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 20:51 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 37 mins

Ireland have made 139 tackles to Australia’s 42 so far... That tells the story of the game really. The Wallabies have dominated possession but unable to score any points. Will the defensive effort start to tell on Irish bodies as the game wears on?

[19 November 2022 20:49 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 36mins

Australia go through the phases on the edge of the Irish 22 but the Ireland defence holds firm. Rinse, repeat...

Kellaway tries a little stabbed grubber through but it harmlessly skids into touch. O’Mahony getting treatment on his neck now so we’ve got a water break four minutes before half-time...

[19 November 2022 20:47 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 35 mins

Another 22 entry for Australia as Foley nudges a penalty to about 10 metres out. Can Australia finally convert this into points?

Erm... no... They lose the lineout as James Ryan leaps and gets his hand in there before Gibson-Park box-kicks clear.

[19 November 2022 20:45 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 33 mins

Nawaqanitawase outjumps Hansen on the left when Foley sticks up a high bomb with a penalty coming. It gives Australia position about 10 metres from the line.

But sloppy again as Ikitau spills the ball, Tadhg Furlong of all people collects and thumps the ball long down the middle of the field towards halfway. Nothing better than a prop kicking! Was an effective boot to be fair to him.

[19 November 2022 20:43 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 31 mins

Nawaqanitawase is Australia’s biggest running threat so far (unfortunately for those of us having to type his name...) and he high-steps past a man on the left flank as he gains a good few metres. He has a lovely show-and-go where he looks as if he’s about to kick but keeps ball in hand instead

[19 November 2022 20:41 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 29 mins

Australia get themselves into a bit of bother on their own try line after a long Jimmy O’Brien kick as Nawaqanitawase and Tom Wright have to pass the ball between them and dodge tackles to try and escape.

The Wallabies get a reprieve when Doris accidentally goes a bit high while grasping for the jinking Wright. A bit of pushing and shoving between the players but nothing too serious and the Wallabies exit with the penalty.

[19 November 2022 20:37 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 27 mins

A break by Petaia takes Australia back into the Ireland 22. Slipper and Valetini make carries in the tight but the Irish defensive line isn’t buckling.

After 20-odd phases, White goes wide and Kellaway completes a no-look offload but even that doesn’t breach the green wall. Then Caelan Doris gets his hands on the ball, hangs on for grim death and wins the turnover. Good work by the Irish No 8 and good work by the defence as a whole, they didn’t look like breaking at all there.

[19 November 2022 20:33 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 24 mins

Good defensive discipline by Ireland. They keep Australia around the edge of the 22 and then Nawaqanitawase (yes, I am having to copy and paste his name...) tries an offload but Ringrose disrupts and the ball cannons out off a Wallaby foot. Lineout to Ireland in their own 22

Wallabies hooker Dave Porecki off for an HIA after taking a blow to the head.

[19 November 2022 20:30 · Luke Baker]

Ireland 3-0 Australia, 23 mins

Straight away, Ireland commit another penalty - Garry Ringrose off his feet at the ruck. Australia might be lucky to get that one, it looked like Ringrose was on his feet when he got the ball and the Australian player flopped on the wrong side.

Regardless, it’s a lineout in the Irish 22 for the Wallabies.

[19 November 2022 20:28 · Luke Baker]

MISSED PENALTY! Ireland 3-0 Australia (Foley, 21 mins)

First shot at goal for Bernard Foley today. Pretty central, about 30 metres out but he’s shanked it wide! It goes wide of the right upright.

Didn’t expect him to miss that.