In the end Australia won a nail biter – 18-9 in one of their very best performances since the 2015 Rugby World Cup – even better than when they beat the All Blacks at the same venue last year.
But where was the game won and lost – we examine the key areas of the match to see who came out on top in four incredibly hard fought battles.
Outside backs
It was always going to be interesting to see which backline was the faster if the game opened up. Australia’s opening try suggested it was the Wallabies.
Will Genia found some space out wide for Dane Haylett-Petty who sent Samu Kerevi away before another clever pass from Genia put Bernard Foley over in the corner.
Ireland are the masters of pressure, of working in tight spaces, but Australia wanted the game played in the open spaces out wide.
Australia again showed they had the edge with Israel Folau’s superb second half try, which was unfortunately disallowed for Adam Coleman’s off the ball tackle, as well as the fullback’s incredible aerial skills.
Jacob Stockdale did his best for Ireland with limited opportunities but the Men in Green’s tight game plan didn’t provide him with much of a platform.
Rob Kearney also made some uncharacteristic errors but a huge try save tackle on Marika Koroibete partly made up for it.
VERDICT: Folau’s superb performance gives this one to Australia.
HALFS
Another incredibly tight battle. Conor Murray, rightly so, is regarded as the top scrumhalf in world rugby and he was superb right from the start with his pinpoint kicking and speedy service.
But as the game wore on Genia came into it more and more with his own quick service releasing Australia’s speedy outside backs.
There was also a lot of talk before the match about how young fly-half Joey Carbery would handle the pressure of starting in such a big Test but to his credit he held up well, showing he belongs at this level.
But similarly as the game wore on the Wallabies No10 Bernard Foley stamped his own authority in his own kicking and distribution.
Even when Ireland’s first choice No10 Johnny Sexton came into the game Foley continued to dominate.
VERDICT: Surprisingly this goes to the Wallabies also.
Tight five
The fairy tale of the garbo who rose to become a Wallaby was meant to hit its high point in Brisbane but unfortunately brutal reality struck.
The debutant hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa had won everyone over during the week with his winning personality since being called into the starting line-up due to the retirement of Stephen Moore, the non-selection of Tatafu Polota-Nau and the injury to Jordan Uelese.
But when the pressure was applied the newly shorn 22-year-old sadly faded.
He lost his first line out and then given the chance to make an impact in open play he was shunted back by the Irish defence and then Peter O’Mahony easily plucked the ball from his hands.
Another poor throw in the 29th minute gave Ireland the ball on the Wallabies 22 and another early in the second half.
On the plus side for Australia, the Ireland scrum dominance never really asserted itself in a match with only 11 scrums. And Taniela ‘The Tongan Thor’ Tupou’s massive scrum in the 68th minute was a turning point in the match.
Adam Coleman was a strong presence for Australia, as was James Ryan for Ireland.
But with the Wallabies woes at the lineout, mainly due to Paenga-Amosa’s lack of accuracy, and Coleman’s tackle without the ball that saw Folau’s try overturned – this one has to go to Ireland.
VERDICT: Ireland – Australia need to work out their lineout.
Loose forwards
This was one of the best back row battles ever seen on Australian soil. Michael Hooper, David Pocock and Caleb Timu against Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander and Jordi Murphy.
Pocock was back to his annoying best in his best game in the gold jersey since the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He was a constant menace at the ruck making the Irealnd pack work harder and harder to retain possession.
O’Mahony was also at his best getting some important turnovers while CJ Stander came into the game more in the second half with a searing break just after half time, running 50 metres only to be denied by Haylett-Petty’s tackle on the try line.
In the close games the fine margins make all the difference and Pocock seemed to win the ball fairly at the breakdown more often than he was given credit for by the ref. He also took his try brilliantly in the 70th minute.
Crusaders flanker Peter Samu also won a ruck penalty at his first breakdown, immediately making his presence felt for the Wallabies.
VERDICT: Due to Pocock’s non-stop performance this one goes to Australia.
OVERALL
Michael Cheika has spoken often about the Wallabies playing in a way that would capture the spirit of the Australian public. For the last few years that has meant trying – and failing – to play expansive rugby
But at last Cheika seems to have realized what the Australian public really want is to see some good old fashioned guts and heart – as well as some razzle-dazzle. They want to see a team totally committed and giving all they can for their team and their country.
And that’s what the Wallabies gave in bucket-loads. Some huge hits right from the kick off in the his team’s most committed performance in recent memory.
One tackle from Marika Koroibete on Conor Murray was eye-popping as was another from Michael Hooper on Joey Carbery.
But to Ireland’s credit they weathered the opening barrage, worked their way into position, and then built the pressure.
It was the usual professional performance from the Six Nations champions but in the end surprisingly, it was Australia who finished the stronger – finding the gas in the final minutes to get home.
VERDICT: Australia worthy winners.
