live updates??

[Darren]

23 A really competitive game so far. The pace is unrelenting. Try scorer Horwill soars to claim the restart. Excellent work from the Aussie number 4. -
22 Conv M Giteau 12-7
21 Try J Horwill 10-7
The offloads out of the tackle are killing Ireland. The tackles are going in but a superb offload from Giteau, close to the Irish posts, puts big lock James Horwill over for a try.

20 The Wallabies are quick to counter. Debutant Peter Hynes shows his pace on a 30-metre burst and Ireland look stretched. -

19 Australia are pinged for an early hit at the scrum. It is a free-kick and Heaslip taps and sets off on a run. O'Connell barges forward but loses the ball with Nathan Sharpe forcing the turnover. Barnes kicks clear

[jargan83]

Coach i stand relieved

[jargan83]

i can however update that jono is on his 2nd pint

[Darren]

From: MatchDayLive
56 O'Driscoll's pass fell to Wallace's feet, the number 12 tried to kick it forward but Shepherd was able to gather it on the deck. With three players around him and just metres from his try line, the Aussie full-back is not releasing but Berdos plays on. The Aussies only concede a scrum. -

55 O'Driscoll reads a chip kick from Giteau and with no one around him, the Irish skipper dashes clear down the right wing, over the ten-metre line. Barnes covers and O'Driscoll's pass inside for Wallace is a poor one. -

54 A knock-on from Horgan ends that Irish spell. A superb counter from Kearney as he evades three tacklers gets Ireland back on the front foot, however a forward pass robs Heaslip of the chance of a try under the posts. -
53 Sub T Buckley on
for J Hayes -

53 Better stuff from Ireland. The add some pace to the attack as Bowe breaks free into midfield. Eoin Reddan and O'Gara are beginning to click. Wallace is sprung through a gap but he fails to spot Reddan on his left shoulder. The Aussie defence is under pressure. -

52 Flannery fumbles the ball. Burgess tries to counter but Reddan tackles him into touch near halfway. Scrum ball for the Aussies following that knock-on. -
51 Sub E Reddan on
for P Stringer -
Double replacement by the Irish management as Stringer and Best make way.
51 Sub J Flannery on
for R Best -

50 Hynes gets ball in hand but is grounded by a thunderous hit from Ferris. O'Callaghan and George Smith have a 'coming together' at a ruck. Referee Berdos sorts it out eventually. -

49 Another free-kick to the Aussies after that scrum. A binding offence. They kick long to Bowe again and Kearney's big left boot finds touch just inside the Aussie half. -

48 O'Connell carries forward in midfield, scrum ball to Ireland on the Aussies' ten-metre line. Both sides take a well-earned breather as the quick pace of the game continues. -

47 Ireland infringe at the lineout. They had an extra number. The Wallabies have a free-kick which they boot downfield, Bowe retrieves it and after a couple of tight phases, O'Driscoll sends Wallace scurrying forward down the right wing. -
46 Blood sub D Mumm on
for N Sharpe -

45 Wonderful take of a garryowen from Kearney. He seems supreme in the air. Ireland launch a kick chase as the Aussies fumble and Horgan puts pressure on his opposite number. Lineout to the hosts near their 22. -
44 Pen kick M Giteau 18-7
The Wallabies opt for the place kick and Giteau nudges it over from the right wing. An important score there.

43 Pressure on Wallace from Mortlock. The Ulster man fails to find O'Driscoll with his pass and Mortlock hacks the ball on. Bowe gets back to gather the loose ball, five metres from the try line, but the Aussies rush forward and Ireland are pinged for killing the ball at the ruck. -

42 Potential high tackle on Barnes in midfield but Berdos lets it go. The Wallabies kick to touch near the Irish ten-metre line. -

41 Barnes restarts the game. Another half of strong defence from the Wallabies should see them home. O'Callaghan gathers the kick, Ireland recycle and O'Gara clears to the left touchline. -

41 You cannot fault Ireland's effort. There is total commitment from O'Driscoll and his team-mates but they need quicker ball, better angles of running and a smarter game-plan when they get within range of the whitewash. -

41 Ireland edged the possession stats in the first half and had a very good slice of the territory but the Wallabies are very clinical when they create scoring chances. They have played in fits and starts but have done enough to warrant their lead. -
Half-time: 15-7

