Australia v Ireland: Andy Farrell's side edge Wallabies in Sydney

The tourists started slowly but were able to earn a hard-fought win at Allianz Stadium.

FULL STRETCH: Ireland's Dan Sheehan scores a try that would later be overturned. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady

It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough. Ireland extended their winning streak over the Wallabies to six Tests after sealing a dramatic and tense 33-31 victory in Sydney on Saturday.

A try to replacement tight-head prop Thomas Clarkson in the 77-minute and an ice-cool conversion from Sam Prendergast ultimately sealed the come-from-behind win in front of 41971 fans.

The Wallabies had one last opportunity to pinch the Test after Bundee Aki gave away a penalty out wide.

With time up, the Wallabies pointed to the posts and up stepped Ben Donaldson.

But the crowd told the story as the gold-laden crowd stayed down and Ireland’s players pumped their arms up to the skies.

Meanwhile, Joe Schmidt, coaching against his former nation for the last time as he prepares to farewell the Wallabies later this month, sat glumly in the coach’s box, his hand resting on his chin.

For Andy Farrell, Schmidt’s old right-hand man, it was he who laughs last, laughs longest.

“God, it was so tight, so intense, a proper Test match,” said Irish fullback Hugo Keenan.

“We asked to make this crowd, these thousands in green proud, and I think that’s exactly what we did. We never gave up, we dug in deep and, at the end of the day, it just came down to a kick and it could have gone either way.” Ireland were far from their best. Their lineout was poor and their scrum no better, but they managed to get it done through sheer belief.

After being denied twice in the second half – first for an obstruction at the rolling maul after Prendergast had already converted the try and, second, after James Ryan spilt another ball – but Ireland never went away and stopped believing.

The gutsy win came after the Wallabies had raced out to a fast start in the first half and led 24-12 late in the first half.

Jamison Gibson-Park’s try deep into stoppage time in the first half proved to be the first major turning point.

Despite having a scrum near their own 22 metre line, Ireland chose not to kick the ball out and ran it. It worked as they took the ball 80 metres and ended up scoring to land a major blow on the stroke of half time.

The excellent Hugo Keenan then put Ireland in front when he stormed onto a lovely Garry Ringrose ball to score in front of the packed visitors’ fans who had made their way up from “County Coogee”.

The Wallabies regained the lead when livewire halfback Tate McDermott scored.

Ireland looked like they would strike back near the hour-mark before Sheehan’s try was overturned.

More frustration was on the way for Ireland as they failed to turn pressure into points.

It looked like the Wallabies would extend the lead out beyond a converted try, but captain Harry Wilson pointed to the posts and handed the ball to Donaldson. He missed, and Ireland countered and ultimately scored.

Donaldson would be given another opportunity, but once again failed to fire the Wallabies. It was the Wallabies’ fourth miss of the night.

“We put ourselves in the position to get the win. I was very proud of Donno, the way he stood up there in the big moment and wanted that, that’s what you want from your fly-halves and I couldn’t be prouder of him,” said Wallabies captain Harry Wilson.

Earlier, the Wallabies scored in the third minute through winger Dylan Pietsch after the home side pounced on a fumble at the lineout.

But it wasn't long before the visitors struck as Cian Prendergast stormed over Wilson to score.

After playing provider for the first try, Jock Campbell, who was playing his first Test in almost four years, then scored himself as he took advantage of Ireland's left-edge issues.

In the see-sawing affair, Ireland then took a 12-10 lead as Josh van der Flier scored.

Two tries in three minutes then saw the Wallabies seize the advantage as the home side's midfield carved up Ireland's, with Josh Canham and Ryan Lonergan scoring their first Test tries.

Keenan then stood up.

With Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii making life hell for Ireland, Keenan dragged the outside centre down and the code-hopper attempted to offload off the deck just before the tryline but spilled the ball. It was a telling moment.

Moments later Ireland scored through Gibson-Park.

After the high-octane first half, Ireland had the better of the second half and ultimately stole the match by scoring two tries to Australia's one. It was the difference.

"To the Wallabies, what a Test match," acting captain Sheehan said. "I know you guys are going places and on another day that could easily have been yours, so fair play.

"We weren’t perfect by any means, but to be able to close out games like that, you can’t buy them. We’ll be proud of that win, but we have a lot to work on."

IRELAND (15-1): Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Tom O’Toole Reserves: Rónan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Bundee Aki 

AUSTRALIA (15-1): Jock Campbell, Max Jorgensen, Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Carter Gordon, Ryan Lonergan, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Nasser, Angus Bell Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Tom Wright