Australia gained ample revenge over Ireland with a rampant six-try hammering over the tourists in Perth on Saturday.

Fly-half Elton Flatley was the Wallabies' hero with a 20-point haul, while captain George Gregan grabbed two tries.

Try-scorer Chris Latham in action against Ireland in Perth Australia 45 Tries: Gregan 2, Flatley, S Kefu, Latham, penalty Pens: Flatley Cons: Flately 6 Ireland 16 Tries: Kelly Pens: Humphreys 2, O'Gara Cons: Humphreys

John Kelly scored Ireland's sole try with skipper David Humphreys kicking eight points and Ronan O'Gara also slotting over a penalty.

Australia's other scores came from a rather fortunate penalty try, with Steve Kefu and Chris Latham also touching down.

Ireland started and finished the first half well, but the world champions deserve to avenge their defeat at Lansdowne Road last November.

Ireland went ahead in the fifth minute through a long-range penalty from Humphreys.

Victor Costello, Ireland best player, was straight into the vanguard, making driving runs from the base of a shaky scrum.

But Australia's battering-ram ploy of their big men and the sniping of captain Gregan did the damage.

A great charge by Toutai Kefu and David Giffin in the 16th minute allowed Gregan to nip through, brush aside the challenge of Peter Stringer and score.

Flatley converted and then Ireland could only watch as Australia held onto the ball.

But with passes going to ground and a few handling errors, the Wallabies were unable to take advantage.

They were then hit with a marvellous sucker punch by the Irish in the 33rd minute.

Humphreys started the move from deep, and after inter-play between Geordan Murphy and Kevin Maggs, winger John Kelly looped around his skipper to score.

But Australia charged straight back into the lead two minutes later.

Flatley took a flat ball, cut inside Humphreys and speared through a gap under the posts for a great try which he then converted.

Humphreys kicked eight points in first half before coming off

Humphreys, however, pulled Ireland back to within a point at half-time when he rifled over his second penalty after Keith Gleeson was high-tackled by Kefu.

Humphreys took a knock in the first half and was replaced by O'Gara, whose opposite number Flatley kicked another penalty straight after the interval.

Australia went further ahead in the 53rd minute following a brilliant counter-attack which saw Girvan Dempsey yellow-carded for killing the ball under his posts.

From the resulting scrum, Flatley gave a flat pass to Kefu to dive in for his first try for the Wallabies.

O'Gara kept Ireland in the hunt with a penalty, but the Wallabies pulled away in the final 20 minutes.

Gregan got a lucky bounce from a kick and chase to nip in for his second try, then Latham intercepted on his 22 to run home.

Australia were then given a penalty try when referee Nigel Williams unfairly judged that Kelly had tripped Flatley in a race for the ball.

Ireland: Girvan Dempsey; James Topping; Geordan Murphy, Kevin Maggs, John Kelly; David Humphreys (capt), Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Shane Byrne, Reggie Corrigan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Gary Longwell, Alan Quinlan, Keith Gleeson, Victor Costello.
Replacements: Paul Shields, Emmet Byrne, Eric Miller, Paul O'Connell, Guy Easterby, Ronan O'Gara, Tyrone Howe.

Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales).