Ireland undone by errors

Representative match: Ireland produced a gutsy performance at Ravenhill last night, but a lack of precision allowed Australia to remain undefeated at the end of their short tour.

Lessons had been learned last Saturday and Ireland started this match brightly. Had they taken the chances afforded to them, they could have been well on top at the break, instead of trailing 5-3.

Spilled ball, turn-overs and a failure to take the right options deprived the Irish of asserting deserved authority.

The Wallaby backline showed some early flare which was rewarded in the 14th minute. Outhalf Kurley Beale opened up some space, feeding centre Brett Gillespie, who took it on at pace before passing to Andrew Barrett.

The winger showed pace and strength to force his way over for the try, which fullback Quade Cooper failed to convert.

Within three minutes Australia infringed, and Castleknock College outhalf Brian Collins kicked a penalty from 25 metres to bring the Irish back into it at 5-3.

Ireland were on top at this point, but the chances that came their way were wasted.

When an over-the-top lineout saw UCD's Kevin Sheahan break away, the ball was moved swiftly through the backs.

Centre Keith Earls bounced his first tackler away, but then lost the ball when brought to ground.

With an overlap on, Michael Braker spilled ball, and another promising attack, after Ian Keatley and Earls had combined, was wasted when Ireland saw the ball turned over at the ruck.

But at 5-3 down at the interval, Ireland remained in contention, and within 20 seconds of the restart, centre Keatley dropped a goal to give the home side a 6-5 lead.

But a bad lapse led to fullback Quade Cooper crossing for a try, which outhalf Beale converted to put Australia 12-6 in front.

Things turned nasty on 46 minutes when Cooper took Ireland's Russian-born winger, Vasily Artemiev, out with a nasty tackle.

It would have taken a shrill blow by referee Tim Beddows to sort it out, but Cooper found himself confronted by a number of Irish players, and a few skirmishes broke out.

When normality resumed, Cooper, who attends the Anglican Church Grammar School, went to the bin. Ireland's pack went on to drive from their lineout and captain and lock Conor McInerney got a touchdown which outhalf Collins failed to convert, leaving Ireland a point behind.

But another lapse was to cost the Irish, with centre Brett Gillespie crossing for the try which proved to be Australia's match-winner, despite a late rally which saw the Ireland pack held up on the line.

IRELAND UNDER-19s: S Carey; M Barker, K Earls, I Keatley, V Artemiev; B Collins, S Cranley; C Healy, D Gilchrist, J Gethings, T Walsh, C McInerney, T Anderson, K Sheahan, T O'Donnell. Replacements: G Slattery, M Ferguson, N Simpson, J Graham, S O'Sullivan, D Drake, N O'Connor, A Wynne.

AUSTRALIA SCHOOLS: Q Cooper; A Barrett, R Kellam, B Gillespie, L Turner; K Beale, T Tusitala; D Roach, J Egan, B Daley, P Mathers, J Afu, J Lam, D Pocock, P McCutheon. Replacements: J Salvi, J Hanson, G Warren, D Linde, B McCalman, M Schwager, C Lealiifano, B Lucas.

Referee: T Beddows (IRFU).