Australia 45 Ireland 16
Ireland fell foul to an outstanding second half display from Australia to lose the opening match of their southern hemisphere tour, at Subiaco Oval in Perth today.
The Wallabies were able to edge out the Irish in the first half and then withstood some fierce pressure from the tourists before running in four tries to wrap up the match.
Ireland will feel harshly done by in terms of the scoreline, having stretched the superb Australian defence to the limit on several occasions, only to be caught on the counter-attack.
One particular moment turned the match in the 67th minute as several phases of play failed to breach the green and gold line before Australian full-back Chris Latham pounced on an error.
He raced away for the try, Elton Flatley converted and the home side were 38-16 up with only 13 minutes remaining.
That sucked the life out of Ireland and a penalty try merely added extra pain.
The first half had promised much, with Ireland skipper David Humphreys kicking eight points and setting up their lone try for winger John Kelly as they trailed 14-13 at the break.
Humphreys opened the scoring with a penalty after four minutes before Australian skipper George Gregan scored an opportunist try from 22 yards out to put the Wallabies in front for the first time.
Gregan picked up the ball after a punishing drive by number eight Toutai Kefu to beat off a weak challenge from his opposite number Peter Stringer.
Ireland, trying to play a more expansive game, pushed in to Australia's half of the field before the Wallabies quickly gained momentum with Gregan playing a pivotal role.
Humphreys, who had earlier left the field with a facial injury, returned to set up the try for winger Kelly on the half-hour and then converted to give the Irish a one-point lead.
But a minute later Australian fly-half Flatley, running on a superb angle, beat three desperate tackles to go over for Australia's second try of the evening.
With five minutes left in the half, Humphreys added two more points to bring the Irish to within one point of their opponents at the break.
But the tourists resolve faltered in the second half and they were punished accordingly.