40 The Irish support is slow but Australia are penalised for going over the top and Ireland have a kickable left-sided penalty. Stringer decides to tap it though and a string of passes to the right ends with Horan being grounded. Time is up and Berdos blows for half-time. Ireland could rue that decision to take a quick tap. -

39 Giteau booms the drop-out down. Stringer collects and links with Horgan. Lovely play from O'Driscoll as he combines with Bowe off the next phase and Heaslip is suddenly breaking through over halfway. -

38 O'Connell claims a lineout on the Aussie ten-metre line. Wallace and Shane Horgan combine in midfield. Thankfully, O'Driscoll seems to have recovered. He gets on the ball as Ireland work through the phases. O'Gara kicks long but the ball trickles over the try line and Shepherd taps for a 22 drop-out. -

37 The Australians are really marshalling O'Driscoll well in midfield. The Ireland captain regularly has two players in front of him when he gets ball in hand. He also seems to have taken a knock to the head. Worrying signs. -

36 Scrum ball to Ireland. Hayes is whistled up however for his binding. Harsh call from referee Berdos. Australian penalty, Sharpe wins the lineout and the ball is spread quickly out to the left. Back on the right, Hynes chips over the top but Kearney mops up well and returns with interest. -

33 Ireland's best spell of possession there. They went through eleven phases with the forwards taking the game to their counterparts. Leamy, O'Connell, Ferris, O'Callaghan, Heaslip and Horan all carried forward with intent. Play has been in and around the Aussies' 22 for the last two minutes. -

32 Overthrown lineout from Moore. He misses the Leinster-bound Rocky Elsom. But the Wallabies snaffle possession on the deck, Barnes kicks clear to the right. Leamy is down receiving treatment after injurying his elbow. -

31 O'Gara takes the ball into contact in midfield. He seems isolated but Stringer rescues the situation with a fine kick over the top, which catches Tuqiri out of position and rolls into touch on the right. Lineout to the Aussies on their 22. -

30 Excellent scrum from Ireland. They win back the put-in with the Wallaby front row coming under a lot of pressure from Messrs. Hayes, Best and Horan. -

29 More expansive play from Ireland. Heaslip lurks out on the right wing but his pass inside to Best is ruled forward. Possession back to the Aussies, scrum ball just inside their half. -

28 O'Gara restarts with Horwill receiving. Giteau sends out a loose pass in midfield, the ball bounces on the turf but the Aussies regroup and kick clear. Leamy runs the ball back strongly. -
27 Pen kick M Giteau 15-7

26 Good pressure from the Irish on the Wallaby scrum but referee Berdos pings the back row for not binding and Giteau will go for goal from right on the ten-metre line. -
25 Sub S Ferris on
for S Jennings -

25 It seems like Jennings has sustained a shoulder injury. A devastating blow for the Leinster man. He is coming off, with late tour call-up Stephen Ferris being introduced. -

24 Ireland are pinged for not rolling away at a ruck, with Jennings right in the thick of it. Giteau kicks to touch on the Aussies' ten-metre line. Good throw from Moore and the home side attack on the right wing, helped by Luke Burgess' snappy passing.

[Darren]

Full time: 18-12

79 It is a furious finish. Continuing to dominate possession and territory, Ireland work through 18-19 phases as they look for space with time running out. Forwards and backs combine, Bowe and Kearney try to jink their way through but again the Aussie defence is rock solid. -

78 Ireland seem to be growing in confidence. Plenty of guts from the tourists but a forward pass from O'Connell stunts their progress. Harsh call from referee Berdos and the Munster captain lets him know about it. -

77 While the pace has slackened, Ireland are sticking to their task. They win another penalty which Reddan taps. The Wallabies' defence remains strong with play locked between their 22 and the halfway line.

