Agony for resilient Irish in Melbourne

Australia 18 Ireland 12

It was heartbreak for Ireland inside the Telstra Dome, Melbourne last night as Michael Bradley’s side came agonisingly close to a Test victory on Australian soil for the first time in 29 years.

You could argue that the better team lost, though Australian coach Robbie Deans argued afterwards that a result is remembered, not the detail.

Ireland had the opportunities to win this Test but couldn’t convert them and will look back on this test as a chance lost.

The visitors also gifted the Aussies two relatively soft tries. “We didn’t make them work for those,” said O’Driscoll afterwards.

Australia can count themselves extremely lucky to survive a huge second half onslaught from the Irish, and it was plain to see from their expressions at the final whistle that they were lucky to post a victory against a gutsy Irish side.

By Edward Newman

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