It’s all on the line in Sydney.
Ireland levelled their three-Test series with Australia after an excellent victory in Melbourne last weekend. The action moves to Sydney and both sides will fancy their chances of taking the spoils.
David Pocock, Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau were superb in the Wallabies’ First Test triumph but Ireland did a good job at bottling them up in the follow-up at AAMI Park. Tadhg Furlong and Peter O’Mahony got most of the plaudits but 21-year-old second row James Ryan has been in sensational form on tour.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt, and his players, will not settle for that 26-21 win and will consider it a major let-down if they finish their Grand Slam-winning season on a losing note.
Australia have brought in Lukhan Tui at blindside while Nick Phipps starts for injured scrum-half Will Genia. Ireland have drafted in Jacob Stockdale, Bundee Aki, Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin and Jack Conan for Saturday’s match (11:05am kick-off Irish time) and go into the game as marginal favourites.
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Third Test preview on #TheHardYards
We're just over a day away from Ireland's versus Australia so let us get you in the mood for what should be a cracking contest.
This is the IrelandXV:
Rob Kearney
Keith Earls
Robbie Henshaw
Bundee Aki
Jacob Stockdale
Johnny Sexton
Conor Murray
Jack McGrath
Sean Cronin
Tadhg Furlong
Devin Toner
James Ryan
CJ Stander
Peter O'Mahony (captain)
Jack Conan
Sean Cronin is OUT
Munster hooker Niall Scannell comes in
Wallabies captain Michael Hooper will make his 82nd cap today at the age of 26. Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw holds the all-time record of 148 caps. He retired from rugby aged 34.
Good morning,
I'm Jack O'Toole and I'll be providing live updates and scores of today's third and final Test from the Allianz Stadium in Sydney for SportsJOE.ie.
Ireland hooker Sean Cronin is a late scratch with a hamstring injury and he's been replaced in the starting side by Niall Scannell with Rob Herring moving onto the bench.
We now have the Welcome To Country address with the anthems set to follow.
Anthems are over and we're just about ready to get underway here. Bernad Foley set to kick-off.
1 min - Australia go high from kick-off with Israel Folau leaping to contest a possession.
1 min - Australia pick up possession and cycle through the phases before Peter O'Mahony picks up where he left off in Melbourne with a terrifc turnover at the breakdown.
4 min - Ireland go wide from the line-out and Jacob Stockdale makes some huge ground down the left wing after some crisp passing from the Irish backs.
Referee reviewing a late hit from Sekope Kepu on Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton.
6 min - Ireland hooker Niall Scannell struggling here early on after conceding a free-kick for balking before another early line-out was pinched.
Ireland win possession back and a penalty after Adam Coleman is penalised for not rolling away.
8 min - Johnny Sexton gets Ireland on the board after slotting over his first penalty from about 40m. Aus 0-3 Ire.
12 min - Bernard Foley levels it up with his first penalty as both teams are tied at 3-3.
14 min - Tadhg Furlong flies through the gap after another great pass from Johnny Sexton. Ireland push towards the Wallabies line but David Pocock forces a brilliant turnover.
15 min - Michael Hooper limps off with what looks like a lower leg injury after Tadhg Furlong smashed him out of the ruck.
16 min - David Pocock wins another turnovr at the brekadown after CJ Stander is caught on the ground. We're just past the quarter hour mark and David Pocock has already shown why he's a world-class poacher with two turnovers already.
David Pocock 2-1 Peter O'Mahony.
Australia 3-3 Ireland.
19 min - Peter O'Mahony hits Pocock like a missile but he goes flying off his feet as Australia win the penalty.
Great cross kick from Johnny Sexton to Keith Earls in the build-up.
20 min - Jacob Stockdale elbows Nick Phipps in the neck with the carry as the TMO reviews.
20 min - Pascal Gaüzère gives Stockdale a yellow card for an elbow on Phipps as Ireland go down to 14.
21 min - Bernard Foley nails the ensuing penalty and Ireland lead 6-3.
22 min - David Pocock contests another breakdown and Sekope Kepu is penalised for not rolling away from the ruck. Harsh on Kepu as he was off to the side away from the contest.
24 min - Conor Murray takes over kicking duties and just drags his penalty from near the 40m mark wide left of the posts.
26 min - Ireland press on the Australian line but after several phases down the blindside David Pocock throws himself in the ruck and wins the turnover.
28 min - Pete Samu gives away another ill-discplined penalty for the Wallabies after coming through and taking out Conor Murray at the breakdown. Sexton back on the kicking duties as he knocks it over to level the scores at 6-6.
30 min - Bernard Foley goes short to Israel Folau who takes out Peter O'Mahony in the air. O'Mahony seriously injured here.