76 Sub S Cordingley on
for L Burgess -

75 Australia are left clinging on here. But Flannery cannot connect with his jumper again. Ireland have been on the front foot for the past five minutes. -

74 More woe for Ireland though. There is a miscommunication at the lineout and Flannery cannot find his jumper. Australia clear to touch through Shepherd. -
73 Sub J Hayes on
for M Horan -
73 Sub A Freier on
for S Moore -
73 Sub P Waugh on
for W Palu -

72 Australia are called offside at the ruck and O'Gara steps up to plant a big kick downfield. Lineout to Ireland inside the Aussies' 22. -

71 Great counter-rucking from Ferris and he wins a scrum for his side just short of the ten-metre line. The Aussies infringe at the scrum and Heaslip taps it and goes. -
70 Sub G Dempsey on
for B O'Driscoll -
Injury has taken its toll on O'Driscoll and his Leinster team-mate Girvan Dempsey comes on to replace him.
70 Sub D Mumm on
for R Elsom -

68 Flannery cannot find his target at a midfield lineout. The Aussies have a few phases near the halfway line and Ireland are pinged for not releasing the tackler. -

67 Non-stop rugby now. Tiring bodies all around the pitch. The momentum is still with the Aussies but they lose ground off the scrum with Burgess not getting much time to clear from rucks. Stubborn defence from Ireland and they win two relieving penalties. O'Connell taps the first and O'Gara kicks the second to touch. -

66 The pressure is back on Ireland. The Wallabies are camped in the Irish 22. Burgess has the ball for a scrum put-in. -

65 The Aussies are back on the attack worryingly. Kearney, who is having a superb game, gets across on both the right and left wings to deny Mortlock and Hynes. -

64 O'Driscoll is down receiving treatment. But the skipper is fit enough to continue, that was his first try since his effort against Argentina in the World Cup. -
63 Miss conv R O'Gara 18-12
62 Try B O'Driscoll 18-12
Leamy takes a high ball deep inside the Irish half, Kearney races up the left wing and links brilliantly with Bowe who dances along the touchline and darts into space. The Aussies are stretched and O'Driscoll is up in support to stretch over and touch down under pressure from Giteau. Great try from Ireland!

59 That was a real opportunity for Ireland to strike back and you wonder how they will bounce back from failing to score there. The Aussies are playing smart rugby. -
59 Sub G Murphy on
for S Horgan -
57 Sub A Baxter on
for B Robinson -

57 Further disappointment for Ireland as they are turned over at the scrum and the Wallabies are able to kick clear for a lineout. Ferris is clearly angered but we will never know how the Irish lost possession on the deck!

[travelling_gerry]

phew....

[BLR]

i can however update that jono is on his 2nd pint

Is he feeling a bit woozy?

[Elf1]

Thank you Coach, absolutely wonderful reporting there.

[Thequeerone]

A fantastic night out for all - next time - might have been different if O'Connell had been the captain for 5 mins more - how many time have I siad that - a result though for the Wallabies not their most convincing win but sure you have to take it if you can

[jono]

i can however update that jono is on his 2nd pint

handled it fine thanks as well mate.

[oxleymoron]

A fantastic night out for all - next time - might have been different if O'Connell had been the captain for 5 mins more - how many time have I siad that - a result though for the Wallabies not their most convincing win but sure you have to take it if you can

41,484 fans at the Dome, strong Irish contingent as you would expect. It was definetely not convincing, Ireland had a few golden opportunities but couldn't capitalise. Very lucky to escape with that one!

A little disappointed that Crossy didn't get a run, Hynes had his moments, but the key in the second half was the lack of protection for Burgess at the breakdown. There were several turnovers from this area, which allowed Ireland to continue to build pressure on the field and within my arteries. I thought Lote had a stormer in the first half, but then went missing in the 2nd half, as we decided to kick the ball away, rather than run the ball. At times it worked to our advantage, but we seemed to struggle to cross the advantage line.

Maybe it was just me, but i thought there were some infringements that the Frog ref missed tonight. It could be due to the change from ELVs back to old laws clouding my judgement (or several kilkenny pregame pints).

[travelling_gerry]

well done Ox.....

where to now?

[slomo]

certainly a game of two halfs!!! the wallabies off to a flyer , then sort of went to sleep in the second half, robert kearney outstanding for the irish, like wise horwill for the wallabies..........

[Burgs]

41,484 fans at the Dome.

Wonder how many were from Victoria and how many flew in from interstate...

[slomo]

Wonder how many were from Victoria and how many flew in from interstate...

these fly in fly out fans, its the way of the future..........