The Qantas Wallabies began the Robbie Deans era with a thrilling 18 – 12 victory over Ireland in the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series Test played at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne tonight in front of a healthy crowd of 41,478
And it took just six minutes for the Deans era to begin in style with a Crusaders like try.
Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock made up for an early knock-on with a strong break on the right hand side to forty metres out from the Irish line, the ball then swung to the left very quickly where winger Lote Tuqiri carried the ball within metres of the line with a powerful burst.
Tuqiri then popped the ball up to inside centre Berrick Barnes who was closely in support, another Crusaders trait, for the 23-year-old Queenslander to crash over for the five pointer.
The Deans era couldn’t have started any better.
Flyhalf Matt Giteau missed the conversion but after just seven minutes the Men of Gold were up 5 – 0.
Ireland went close soon after but some strong defence by Wallabies debutant Peter Hynes held them out.
But Ireland did go over just a few minutes later with flanker Denis Leamy diving over after an Irish rolling maul close to the Wallabies line. The successful conversion by flyhalf Ronan O’Gara putting Ireland up 7 – 5 after 16 minutes.
But the Wallabies hit back with a magnificent team try on 21 minutes, one of the best in recent history.
It started with a counter attack in the Australian 22 and a strong break from Hynes who was tackled forty metres out from the Irish line.
After quick work from another debutant, scrumhalf Luke Burgess, five well worked phases later Giteau stepped two Irish defenders before popping a pass to Queensland Reds lock James Horwill to plunge over for his first Test try.
Giteau landed the conversion to have the Wallabies up 12 – 7 with a quarter of the game gone.
An impressive tighthead to the Wallaby pack then led to a penalty 30 metres out from the Irish posts. Giteau landed the penalty attempt to put Australia up 15 – 7.
Some spirited Irish attack for the rest of the half was repelled by some stern Wallaby defence leaving the half time score at Qantas Wallabies 15 – Ireland 7.
The second half started just as well for the Wallabies with Mortlock pressurising the Irish in to giving away a penalty near their line.
Giteau landed the penalty from wide out to put the Wallabies comfortably ahead 18 – 7.
Ireland continued to spread the ball wide in the early period of the second half, also using the inside ball liberally, with plenty of endeavour but little reward as the Wallabies stoutly defended every Irish surge.
A great counter-attacking break from Irish fullback Rob Kearney almost led to a try for Ireland after 53 minutes but the final pass was ruled forward by French referee Christophe Berdos.
Soon after a stunning passage of Rugby saw a cross field kick from Barnes intercepted superbly by Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll, but his inside pass to his centre partner Paddy Wallace went to ground and fullback Cameron Shepherd was able to save for the Wallabies, inches from the Australian tryline.
Soon after the Wallabies however could not hold Ireland out a third time.
It started with Leamy leaping high to take an Irish mid-field bomb. The ball was then swung wide quickly to the dangerous Kearney who made a break before sending winger Tommy Bowe down the touchline.
Bowe then passed inside to O’Driscoll who slid over the line for Ireland’s second try. O’Gara missed the conversion to keep the Wallabies up 18 – 12 after 62 minutes.
Ireland had their chances in the final quarter of the match but some courageous defence from the Wallabies, particularly two huge tackles by Tuqiri and replacement Phil Waugh, and some poor execution from the Irish saw Australia hold on.
The Robbie Deans era has begun as Wallaby fans hope it will continue – with a win – and the Wallabies have re-claimed the Lansdowne Cup they last held in 2006.
Full time score
Qantas Wallabies18 (Berrick Barnes, James Horwill tries, Matt Giteau conversion, 2 penalties) defeated Ireland 12 (Denis Leamy, Brian O’Driscoll tries, Ronan O’Gara conversion) at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne. (Half time score: Wallabies 15 – Ireland 7). Crowd: 41, 478
