The last waltz sends Aussies spinning

ON his 100th Test appearance it was fitting that Brian O’Driscoll should produce a late, late try under the posts for Ireland to secure a share the honours against Australia at Croke Park yesterday.

O’Driscoll atoned for an early mistake that contributed to Australia’s third minute try when producing a moment of genius which Ronan O’Gara converted to deny Australia victory.

Prior to that Ireland had endured a difficult afternoon at scrum time and in the rucking stakes, however they refused to panic and their attitude and workrate were rewarded with the late drama which left the Australian’s shell-shocked and their Grand Slam ambitions in tatters.

“I’m pleased we were rewarded for showing the bottle to stick with them until the death and grind out a draw,” said O’Driscoll.

“We tried a lot of things. Not everything stuck but plenty of things did. It’s difficult to click when you haven’t played together for six months. Australia have played a lot recently and for the most part we did reasonably well.”

Yet, Ireland will still have cause to regret decision-making in the opening passage of play, when O’Driscoll was unable to field a speculative midfield pass from O’Gara, and Wallaby winger Drew Mitchell took advantage to scoop up the ball and grab a try that Matt Giteau converted.

O’Gara opened the Irish account soon after from his first penalty opportunity while Giteau’s radar was off as he failed to punish a home indiscretion from the touch line after 15 minutes.

Not so heartening was Ireland’s lack of possession during that nervy opening spell until Jamie Heaslip’s steal at an Australian line out set up a concentrated assault that ended with a second successful penalty from O’Gara.

By then, the 22nd minute, the Australians had temporarily introduced the experienced George Smith for injured flanker David Pocock. In the very first subsequent ruck, an isolated O’Leary was caught offside as his colleagues were driven off the ball and Giteau restored Australia’s advantage to four points (10-6).

Elsom then set off on a 30-yard break, starting a move that ended with Rob Kearney’s try-saving tackle on Giteau. Kearney did brilliantly to stop the Wallaby fly-half but shortly after he was on the receiving end when he was flattened by Wycliff Palu.

Referee Jonathan Kaplan decided Palu had not used his arms to make the challenge and sent the destructive Waratahs number eight to the sin bin.

Thankfully for Ireland, Giteau had not brought his kicking boots as he sent a second penalty wide as Australia made a brisk start to the second half.

Munster scrum-half Tomas O’Leary was penalised for feeding at the scrum and this time Giteau obliged with the three points.

Undaunted by Australia opening up a 13-6 lead, Ireland responded beautifully by scoring almost immediately.

From the restart the impressive Cian Healy came up with possession and marauded into space, taking the Irish within 20 yards of the whitewash.

They battered away at the line with Stephen Ferris and David Wallace making telling runs before Bowe eventually wriggled over with O’Gara converting to level the score.

Ireland staged another lightning strike but came away with nothing and next it was Australia’s turn to attack, Giteau and Quade Cooper firing miss passes to Elsom who barged over on the left corner.

Giteau made the tricky touchline conversion, but after that it was all one-way traffic as the Wallabies were subjected to a ferocious late onslaught.

Bowe appeared to have wriggled over with two minutes to go but the TMO decided winger Peter Hynes had got his arms around the ball.

But Ireland could not be denied seconds later, an O’Leary pass sending O’Driscoll in under the posts with O’Gara converting to level with the last kick of the match.

IRELAND: R. Kearney, T. Bowe, B. O’Driscoll, P. Wallace, L. Fitzgerald, R. O’Gara, T. O’Leary, C. Healy, J. Flannery, J. Hayes, D. O’Callaghan, P. O’Connell, S. Ferris, J. Heaslip, D. Wallace.

Replacements: K. Earls for Fitzgerald (53). D. Leamy for Ferris (75). Temporary, D. Leamy for Wallace (60-63).

AUSTRALIA: A. Ashley-Cooper, P. Hynes, D. Ioane, Q. Cooper, D. Mitchell, M. Giteau, W. Genia, B. Robinson, S. Moore, B. Alexander, J. Horwill, M. Chisholm, R. Elsom, W. Paulu, D. Pockock.

Replacements: T. Polota-Nau for Moore (62), J. O’Connor for Ashley-Cooper (68). Temporary. G. Smith for Pocock (20-27)

Referee: J. Kaplan (South Africa).