31 min - The TMO looks to have ruled a yellow card for Folau who pulls O'Mahony down mid-air after initially competing for the ball. Confirmation to wait.
31 min - Israel Folau receives a yellow card for the Wallabies while Ireland's man in the sin bin - Jacob Stockdale - returns to the field.
32 min - Conor Murray dives towards the post as the referee refers to the TMO. Great reactions from Murray.
37 min - Australia win the penalty and kick towards the line where Lukhan Tui hauls in the throw with the Wallabies in a great field position near the 22.
38 min - Bundee Aki with a huge hit in the midfield as he brings a big phyiscal presene to the Irish defence.
39 min - Conor Murray is penalised and 14-man Australia tie it up with an easy kick from Foley. Aus 9-9 Ire.
40 min - Ireland go short from the kick-off and win a penalty after Samu Kerevi is penalised for being offside after Rob Kearney dislodged the restart from Dane Haylett-Petty.
41 min - Johnny Sexton adds his fourth penalty of the day as he splits the sticks from right in front. Aus 9-12 Ire.
Sexton establishing some instant ground rules with referee Pascal Gaüzère
Peter O'Mahony carted off following the Israel Folau challenge.
44 min - Ireland hit back from the break and score a try from the maul. Great restart from Ireland who bundle over the line with great execution.
45 min - CJ Standers emerges from the bottom of the pile with the ball but Johnny Sexton fails to add the extras.
Capacity is 45,500.
49 min - Australia win the scrum penalty right in front of the posts but decline the option to kick at goal and instead kick for the corner as they look to make it a one-point game.
50 min - Australia with great position here as Ireland defend bravely to try and stop them. Israel Folau finds space on the outside of the Irish defence with just the line to beat but he can't quite take in Bernard Foley's tipped pass.
53 min - Australia hit back after a great grubber kick from Bernard Foley to Marika Koroibete. A lot of patience from the Wallabies and superb hands and finish from Koroibete. Aus 14-17 Ire.
55 min - Foley lands the kick from near the touchline and it's a one-point game. Aus 16-17 Ire.
56 min - Changes for Ireland as Rob Herring and Cian Healy come on in the front-row for Niall Scannell and Jack McGrath respectively.
57 min - Australia hooker Tolu Latu is also on for Brandon Paenga-Amosa and he makes an immediate impact after winning a turnover penalty on CJ Stander.
58 min - Taniela Tupou replaces Sekope Kepu and barrels his way forward into the Irish defence. Wallabies attack wide but Ireland use their width effectively and push the Wallabies out towards the sideline. Jordan Larmour on for Rob Kearney.
61 min - The Australian front-row get a huge win as they demolish Ireland at the scrum. Taniela Tupou, Tolu Latu and Tom Robertson with a huge impact off the bench.
64 min - Joe Powell has come on to speed things up for the Wallabies and the hosts are really looking to spread Ireland here. Some huge defence for Ireland with Robbie Henshaw nailing Israel Folau down the sideline.
65 min - Ireland survive the waves of Australia attack but Gauziere goes back for a high tackle penalty from Robbie Henshaw.
Sexton wasting no time introducing himself
68 min - Kerevi hit a great hole in the middle of the pitch but Australia squander the momentum after Joe Powell threw a real daisy cutter pass from the ruck.
69 min - Tadhg Beirne is off the bench for his second cap coming on for Jack Conan.
70 mins - Rob Simmons comes flying out of the line to smash Beirne but the Munster bound utility spins out of the tackle and charges up the pitch. Great last 10 minutes set up here.
72 min - Taniela Tupou comes onto the ball like a train but Gaüzère calls a forward pass which seems high questionable. Great low tackle from Rob Herring but strange decision from the referee.
74 min - Samu Kerevi demolishes Johnny Sexton as the Ireland fly-half tries to get back to his feet after a heavy hit. Just over five to go with Ireland minutes away from a series win.
75 min - Jordan Larmour takes a huge bomb in the air as he shows great composure under pressure. Could be a turning point for Ireland down the stretch. Australia are penalised for slapping the ball forward.
77 min - Ireland win the penalty after Tolu Latu refused to release the ball carrier after being warned by Gaüzère. If Sexton converts Australia need a try.
78 min - Johnny Sexton nails the kick and potnetially the series for Ireland. Aus 16-20 IRE. 78 mins.
79 min - Australia win back possession and they attack into the Ireland 22 with the siren fast approaching.
80 min - Australia go wide and out of touch but the referee is revieiwng the play for a deliberate knock on. This is the game here.
80 min - Jacob Stockdale is judged not to have made a deliberate play at the ball and Ireland win and claim the series. What a remarkable season for Irish Rugby!
FT: Australia 16-20 Ireland
