Ireland power to huge win over Australia at the Aviva
Ryan Baird of Ireland is tackled by Tom Hooper of Australia during the Quilter Nations Series match at the Aviva Stadium. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
A brilliant first-half hat-trick by full-back Mack Hansen inspired Ireland to a comfortable victory over Australia in an entertaining Autumn Nations Series fixture at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.
Ireland had all the possession in the opening minutes and after a quick tap penalty by Jamison Gibson-Park had gotten James Lowe close near the left corner, some quick hands from Sam Prendergast and Stuart McCloskey put the returning full back Mack Hansen under the posts for a fine try in the 6th minute.
Five minutes later we got almost a carbon copy when it was Robbie Henshaw and Prendergast who combined to send Hansen home, again under the posts, and again untouched.
Australia finally got their hands on some ball and begin flinging bodies at the Irish defence, punching little holes as they went through the phases, with the passage of play ending with centre Len Ikitau crashing over under the Irish posts in the 18th minute to score.
Hansen completed his hat-trick when he crossed in the 28th minute. The move came off an attacking 5m scrum and when the backs moved the ball an improvised crossfield kick from Prendergast found Tommy O’Brien on the right wing and when he released the ball in the tackle the ball rolled loose, and the marauding Mack Hansen picked up and dived over to score.
Despite being the dominant side Ireland were not in total control as the Aussies hit back right on the half-time whistle when captain Fraser McReight capitalised on good pressure to force his way over, again under the posts. And James O’Connor, who last week was earning his crust doing TV punditry on the Wallabies' defeat to Italy, was restored to the side and the fabled Australian no 10 shirt, and it was he who slotted the simple conversion to leave it 19-14 at half-time.
The game had gone flat but Ireland ensured they nabbed the next score when Prendergast slotted a 56th-minute drop goal to put Ireland two scores to the good once more.
Tommy O’Brien thought he had scored in the right corner thanks to a sublime Prendergast crossfield kick on the hour mark, but the score was chalked off due to an earlier knock-on.
Prendergast’s replacement Jack Crowley clipped over a penalty with his first touch in the 62nd minute to push Ireland’s lead out to 11, and in the 69th minute captain Caelan Doris made sure of the win when he bustled over in the left corner to ensure that Ireland passed the 30-point barrier against Australia for the first time in Test match history.
Nick Frost missed the last 10 minutes due to a yellow card, but Billy Pollard blasted over in the 74th minute for what was merely a consolation score for Australia.
Ryan Baird scored when he skittled his way over for his third international try in the 78th minute, and Robbie Henshaw walked in an easy try with the last play after a brilliant Gibson-Park crossfield kick.
S Prendergast (1 drop, 2 cons), J Crowley (1 pen, 3 cons), M Hansen (3 tries), C Doris, R Baird, R Henshaw (1 try each).
J O’Connor (2 cons), L Ikitau, F McReight, B Pollard (1 try each).
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 (c), J Conan.
B Aki for S McCloskey (26), A Porter and N Timoney for P McCarthy and J Conan (47), R Kelleher, T Clarkson and C Prendergast for D Sheehan, T Furlong and J Ryan (57), J Crowley for S Prendergast (60), T Furlong and C Casey for T Clarkson and M Hansen (71).
M Jorgensen; F Daugunu, J-A Suaalii, L Ikitau, H Potter; J O'Connor, J Gordon; A Bell, M Faessler, A Alaalatoa; J Williams, T Hooper; R Valetini, F McReight, H Wilson (c).
B Pollard and T Robertson for M Faessler and A Bell (53), N Frost for J Williams (54), A Kellaway for F Daugunu (59), R Lonergan and T Edmed for J Gordon and J O’Connor (71).
Karl Dickson (RFU)
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