Farrell signs off with win as Ireland edge past Wallabies

Ireland were behind for much of the game before Gus McCarthy's try sealed a home win

Ireland (5) 22

Tries: Van der Flier, Doris, McCarthy Cons: Prendergast, Crowley Pen: Prendergast

Australia (13) 19

Try: Jorgensen Cons: Lolesio Pens: Lolesio 4

Ireland gave head coach Andy Farrell a winning send-off before his secondment to the British and Irish Lions as they came from behind to beat Joe Schmidt's Australia in a gripping Test in Dublin.

In what was Schmidt's first match in Dublin since leaving the Ireland job in 2019, his Wallabies side seriously threatened to spoil the Irish Rugby Football Union's 150th anniversary celebrations.

A Max Jorgensen try and 14 points from the boot of Noah Lolesio put Australia 19-15 ahead but Gus McCarthy's try rescued an Irish win to ensure the hosts end the Autumn Nations Series with three wins from four.

Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris also scored tries for Ireland, for whom Cian Healy became the most-capped player when he came off the bench to win his 134th cap and surpass former captain Brian O'Driscoll.

"It's always going to be tough against a side coached by Joe Schmidt," said Irish captain Doris.

"We dominated possession and territory in first half but lack accuracy in their 22 but it was better in the second half."

Farrell, who will temporarily hand over the reins to defence coach Simon Easterby for the Six Nations and a summer tour, will be relieved after another error-filled Irish display threatened to end their year on a sour note.

As they did against New Zealand at the start of the month, they started slowly and made some sloppy errors. In their first meaningful charge towards the Australian line, Hugo Keenan's knock-on relieved pressure on the visitors with Finlay Bealham twice coughing up possession.

Australia capitalised on a sluggish Irish start. Having gone ahead through fly-half Lolesio's penalty - after Ireland lock Joe McCarthy escaped a yellow card for a high hit on Rob Valetini - the Wallabies established a 10-0 lead through Jorgensen.

The 20-year-old wing, whose last-gasp try secured victory over England earlier this month, finished neatly in the left corner after Andrew Kellaway was denied by Sam Prendergast on the opposite side.

Towering centre Joseph Suaalii, who recovered from an arm injury to make the Wallabies team, played his part in the build-up by collecting a Gordon kick deep in the Irish 22.

Despite numerous handling errors - 16 in the first half and 28 overall - and Australia proving disruptive at set-piece, Ireland kept themselves in touch thanks to a much-needed Van der Flier try.

It came after a Valetini tackle on Mack Hansen resulted in just a penalty, from which Ireland pounced from the line-out with Van der Flier crossing after Doris and Hansen had been repelled.

Prendergast missed the conversion and Australia moved further clear with Lolesio's second penalty, which came at the end of a remarkable passage of play when prop Taniela Tupou intercepted a pass and broke into Irish territory.

While a retreating Prendergast did well to retrieve possession for the hosts, an offside at the ruck allowed Lolesio to give the Aussies an eight-point lead at the break.

Cian Healy marked his record-breaking 134th Ireland cap with a win

Ireland, as they often do, came out fighting at the start of the second half. Within 10 minutes of the restart, they led for the first time.

Fly-half Prendergast, who was picked from the start ahead of Jack Crowley, slotted a penalty and added the extras to a crucial Doris try, putting the hosts 15-13 ahead.

Two more Lolesio penalties swung the game back in Australia's favour, but after Ireland were denied by some stout Australian defending, replacement hooker McCarthy drove over from a maul to spark ecstatic scenes inside Aviva Stadium.

McCarthy's try came after Crowley's grubber-kick pushed Ireland towards the Australian line, with the Munster fly-half also nailing his conversion in an effective cameo off the bench.

Australia pushed in the dying seconds but Tom Wright's knock-on sealed an Irish win and had Farrell roaring with delight in the coaches' box.

While Farrell's absence spells uncertainty for Ireland's Six Nations defence, his squad can at least prepare for England's visit to Dublin on 1 February with momentum after following up a loss to the All Blacks with three wins.

And while Schmidt will be disappointed to lose on his return to Irish soil, his Wallabies side again proved themselves a dangerous outfit - and one Farrell will face again with the Lions next summer.

Line-ups

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.

Australia: Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou; Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt)

Replacements: Billy Pollard, Isaac Kailea, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Tane Edmed, Harry Potter.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)