Ireland vs Australia LIVE: Rugby result and reaction from autumn international as Ireland edge to tight win

Ireland 13-10 Australia: Ross Byrne’s late pressure penalty was enough for the hosts to edge to victory after Bundee Aki got their only try

Johnny Sexton says Ireland will ‘only be the best team by winning’ World Cup

Ross Byrne landed a dramatic late penalty as Ireland overcame the loss of captain Johnny Sexton to cap a stellar year with a disjointed 13-10 win over Australia. Replacement fly-half Byrne nailed a difficult kick from wide on the right with just three minutes remaining in Dublin to earn Ireland a record-equalling 12th successive home victory.

Andy Farrell’s men struggled for large parts of a disappointing contest and could easily have ended 2022 with a serious reality check against opponents beaten by Italy just last weekend.

Ireland centre Bundee Aki marked his return from an eight-game ban with the opening try but the game remained in the balance in the closing stages after Jordan Petaia crossed for the Wallabies.

A difficult evening for the Irish began with talisman Sexton withdrawing through injury, with his deputy Jack Crowley booting five points on his maiden Test start before Byrne, who was elevated to the bench at the 11th hour, proving to be the match-winner.

Relive the action from the autumn international between Ireland and Australia below:

Ireland vs Australia

• FULL-TIME! Ireland 13-10 Australia
• Ross Byrne’s late penalty edges Ireland to narrow win over Wallabies
• 76’ - PENALTY! Byrne nails pressure penalty to put Ireland ahead (IRE 13-10 AUS)
• 70’ - TRY! Petaia slices through to level things up (IRE 10-10 AUS)
• 66’ - TRY! Aki powers over for game’s first try (IRE 10-3 AUS)
• HALF-TIME! Ireland 3-0 Australia

[19 November 2022 21:39 · Luke Baker]

PENALTY! Ireland 3-3 AUSTRALIA (Foley, 55 mins)

He missed one in the first half but Bernard Foley makes no mistake this time. The kick sails through and Australia are level at 3-3.

Will that spark this match into life?

[19 November 2022 21:38 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 54 mins

Australia win the scrum solidly enough and will have a penalty as Ireland are pinged.

They play advantage but this looks nasty for Taniela Tupou. He goes down without contact and immediately clutches his right lower leg. He’s in a lot of pain. He’s helped on to the cart and will be driven off the field.

The Wallabies will go for the posts from this penalty just outside the 22.

Allan Alaalatoa comes back on for the prop, while Nic White is back on for Jake Gordon as well - presumably an HIA for the back-up scrum-half.

[19 November 2022 21:34 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 54 mins

Nice nudge by Foley after a good loop play off the scrum gains them a lot of ground. Ireland will have to execute a lineout on their own 22.

And they can’t! Knock-on at the lineout gives Australia an attacking scrum. What can they do here?

Sub for Ireland - Bundee Aki, back from his 8-week ban for a frankly disgraceful ruck clearout, is on for Stuart McCloskey in the centres. McCloskey has carried hard once again today - a decent performance.

[19 November 2022 21:32 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 53 mins

Hugo Keenan knocks on, so it’s a scrum. We’re back to contested now that Australia have a full complement.

Ah, I was wondering when we would see Will Skelton! The monster Wallabies lock comes on to the field - he has been the scourge of Irish sides before...

[19 November 2022 21:30 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 52 mins

Talking of great counter-rucking, Ireland do good work to win the ball and the crowd get excited as they go wide to the left but there’s no joy for them and they then get turned over at the ruck.

Australia exit into Irish territory with the kick.

[19 November 2022 21:29 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 50 mins

Good maul defence by Australia, so Ireland release the ball and come infield. McCloskey carries hard to within five metres.

But the Aussie players celebrate as they win the penalty! O’Mahony gets called for coming in at the side - he looks disgusted but it was the right call. Superb counter-rucking caught him out and made him feel he had to come in from the side.

That’s O’Mahony’s final act as he’s subbed off for Jack Conan.

[19 November 2022 21:27 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 49 mins

Ireland kick to the corner, the crowd start to make some noise. This is a great opportunity given how good the Irish maul is.

[19 November 2022 21:26 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 49 mins

Again, they can’t covert though. The attacking execution from both teams has been sloppy today. Ringrose gets himself held up in the tackle, so it’s a Wallabies scrum.

This is turning into a war of attrition now as Rob Valetini gingerly heads off to be replaced by Pete Samu. He accidentally ended up going face to face with Dan Sheehan in a tackle.

Both men are very upright, low amount of danger, so just a penalty with no cards. Probably fair.

[19 November 2022 21:23 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 48 mins

Nic White takes a blow to the head as he goes down in the tackle and makes contact with a knee. So he’s off for a HIA, with Jake Gordon coming on.

Ireland win the lineout and now they’re into the Wallabies 22 again...

[19 November 2022 21:22 · Luke Baker]

NO TRY! Ireland 3-0 Australia, 47 mins

This time going blind does work! Australia don’t have it covered and Hansen has space, the cover defence comes and he offloads inside to Gibson-Park for the score.

But replays show Hansen’s foot was in touch. So close! Australia now back up to 15 as Fainga’a’s sin-bin is over so he comes back on, as do Valetini and Petaia (who were off to allow the extra front-rower to come on), so the Wallabies back to a full complement of 15 and no damage done while at a personnel disadvantage.