IRELAND HAVE PLAYED Australia at home seven times in the professional era and each one of has given us something to talk about. With the Wallabies visiting Dublin again this week, we look back at their previous clashes in Ireland over the last few years.
Ireland actually lead this game 9-6 at half time but a second half try from David Knox (that fiery/crazy Aussie who coached the Leinster backline briefly) saw Australia win by double digits.
Ireland 3-23 Australia
Trevor Brennan being Trevor Brennan. Lorraine O 'Sullivan / INPHO
Lorraine O 'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO
Ireland hosted their three World Cup pool games in 1999 at home but were blown away by the eventual winners at Lansdowne Road. In fairness to Ireland, nobody could live with an all-time great backline of Gregan, Larkham, Roff, Horan. Herbert, Tune and Burke.
This win was the highlight of Dec-Eddie, the uneasy axis between the two coaches at international level. INPHO
INPHO
It was a dogfight in a downpour but this is probably one of Ireland’s most underrated wins – they hadn’t beaten a southern hemisphere team in 23 years before this victory. It was Brian O’Driscoll’s debut as Ireland captain and Ronan O’Gara was at his best from the tee. And the Aussies were world champions at the time too.
This game was one of the low points of Eddie O’Sullivan’s time in charge. It was the autumn after the disastrous Lions tour to New Zealand, Ireland had been spanked by the All Blacks the week before and they were missing O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell for the autumn series.
Oh, and Malcolm O’Kelly almost got cut in half early on.
Ireland 21-6 Australia – 2006
Disco Den was back to his best in 2006. Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
What a difference a year makes. 2006 was every bit as impressive as ’05 was disappointing. It was the start of the Denis Hickie renaissance and Neil Best put in a bulldozing man of the match performance.
Definitely one of the best displays of the Eddie O’Sullivan era.
O'Driscoll marked his 100th test cap in style against Australia. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
This game was probably the most exciting contest of the lot. It had everything: lots of tries, both early and late, tap tackles and it was Brian O’Driscoll’s 100th cap as well as Cian Healy’s debut.
Australia throttled Ireland in Joe Schmidt's first big test as Ireland coach. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Once again, what a difference one year makes. Ireland were comprehensively beaten in Joe Schmidt’s first test against a marquee nation but ever since, the team has learned how to implement Schmidt’s detail-orientated gameplans far better.
Ireland’s shambolic defence here is unrecognisable to the stingy rearguard at the moment.
ROG in the rain, Wood's step and Cooper's magic - Ireland vs Australia in the professional era
IRELAND HAVE PLAYED Australia at home seven times in the professional era and each one of has given us something to talk about. With the Wallabies visiting Dublin again this week, we look back at their previous clashes in Ireland over the last few years.
Ireland 12-22 Australia – 1996
Ireland actually lead this game 9-6 at half time but a second half try from David Knox (that fiery/crazy Aussie who coached the Leinster backline briefly) saw Australia win by double digits.
Ireland 3-23 Australia
Ireland hosted their three World Cup pool games in 1999 at home but were blown away by the eventual winners at Lansdowne Road. In fairness to Ireland, nobody could live with an all-time great backline of Gregan, Larkham, Roff, Horan. Herbert, Tune and Burke.
Also, writing about this game is a great excuse to bust out this classic clip of Keith Wood’s serious sidestep.
Ireland 18-9 Australia – 2002
It was a dogfight in a downpour but this is probably one of Ireland’s most underrated wins – they hadn’t beaten a southern hemisphere team in 23 years before this victory. It was Brian O’Driscoll’s debut as Ireland captain and Ronan O’Gara was at his best from the tee. And the Aussies were world champions at the time too.
Ireland 14-30 Australia – 2005
This game was one of the low points of Eddie O’Sullivan’s time in charge. It was the autumn after the disastrous Lions tour to New Zealand, Ireland had been spanked by the All Blacks the week before and they were missing O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell for the autumn series.
Oh, and Malcolm O’Kelly almost got cut in half early on.
Ireland 21-6 Australia – 2006
What a difference a year makes. 2006 was every bit as impressive as ’05 was disappointing. It was the start of the Denis Hickie renaissance and Neil Best put in a bulldozing man of the match performance.
Definitely one of the best displays of the Eddie O’Sullivan era.
Ireland 20-20 Australia – 2009
This game was probably the most exciting contest of the lot. It had everything: lots of tries, both early and late, tap tackles and it was Brian O’Driscoll’s 100th cap as well as Cian Healy’s debut.
Ireland were seven points down late on when O’Driscoll did this.
Ireland 15-32 Australia
Once again, what a difference one year makes. Ireland were comprehensively beaten in Joe Schmidt’s first test against a marquee nation but ever since, the team has learned how to implement Schmidt’s detail-orientated gameplans far better.
Ireland’s shambolic defence here is unrecognisable to the stingy rearguard at the moment.
And hey, it wasn’t in the professional era but this try back in 1991 was pretty special (until Michael Lynagh ruined it).
What is your favourite Ireland vs Australia memory from Lansdowne Road over the years?
Everybody’s happy to have Kurtley Beale back in the squad — Quade Cooper
TheScore.ie’s November Tests team of the week
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Brian O'Driscoll All-Ireland Senior HC Ireland Keith Wood Looking Back November Tests Australia