November 21st, 1981: Lansdowne Road Ireland 12 Australia 16The tourists produced a superb defensive display against a gallant Ireland side.
The Irish pack, and particularly the tight five in which Donal Lenihan was making his debut, outplayed their opponents but the home side lacked the guile to capitalise. Tony Ward kicked four penalties, while Australia's scores came from Paul McLean' s three penalties, full back Roger Gould's drop goal and Michael O'Connor's try.
IRELAND: H MacNeill; T Ringland, D Irwin, P Dean, T Kennedy; T Ward, R McGrath; P Orr, J Cantrell, M Fitzpatrick; D Lenihan, B Foley; J O'Driscoll, W Duggan, F Slattery.
AUSTRALIA: R Gould; M O'Connor, A Slack, M Hawker, B Moon; PE McLean, J Hipwell; T D'Arcy, C Carberry, J Meadows; T Shaw, G Cornelsen; P W McLean, M Loane, S Poidevin.
Referee: J Anderson (Scotland).
November 10th, 1984: Lansdowne Road Ireland 9 Australia 16
Five Irish players - Brendan Mullin, Michael Bradley, Willie Anderson, Philip Matthews and Willie Sexton - made their debut against one of rugby's greatest ever teams. The Australians would go on to win a Grand Slam against the Home countries with the great Mark Ella grabbing a try in each Test. Ireland won the Triple Crown the following year with Keith Crossan, Brian Spillane and Nigel Carr the only major changes.
IRELAND: H MacNeill; T Ringland, B Mullin, M Finn, M Kiernan; P Dean, M Bradley; P Orr, C Fitzgerald, J McCoy; D Lenihan, W Anderson; P Matthews, R Kearney, W Sexton.
AUSTRALIA: R Gould; P Burke, A Slack, M Lynagh, D Campese; M Ella, N Farr Jones; E Rodriguez, T Lawton, A McIntyre; S Williams, S Cutler; S Poidevin, S Tuynman, C Roche.
Referee: R C Francis (New Zealand).
June 7th, 1987: Sydney Australia 33 Ireland 15
Ireland were well and truly hammered in this World Cup quarter-final meeting despite claiming a morale victory - yes, one of those - by winning the second half 15-9 after quickly finding themselves 24-0 down. One of the Aussie try-scorers was Brian Smith, who went on to play for Ireland. Neil Francis played number eight and Ireland's tries were scored by Hugo MacNeill and Michael Kiernan.
AUSTRALIA: D Campese; P Grigg, A Slack (capt), B Papworth, M Burke; M Lynagh, N Farr-Jones (rep: B Smith); C Lillicrap, T Lawton, A McIntyre, S Poidevin, S Cutler, W Campbell, J Miller, S Tuynman.
IRELAND: H MacNeill; T Ringland, B Mullin (rep: Dd Irwin), M Kiernan, K Crossan; P Dean, M Bradley; P Orr, T Kingston, D Fitzgerald, P Matthews, D Lenihan (capt), W Anderson, D McGrath, N Francis (rep: B Spillane).
Referee: B Anderson (Scotland).
October 20th, 1991: Lansdowne Road Ireland 18 Australia 19
an epic encounter and the narrowest of defeats for Ireland in this World Cup quarter-final. Gordon Hamilton's try, following a break by Jack Clarke, appeared to have handed Ireland a semi-final place with time running out but the Australians showed great poise and talent when responding with a Michael Lynagh try in the corner to break Irish hearts. The visitors were deserving winners, not least for the quality of their back play, with David Campese (2 tries) outstanding. The Aussies went on the beat New Zealand and England to win the tournament.
IRELAND: J Staples; S Geoghegan, D Curtis, B Mullin, J Clarke; R Keyes, R Saunders; N Popplewell, S Smith, D Fitzgerald, D Lenihan, N Francis, P Matthews (capt), G Hamilton, B Robinson.
