Ireland edge Australia 33-31 in last-gasp Nations Championship win in Sydney

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Australia 31-33 Ireland in rugby international in Sydney

Ireland hang on as Ben Donaldson misses last-gasp kick

After the Socceroos’ deflating loss to Egypt earlier in the day, Australian sport needed a shot in the arm. And the underdog Wallabies, who had lost seven of their last eight Tests, almost delivered it in style at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, going within a few centimetres of upsetting the world’s third-ranked side. Instead, despite scoring five tries with exhilarating attack, the Wallabies fell to a cruel 33-31 defeat to Ireland right at the death.

Ireland hadn’t played a Test since March and Australia not since November, but both teams shucked off the rust quickly, trading a flurry of tries in the opening quarter. Australia drew first blood, snaffling a loose lineout and hammering the Ireland line before Carter Gordon speared a long ball to Jock Campbell who caught it on his boot laces and passed to flying Wiradjuri winger Dylan Pietsch who dived into the corner.

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