Desperately seeking rhythm and resilience in Melbourne

Australia 18 Ireland 9

Going 1-0 down in a three-Test series is never an ideal scenario but that is the position the Irish find themselves in five days out from the middle game in this match-up with Michael Cheika’s Wallabies.

Having talked Schmidt’s side up all week by reminding anyone who would listen about Ireland’s status as the world’s second-ranked team and Six Nations Grand Slam winners, Cheika’s side on Saturday set about brutally knocking them down a peg or three.