Ireland v Australia LIVE: Rugby score as Irish end Autumn Nations ...
Ireland and Australia are closing out the Autumn Nations Series with a clash at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Andy Farrell’s Irish side have recovered well from defeat by New Zealand, with victories over Argentina and Fiji, and a final win over the Wallabies would cap another good year for the world’s No 2 ranked team. Farrell continues to back young fly-half Sam Prendergast who starts at 10 today, while Cian Healy is on the bench and primed to become the most capped Irishman in history when he makes his 134th appearance.
Australia have endured a rollercoaster autumn, finishing rock bottom of the Rugby Championship standings in September before heading to the northern hemisphere, where they chalked up a stunning win over England at Twickenham and a thrashing of Wales in Cardiff, before last week’s disappointing defeat by Scotland. Joe Schmidt will hope his young, emerging side can cap off the tour with a memorable win in Dublin.
Follow the score and latest updates from Ireland v Australia below.
Asked about the importance of signing off in victorious fashion, Farrell said: “Honestly, to me, I’ve not really give it much thought.
“The only thing that drives me on is planning for the future of this team and that’s only been at the forefront of my mind, certainly over the last six months anyway. It just so happens that we’re here on a big game with the last game, but after that what will be will be. We’ll turn that page when we get to it.”
Ireland began November with a deflating 23-13 defeat to New Zealand before returning to winning ways thanks to a nervy 22-19 victory over Argentina and a comprehensive 52-17 demolition of Fiji.
The visit of the Wallabies, coached by former Ireland boss Schmidt, has been arranged to mark 150 years of Irish rugby. Farrell hopes his side end the month with a bang against opposition beaten by Scotland last weekend following wins over England and Wales.
“Our best performance of the autumn and maybe more, hopefully,” replied the Englishman, when asked what he would like to see from his team. “That’s what you’re always wishing for, isn’t it? To progress. Australia are certainly progressing. I think they’ve got their DNA back.”
Lawrence Ostlere30 November 2024 14:28
Andy Farrell expects a “seamless” transition in the Ireland camp during his sabbatical with the British and Irish Lions.
Farrell will temporarily depart his head coach role following Saturday’s clash with Joe Schmidt’s Australia in order to lead next year’s Lions series against the same nation.
Defence coach Simon Easterby, who has overseen two Emerging Ireland tours of South Africa, is set to take interim charge of the team and will spearhead their Guinness Six Nations title defence and a subsequent summer tour.
“We’ve been working together long enough now to agree on how this team needs to be driven forward with us all involved,” Farrell said of his imminent departure.
“All our ideas over the years, that will continue. Simon is unbelievably diligent and the right man for the role as far as leading from the front.
“We’ve had the experience there and we’ve seen the credentials there and we know it’s going to be a seamless one.”
Lawrence Ostlere30 November 2024 14:15
Australia XV: 1 James Slipper, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3 Taniela Tupou; 4 Nick Frost, 5 Jeremy Williams; 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (capt.); 9 Jake Gordon, 10 Noah Lolesio; 11 Max Jorgensen, 12 Len Ikitau, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Andrew Kellaway; 15 Tom Wright.
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson; 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Harry Potter.
Lawrence Ostlere30 November 2024 14:04
Ireland XV: 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 3 Finlay Bealham; 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan; 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (capt.); 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Sam Prendergast; 11 James Lowe, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 14 Mack Hansen; 15 Hugo Keenan.
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Peter O’Mahony; 21 Craig Casey, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Garry Ringrose.
Lawrence Ostlere30 November 2024 13:48
Australia have been boosted by the availability of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii after a wrist injury that forced his substitution after half-an-hour against Scotland was not as bad as first feared. Will Skelton is unavailable having returned to France with this fixture falling outside World Rugby’s mandated Test window, so the return of Nick Frost from illness is welcome, while Fraser McReight and Taniela Tupou also start to bolster the pack. Playmaker Tane Edmed, who enjoyed an excellent campaign in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship with North Harbour, is in line for a debut off the bench.
Lawrence Ostlere30 November 2024 13:35
Andy Farrell has boldly backed youngster Sam Prendergast at fly half after a mixed first international outing against Fiji last week. The rest of the Irish side is otherwise at full strength with the exception of the injured front row pair of Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong. On the bench, Cian Healy is primed to surpass Brian O’Driscoll as the most capped Irishman in history when he makes his 134th appearance.
Lawrence Ostlere30 November 2024 13:22
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage on the channel from 2pm GMT. Subscribers can stream the action via discovery+.
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Lawrence Ostlere30 November 2024 13:12
Andy Farrell’s side have bounced back from defeat to New Zealand with victories over Argentina and Fiji, and will be keen to secure a winning finish before their head coach begins his sabattical ahead of next summer’s British & Irish Lions series.
This will offer Farrell a good look at the Wallabies side the touring group will take on last summer, and hopes of a competitive series have been boosted by encouraging performances from Australia this month.
While a disappointing showing against Scotland ended their hopes of a grand slam tour, a young, exciting team has come together well under the guidance of former Ireland boss Joe Schmidt, who takes on his former assistant.
Lawrence Ostlere30 November 2024 13:05
Welcome along to live coverage of Ireland v Australia in the final match of the Autumn Nations Series.
Lawrence Ostlere30 November 2024 11:32
