Australian media reaction: Ireland's 15-6 win over the Wallabies in Auckland on Saturday morning was greeted with a mixture of dismay and indignation by the Australian media.

After a super-human effort from the Irish forwards led to Ireland winning the try-less encounter by nine-points, thanks to penalties from Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O’Gara, there was no clear consensus Down Under on who to blame. Like the game itself, it wasn't pretty.

Greg Growdenof the Sydney Morning Heraldwas in no doubt it was the Wallabies who misfired and he responded to captain James Horwill's admission that they played some "dumb footy".

"It wasn't some dumb footy,” he wrote, “it was completely dumb footy. For being so dumb, they should be forced to wear World Cup dunces hats for at least the next week."

He did credit their opponents, however, but not too much.

"You had to admire Ireland's courage, endeavour and smart game plan, but it was more that the Wallabies were appalling.

"Their forward play was sub-standard. Their attack abominable. Their scrum was overwhelmed, penalised regularly which enabled Ireland to keep adding to their score through goal-kicks. There was no punch in their backrow play.

"Numerous players weren't sighted. And the big moment was too much for them. They were rattled during a hideous evening which must rank as one of Australia's worst World Cup moments."

The Australian's Wayne Smithsaw it more as a triumph for cynical Irish play and their 'management' of New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence.

“James O’Connor landed only two goals from four attempts in the first half, the first of them coming just 10 minutes into the match where the Irish scrum deliberately conceded a penalty from a scrum straight in front of their own posts rather than risk conceding a try.

“It was a strategy they were to employ throughout the night, and not just at scrum time, and the Australians were barely able to contain their frustration at times.

“But not for the first time in this tournament they were given a lesson in how to manage the referee.

"As much as the Irish outfoxed them, the Wallabies co-operated fully in their own demise, with centre Pat McCabe twice conceding possession by running too upright into contact and being held off the ground, allowing Ireland to win the resulting scrum feed.

“Nor was he the only culprit, with Genia – heavily targeted right from the kickoff – also being monstered on a couple of occasions."

The Herald Sun's Jim Tucker said Australia were "Paddy-whacked" and "dominated tactically and physically".

He added: "Irishman Stephen Ferris bearhugged halfback Genia and drove him back 10 metres behind one scrum late in the half and fellow flanker Seán O'Brien seemed to make more running metres than the entire Australian backrow."

In his analysis for the same paper, former Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannonreturned to the "dumb" theme and said Robbie Deans's side lacked "patience".

“Kurtley Beale chip-kicking the ball in his own 22 after a sustained period of defence, flick passes by Quade Cooper, going wide without forward momentum.

“You can call it brave, stupid, bold. The simple fact is the conditions were not conducive to them playing cheeky football. It was the same in the first Bledisloe Cup match this year, and it is sad to see they didn't learn from that.”

He added: “They looked as though they underestimated the strength of the Irish players by going into contact high.

“But they are big, strong men who can wrestle the game away from you. Australia did not look like wanting to build pressure with multiple phases, they just went wide. To win these tough contests you need patience with their (sic) game, you can't expect to come up with the miracle try each time you're given possession.”

Cannon concluded by crediting Declan Kidney’s tactics, and Australia’s willingness to play to them, for the result.

“Ireland came in with a strong game plan and Australia played right into their hands by running too high into the tackle. Ireland choked them out of the game by controlling the pace, dominating the scrum, playing field position.

“Guess what? That's where the patience was.”