AUSTRALIA: M Roebuck; D Campese, J Little, T Horan, R Egerton; M Lynagh, N Farr-Jones (P Slattery), T Daly.P Kearns, E McKenzi, R McCall, J Eales, J Miller, S Poidevin, W Ofahengaue.
Referee: J Fleming (Scotland).
October 31st, 1992: Lansdowne Road Ireland 17 Australia 42
It was Ireland's record home defeat as they received a thumping from the world champions. The Australians scored five tries through David Campese, Ewen McKenzie, Jason Little, Tim Horan and Tim Kelaher. Michael Lynagh dislocated his shoulder but even that failed to stop the Aussies.
IRELAND: J Staples; S Geoghegan, P Danaher, V Cunningham, R Wallace; P Russell, F Aherne; N Popplewell, J Murphy, P McCarthy, M Galwey, P Johns, B Robinson, P Lawlor, G Hamilton.
AUSTRALIA: M Roebuck; D Campese, J Little, T Horan, P Carozza; M Lynagh (capt), P Slattery; D Crowley, P Kearns, E McKenzie, R McCall, J Eales, W Ofahengaue, T Gavin, D Wilson. Replacement: T Kelaher for Lynagh.
Referee: E Morrison (England).
June 5th, 1994: Brisbane Australia 33 Ireland 13
It was another torrid experience for an Ireland team as their hosts ran in five tries in the first of a two-Test series. Keith Wood, Niall Woods, David Corkery and Jonathan Bell all made their debuts and all acquitted themselves well, but could do little to stem the one-way traffic. Michael Bradley had a
fine game, but even though his opposite number Peter Slattery struggled, the Irish could only manage one try, through Paddy Johns.
AUSTRALIA: M Pini; D Smith, M Burke, M O'Connor, D Campese; M Lynagh, P Slattery; T Daly, P Kearns, E McKenzie, I Tabua, G Morgan, J Eales, D Wilson, T Gavin.
IRELAND: C O'Shea; S Geoghegan, J Bell, P Danaher, N Woods; E Elwood, M Bradley; J Fitzgerald, K Wood, P Clohessy, M Galwey, N Francis, B Robinson, P Johns, D Corkery. Replacements: Galwey for McBride (30min); O'Shea replaced by M Field (80 mins).
Referee: J Dume (France).
June 11th, 1994: Sydney Australia 32 Ireland 18
A 22-year-old Keith Wood turned in a tour de force, prompting Australian coach Bob Dwyer to prophetically forecast: "He has to do it for a few more years yet, but he looks an absolute world XV selection." There were also good performances from David Corkery and Jonathan Bell, but two wins from eight matches on the tour highlighted Irish rugby's problems at the time.
AUSTRALIA: M Burke; D Smith, D Herbert, R Tombs, D Campese; M Lynagh (capt), P Slattery; A Daly, P Kearns, E McKenzie, J Eales, G Morgan, I Tabua, T Gavin, D Wilson (Queensland). Replacement: R Constable for Smith, 74 mins.
IRELAND: C O'Shea; S Geoghegan, J Bell, P Danaher, N Woods; E Elwood, M Bradley (capt); J Fitzgerald, K Wood, P Clohessy; G Fulcher, N Francis; B Robinson, P Johns, D Corkery.
Referee: J Dume (France).
November 23rd, 1996: Lansdowne Road Ireland 12 Australia 22
Paul Burke kicked four penalties while his namesake Matthew kicked five and a conversion for the visitors. Australian outhalf David Knox grabbed the only try of the game. Dominic Crotty won his first cap, as did Steve McIvor at scrumhalf. It was a decent Irish performance, but despite their obduracy they still couldn't break the hoodoo stretching back to 1979, Ireland's last success against the Aussies.
IRELAND: J Staples; J Topping, J Bell, M McCall, D Crotty; P Burke; S McIvor; N Popplewell, K Wood, P Wallace; G Fulcher, J Davidson; D Corkery, A Foley, D McBride. Replacements: M Field, D Humphreys, B O'Meara, P Johns, H Hurley, A Clarke.
