Australia (16) 22 Tries: Burgess, Cooper Pens: Cooper 2, Giteau 2 Ireland (15) 15 Pens: Sexton 5  Richard Brown and Quade Cooper halt the progress of Mick O'Driscoll and Andrew Trimble |
Ireland conceded two tries as they lost to Australia in the final match of their summer tour in Brisbane. Two Jonathan Sexton penalties to one by Quade Cooper gave Ireland the lead but Luke Burgess scored an 18th-minute try. Sexton kicked two more penalties and Cooper one and then fly-half Cooper gave Australia a 16-15 half-time lead with a wonderful try before the break. Matt Giteau was successful with two second-half penalties to condemn the Irish to the third defeat of the tour. Sexton gave Ireland a third-minute lead with a well struck penalty but Giteau squandered the opportunity to level the scores two minutes later as he missed with an attempt from in front of the posts. Sexton knocked over his second penalty and then Cooper was successful with his first effort to reduce his side's deficit to three points. Burgess intercepted debutant Chris Henry's attempted pass to Tomas O'Leary and ran clear to cross the line for the opening try in the 18th minute, with Cooper adding the conversion. Two more Sexton penalties made it 12-8 to Ireland but Cooper landed a straightforward effort for the Wallabies. A further Sexton penalty extended the Irish advantage but a brilliant try by Cooper in the first minute of added time at the end of the first half gave Australia a one-point lead at half-time. The fly-half jinked his way past Ireland flankers Niall Ronan and Shane Jennings and then sidestepped Rob Kearney, completing his mesmerising run by touching down in the corner. The try-scorer was unable to add the two points from the conversion. The home side were dominant at the start of the second half and were rewarded with a Giteau penalty in the 52nd minute. The Aussies continued to pile on the pressure but Ireland defended stoutly and continually held their opponents up short of the line. Giteau kicked over his second penalty to make it 22-15 but Ireland then started to enjoy more of the territory and possession. Cooper was well off-target with a penalty attempt four minutes from time but the Wallabies held on to secure victory.
Australia: James O'Connor; Drew Mitchell, Rob Horne, Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper; Quade Cooper, Luke Burgess; Ben Daley, Saia Faingaa, Salesi Ma'afu, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom (capt), David Pocock, Richard Brown. Replacements: Huia Edmonds, James Slipper for Daley (54), Mark Chisholm, Matt Hodgson, Josh Valentine, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale for Horne (40). Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll capt, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble; Jonathan Sexton, Tomas O'Leary; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Tony Buckley, Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll, Niall Ronan, Shane Jennings, Chris Henry. Replacements: Damien Varley (for Cronin (70), Tom Court for Buckley (40), Denis Tuohy for M O'Driscoll (71), Rhys Ruddock (for Henry 68), Eoin Reddan, Ronan O'Gara, Geordan Murphy for Kearney (53). Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
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