Irish defence. They are a high-quality side and we had chances early. We needed to sting them. We played a lot of good footy, but not a lot of reward.”
The loss will heap more pressure on Rennie ahead of a Wales Test next week when he could be fighting for his job. If Australia lose, it will be their worst year on record since 1958 where 10 or more Tests have been played.
“Just gutted for a lot of the boys and the staff members in that change room at the moment,” said skipper James Slipper. “It came down to the wire. It’s a bitter taste in my mouth.”
Australia were tenacious until the final moments but again, just like against France and Italy, lacked the poise to finish the match.
Ireland were dealt a major blow just before kick-off, with star No.10 Johnny Sexton succumbing to a calf injury.
Australia looked to have bagged the first five-pointer courtesy of Nic White but had it taken back due to a neck-roll tackle from Porecki in the build-up.
Every week on this tour, Rennie has spoken about wanting better discipline and he would have been livid to see his men concede four penalties in the opening 12 minutes.
A fourth first-half neck-roll saw Folau Fainga’a yellow-carded minutes after another botched lineout. He has done his chance of selection at next year’s World Cup no favours on this tour.
Ireland made 99 more tackles than Australia in the first half (155 to 56) and put immense pressure at the breakdown.
Former Brumbies winger Mack Hansen looked like he’d set up a fantastic try against a 13-man Australian outfit but replays showed he had his foot on the line.
There was push and shove with Wallabies players, who Hansen had said earlier in the week “can’t sledge for s—.”
Hansen had the final laugh.
This wasn’t a classic Test but there were plenty of smiles inside the stadium. They just weren’t Australian ones.
It will be a long week in Cardiff, with more soul-searching and wondering what could have been.
“I know we’ll definitely get the boys up,” Rennie said.
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