What's happening
Australia - Ireland

November 1 Match

WHAT'S HAPPENING? (posted 2nd November 2003)
Ireland put the wind up the Wallabies last night in Melbourne and Australia were lucky to walk away with a one point win over the men in green 17-16.

The much anticipated clash brought out more than 54,000 fans to Telstra Dome last night, the game played under the closed roof despite the weather being a wet and miserable typical Melbourne night. The Wallabies started off the game well, and Wallaby fans would have been delighted with George Smith's try in the twelfth minute - we don't often get to see him score because he's a flanker :) But at this stage Australia was leading 8-0. Cool! But the Irish players hammered away at the Wallabies, and by half time the Aussies were only ahead by five points 11-6.

Elton Flately slotted a penalty goal soon after the second half started to put Australia further out, but then the tide shifted. Stephen Larkham who's been playing so well, didn't kick particularly well at all last night, and he blew it when he opted to go for a quick lineout right near the Australian try line. His long pass to Joe Roff - who obviously hadn't been expecting the ball, found its way into the hands of Irish centre O'Driscoll who charged through two defenders to score! When Ronan O'Gara potted the conversion, the score was just one point the difference. Uh oh!

Elton Flately kicked a penalty goal soon after to put Australia out by 4 points again, but the determined and dogged Irish weren't giving up and had the Aussies running ragged all over the paddock. O'Driscoll kicked a drop goal with just over ten minutes to go on the clock, and the game pace was frantic from then on in as Ireland desperately tried to score more points, and the Wallabies desperately tried to hang on to their one point lead!

Ireland had one last drop goal attempt, and when it slid wide of the posts, Australia managed to take the win.

A hard fought and tough test match, either side could have emerged victorious. Keith Wood played a magnificent game as usual, and O'Driscoll was brilliant. For my money, George Smith was outstanding for Australia, but some of the veteran players could have performed a lot lot better. Matt Burke's performance was ordinary, Stephen Larkham wasn't really on his game, and Wendell Sailor - whom we all love and adore - need to defend a lot more vigorously :) Ireland will go on to play France in the quarter final match next week, while Australia will take on Scotland in Brisbane. Here's hoping the Wallabies have far fewer errors from here on in.