Ireland breeze to Dublin win

Ireland produced a comprehensive display in tough conditions to see off Australia.

International Test Match, Ireland v Australia, Lansdowne Road, Sunday November 19, KO 4pm

Ireland will go second in the world rankings after they produced a superb team performance to beat Australia 21-6.

Led by the belligerent Neil Best and the vastly matured Ronan O'Gara, Ireland controlled large parts of a blustery Lansdowne Road contest, ramming home their advantage through tries from Denis Hickie and Geordan Murphy.

Building on an excellent foundation provided by their tireless pack, Ireland produced some excellent combinations with ball-in-hand, no more so than when Murphy crossed for the match-clinching try.

The full-back's score was an exhibition of top drawer rugby, appearing on the end of a fluent move that highlighted Ireland's growing stock in the world game.

Times have certainly changed for Irish rugby, for whom last year's corresponding home clash was so one-sided that the final whistle prompted calls for coach Eddie O'Sullivan's head, as Australia cruised to a 30-14 triumph.

More significantly, Ireland's last win over the Wallabies came some six games ago, a gritty 18-9 win aided by some miserable wet conditions.

Those same blustery conditions made Lansdowne Road an inhospitable destination once more, yet this time you felt it was the visitors who were grateful for the disrupted rhythm of the match.

After Stirling Mortlock had given Australia the lead with an early penalty, the Wallabies rarely threatened their hosts' line again despite showing some encouraging link play in midfield.

Led by the sniping Isaac Boss, Ireland excelled in their first possession of the football, showing phenomenal ball retention to string together 21 phases, creating the space for Murphy to touch down in the corner for the game's first try.

However, video replays showed the Leicester man lost control of the ball as he reached for the line, leaving the hosts to settle for three consolation points for 3-3.

The Wallabies opted for a powerful line-up in Dublin, partnering Mortlock with Lote Tuqiri in the three-quarters, yet Ireland were more than prepared to match them in the physical stakes.

Man-of-the-match Neil Best picked up from where he left off against South Africa with another bruising display, giving his team-mates the platform to attack - and attack they did.

Following 20 minutes of territorial superiority, Ireland finally got their rewards, O'Gara chipping wide to the unmarked Hickie who danced inside two tackles for an unconverted 8-3 scoreline.

Australia's early promise had sub-sided, and things soon got worse as an injured Stephen Larkham departed for Mat Rogers to take over at outside-half.

The Wallabies simply could not get their hands on the ball, and their rearguard action was eventually breached a second time on the half-time whistle as Ireland produced a memorable score.

O'Gara dictated the move by going on the loop to link with O'Driscoll, before fizzing the ball out to Shane Horgan, who delayed his pass to perfection to allow Murphy to coast over for a world class score.

Ireland had performed like the world's second best team in the first 40 minutes, yet the swirling winds made it difficult to determine the true worth of their first half showing.

Emerging from the comfort of the changing rooms for the second half, the hosts were warmly-greeted by their passionate support - who clearly liked what they were seeing.

O'Gara and Mortlock exchanged penalties to move the scores onto 18-6 at the 50-minute mark, before both sides were reduced in numbers after an ugly brawl.

Ireland went down to 14 with the loss of Denis Leamy and Australia 13 as Phil Waugh and Rogers both saw yellow, following an all-too-public dispute.

The altercation was evidence of growing frustration in the Wallaby camp, and their desperation filtered into their handling as unforced errors grew.

O'Gara capitalised from an offside resulting directly from one such slip of the hand by Clyde Rathbone, leaving Australia requiring three scores to avoid defeat.

The Munster fly-half was in complete command of the contest by now, pinning Australia back inside their 22, testing their ability to build the phases from deep.

Not once did the Wallabies threaten in the closing quarter, confirming Ireland's dominance on an impressive afternoon for Eddie O'Sullivan's men.