AUSTRALIA: M Burke; J Little, D Herbert, T Horan, J Roff; D Knox, G Gregan; D Crowley, M Foley, A Blades; W Waugh, J Eales (capt); D Manu, M Brial, D Wilson. Replacements: D Campese, P Howard, S Payne, B Robinson, A Heath, M Caputo.
Referee: B Campsall (England).
June 12th, 1999: Brisbane Australia 46 Ireland 10
Brian O'Driscoll made his debut for Ireland while enjoying the same honour for Australia that day was a future team-mate of the young Irish centre, Nathan Spooner. The latter had a fine game as the home side ran riot, kicking seven out of 10 opportunities from the placed ball. Current Munster captain Jim Williams came on as a replacement for Australia but their hero was the "Lion of the Kalahari", former Springbok captain Tiaan Strauss, who scored three tries when introduced as a replacement.
AUSTRALIA: C Latham; B Tune, D Herbert, T Horan, J Roff; N Spooner, G Gregan; D Crowley, J Paul, P Noriega, T Bowman, D Giffin, M Cockbain, T Kefu, D Wilson (capt). Replacements: T Strauss for Kefu, 46 mins; J Little for Tune 47 mins; A Blades for Crowley 48 mins; J Williams for Cockbain 70 mins; N Grey for Giffin 79 mins.
IRELAND: C O'Shea; J Bishop, B O'Driscoll, K Maggs, M Mostyn; D Humphreys, T Tierney; P Clohessy, K Wood, P Wallace, P Johns, J Davidson, D O'Cuinneagain (capt), V Costello, A Ward. Replacements: R Corrigan or Clohessy 51 mins; M O'Kelly for Johns 51mins; D Corkery for Costello 59 mins.
Referee: A Watson (South Africa).
June 19th, 1999: Perth Australia 32 Ireland 26
The scoreline flattered Ireland as they scored two late tries through wing Justin Bishop and centre Kevin Maggs, the second an absolute gem from a back-row move. Peter Clohessy managed a try and also his second yellow card to go with the one he got in the first Test. Australia carried too much guile and power behind the scrum and capitalised on a couple of Irish errors with tries from Tim Horan and Chris Latham.
AUSTRALIA: C Latham (M Burke 76); J Little, D Herbert, T Horan, J Roff; N Spooner (N Grey 59), G Gregan; D Crowley, J Paul, P Noriega, T Bowman, D Giffin, M Cockbain (J Willams 74), D Wilson (capt; P Kearns 80), T Kefu (T Strauss 46).
IRELAND: G Dempsey; J Bishop, B O'Driscoll, K Maggs, J Bell; D Humphreys, T Tierney; P Clohessy (R Corrigan 70), K Wood (R Nesdale 55), P Wallace, P Johns (J Davidson 66), M O'Kelly, T Brennan (D Corkery 75), A Ward, D O'Cuinneagain (capt).
Referee: A Watson (South Africa)
October 19th, 1999: Lansdowne Road Ireland 3 Australia 24
Another World Cup meeting but this time in the pool phase. The match will probably be best remembered for Toutai Kefu laying into Trevor Brennan while a couple of Aussies pinned the Irishman's arms to his sides. Brennan was the culprit in a previous incident. Ireland were very poor and the visitors won easily in a dour encounter.
IRELAND: C O'Shea; J Bishop, B O'Driscoll, K Maggs, M Mostyn; D Humphreys, T Tierney; J Fitzpatrick, K Wood, P Wallace; P Johns, M O'Kelly; T Brennan, D O'Cuinneagáin (capt), A Ward. Replacements: J Ball, E Elwood, B O'Meara, E Miller, R Casey, P Clohessy, R Nesdale.
AUSTRALIA: M Burke; B Tune, D Herbert, T Horan, J Roff; S Larkham, G Gregan; R Harry, P Kearns, A Blades; D Giffin, J Eales (capt); M Connors, T Kefu, D Wilson (capt). Replacements: J Little, N Grey, C Whittaker, T Strauss, O Finegan, D Crowley, J Paul.
Referee: C Thomas (Wales).
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