Australia secure Lansdowne cup with four try triumph over Ireland in Dublin

Nov 17 • General News, International, World Rugby • 2208 Views • Comments Off on Australia secure Lansdowne cup with four try triumph over Ireland in Dublin

IRELAND15 v QANTAS WALLABIES 32

The Qantas Wallabies have put in one of their best performances of the season with a comprehensive 32-15, four tries to nil, victory over Ireland in the Lansdowne Cup played in Dublin early Sunday morning (AEDT).

The 2013 John Eales Medallist, Michael Hooper scored a double, with Nick Cummins and Quade Cooper also crossing the line. As impressive as the attack was, the defence was even better with the Men in Gold snuffing out wave after wave of Irish attack.

The Wallabies pack dominated Ireland at the scrum, winning numerous penalties and driving Hooper over in a maul for his second try.

Matt Toomua kicked off on a chilly, but dry night in Dublin, perfect for Rugby, with very light wind and the temperature hovering at 11 degrees.

The Wallabies had some positive early flourishes with Israel Folau, who was superb under the high ball all night, defusing a sky-high bomb for Adam Ashley-Cooper. Ashley-Cooper almost chased down the long Cooper kick to score but the ball just beat him in to touch.

The first seven minutes were even with the Wallabies restricted by a string of free kicks and penalties awarded against them.

Cooper made it 3-0 on eight minutes with a well-struck penalty from 40 metres out. Irish flyhalf Jonathan Sexton equalised on 12 minutes after a long driving maul gave Ireland a good attacking position.

Australia’s pack won a scrum penalty against the feed in Ireland’s territory with a strong shove, but Cooper’s penalty shot just missed the left upright.

The Wallabies were on the board soon after in a perfect example of the high tempo, quick ball-movement style that Australia are developing.

The Men in Gold moved the ball quickly from side to side before James Horwill popped a neat pass to Cooper who ran wide.

The vice-captain found Stephen Moore running a perfect line in the outside centre channel. The veteran hooker did brilliantly to break the line and get a superb offload away to winger Nick Cummins, who stepped inside the Irish defence to score his fifth Test try and third in a week. Cooper converted to make it 10-3 to the Wallabies.

Sexton missed a penalty on 21 minutes and the Wallabies made it count with their second try on 24 minutes.

This time it was flanker Scott Fardy ranging wide on the left who was put into a gap by Toomua. The Brumbies loose forward did well to make a half break and pop a perfectly timed inside pass to Hooper who raced over for Australia’s second try. Cooper missed the conversion but the Wallabies were good value for their 15-3 lead.

As good as the Wallabies attack had been, their defence was even better as they repelled surge after surge at the try line. Sexton got a second penalty after half an hour but it was very little reward for all Ireland’s possession and territory.

Ireland however continued to attack and Hooper was given a yellow card after 32-minutes for an accumulation of team offences at the breakdown. Sexton added the resulting penalty to make it 15-9.

As the penalty count soared to 9-2 to Ireland, another penalty to Sexton made it 15-12 right on half time. Ireland launched a dangerous attack right on the whistle but good work from Ashley-Cooper at the breakdown extinguished the danger.

Sexton left the field with a hamstring injury at half time which saw Leinster flyhalf, Ian Madigan run on.

The Wallabies were unlucky not to go further ahead on 42 minutes with Cummins denied his second try of the match by the TMO.

Another strong shove from the Wallabies pack won them the feed from the resulting five metre scrum and moments later Australia were in for their third try.

Captain Ben Mowen picked the ball up from the back of the scrum and fed scrumhalf Will Genia who sent a long ball to Cooper. Cooper then sliced right through the Irish defence to score next to the posts before converting the try and the Wallabies were out to a 22-12 lead.

Cooper increased the lead to 25-12 with another well struck penalty on 49 minutes, with Madigan bringing it back to 25-15 eight minutes later.

Sitaleki Timani came on for Horwill while Joe Tomane made his way on to the field for Ashley-Cooper.

The Wallabies fourth try would have warmed the forward’s heart as they drove Hooper over at the back of a maul from a lineout. Cooper converted the NSW flanker’s second try to take the Wallabies clear at 32-15.

It was the vice-captain’s last act of the match as he went off for Christian Leali’ifano. McKenzie emptied his bench with Nick White on for Will Genia, Benn Robinson and Paddy Ryan for James Slipper and Sekope Kepu, Liam Gill giving Hooper a well-earned rest and burly Waratahs hooker, Tatafu Polota-Nau making his return to Test Rugby after almost year, coming on for Moore.

The Wallabies suffered a late setback with Tevita Kuridrani given a red card for a lifting tackle on Irish flanker Pete O’Mahony. Although Ireland did all they could against fourteen men to get across the line in the final minutes, the Wallabies held firm.

Australia now move on to Edinburgh where they will face Scotland at 5.00am AEDT next Sunday morning.

LANSDOWNE CUP TEST – FULL TIME RESULT:

Qantas Wallabies 32 (Michael Hooper 2, Nick Cummins, Quade Cooper tries; Cooper 3 conversions, 2 penalties) defeated Ireland 15 (Jonathan Sexton 4 penalties; Ian Madigan penalty) at Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (Half Time: Wallabies 15 Ireland 12) (Referee: Chris Pollock [NZ]).