Rugby World Cup 2011:Ireland edged Australia, 15-6.
AUCKLAND, 17 Sept. - Ireland put the boot into Australia's Rugby World Cup hopes with a 15-6 victory in their Pool C game at Eden Park on Saturday night.
Boasting one of the slickest backlines in the tournament, the Wallabies struggled to live up to their billing and the Irish got home on the back of four penalties and a drop goal before a crowd of 58,678.
As much as full back Kurtley Beale tried to weave his magic, Ireland stood firm with a defence that refused to buckle.
"It was the performance we knew we had in us," said Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll.
"You could swear you were in Dublin with this crowd and it was our job to give them something to cheer about."
Wallabies skipper James Horwill said: "Ireland did well and we played some dumb rugby. We were not good enough."
Having won 20 of their 29 clashes with Ireland, with another match being drawn, Australia were favourites on paper, though these two countries have produced some epic battles over the years. This was no different.
Setbacks
The Wallabies suffered late setbacks, with star flanker David Pocock withdrawing on the morning of the game with a back strain. He was replaced by Ben McCalman, while Tatafu Polota-Nau came into the front-row for an ill Stephen Moore.
Australia had their first chance for points in the fifth minute after full back Rob Kearney was penalised for a high tackle on Beale, but wing James O'Connor sent his shot just wide.
O'Connor, back in the starting side, made no mistake from in front six minutes later after the Wallabies were gifted a penalty from a scrum five metres out.
Ireland fly half Jonathan Sexton drew his side level at 3-3 after 15 minutes.
Australia then had to weather an onslaught from Ireland and Sexton put the Irish ahead 6-3 with only his second drop goal in international rugby.
O'Connor squared things up in the 24th minute after the Irish were caught offside.
Desperate for a break
The Wallabies were again caught offside in the 49th minute and Sexton landed his third penalty to put Ireland 9-6 ahead.
Minutes later, Australia again infringed at the scrum but they were fortunate that Sexton's relatively easy attempt rattled off the upright.
It was the Will Genia-Quade Cooper combination that almost found a way through for Australia wide on the right, but Cooper's final pass went astray with the line in sight.
Again Australia's scrum conceded a penalty and this time it was a gift for Ronan O'Gara, who had come on as a replacement in the 48th minute. At 12-6 ahead in 61st minute, Ireland sniffed a victory and Australia were desperate for a break.
Australia needed all their resolve to keep Ireland out in the 67th minute, a timely penalty arriving as Ireland were bearing down.
But another collapsed scrum virtually in front minutes later gifted O'Gara another penalty to put Ireland 15-6 ahead with 10 minutes left.
Australia were camped all over Ireland's line in the closing minutes but could not break through.
It took some desperate cover defence to stop Ireland's Tommy Bowe from almost running the length of the field to cross, after he intercepted a stray pass from Cooper.
Source:www.rugbyworldcup.com
Boasting one of the slickest backlines in the tournament, the Wallabies struggled to live up to their billing and the Irish got home on the back of four penalties and a drop goal before a crowd of 58,678.
As much as full back Kurtley Beale tried to weave his magic, Ireland stood firm with a defence that refused to buckle.
"It was the performance we knew we had in us," said Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll.
"You could swear you were in Dublin with this crowd and it was our job to give them something to cheer about."
Wallabies skipper James Horwill said: "Ireland did well and we played some dumb rugby. We were not good enough."
Having won 20 of their 29 clashes with Ireland, with another match being drawn, Australia were favourites on paper, though these two countries have produced some epic battles over the years. This was no different.
Setbacks
The Wallabies suffered late setbacks, with star flanker David Pocock withdrawing on the morning of the game with a back strain. He was replaced by Ben McCalman, while Tatafu Polota-Nau came into the front-row for an ill Stephen Moore.
Australia had their first chance for points in the fifth minute after full back Rob Kearney was penalised for a high tackle on Beale, but wing James O'Connor sent his shot just wide.
O'Connor, back in the starting side, made no mistake from in front six minutes later after the Wallabies were gifted a penalty from a scrum five metres out.
Ireland fly half Jonathan Sexton drew his side level at 3-3 after 15 minutes.
Australia then had to weather an onslaught from Ireland and Sexton put the Irish ahead 6-3 with only his second drop goal in international rugby.
O'Connor squared things up in the 24th minute after the Irish were caught offside.
Desperate for a break
The Wallabies were again caught offside in the 49th minute and Sexton landed his third penalty to put Ireland 9-6 ahead.
Minutes later, Australia again infringed at the scrum but they were fortunate that Sexton's relatively easy attempt rattled off the upright.
It was the Will Genia-Quade Cooper combination that almost found a way through for Australia wide on the right, but Cooper's final pass went astray with the line in sight.
Again Australia's scrum conceded a penalty and this time it was a gift for Ronan O'Gara, who had come on as a replacement in the 48th minute. At 12-6 ahead in 61st minute, Ireland sniffed a victory and Australia were desperate for a break.
Australia needed all their resolve to keep Ireland out in the 67th minute, a timely penalty arriving as Ireland were bearing down.
But another collapsed scrum virtually in front minutes later gifted O'Gara another penalty to put Ireland 15-6 ahead with 10 minutes left.
Australia were camped all over Ireland's line in the closing minutes but could not break through.
It took some desperate cover defence to stop Ireland's Tommy Bowe from almost running the length of the field to cross, after he intercepted a stray pass from Cooper.
Source:www.rugbyworldcup.com
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