Thursday 20 November 2014 09:28, UK
Ireland will attempt to extend their winning streak to seven games when they face Australia at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Joe Schmidt’s side have defeated South Africa and Georgia this month and are favourites to clinch a hat-trick of November victories when the Wallabies visit Dublin.
Australia have won 21 of their 31 meetings with Ireland and were comfortable 32-15 victors when the sides met in Dublin at the end of last year.
But under the expert stewardship of head coach Schimdt, Ireland have since captured a Six Nations title and leapfrogged Australia into third place in the world rankings last weekend.
The Sky Sports cameras will be at the Aviva Stadium for this eagerly anticipated clash.
We looked back at five of the previous meetings between the countries.
Ireland came within minutes of a famous victory during the 1991 World Cup quarter-final at Lansdowne Road, only to be denied at the death by Australia great Michael Lynagh.
The home side took the lead for the first time with five minutes remaining when Jack Clarke chased a kick upfield and offloaded to flanker Gordon Hamilton, who sprinted 40 yards to score a try in the left corner that sparked scenes of joyous celebration. Ralph Keyes kicked the conversion to give Ireland an 18-15 lead but Australia would have the final say.
From a scrum deep inside Irish territory, the Wallabies quickly moved the ball from left to right. David Campese, who had already scored two tries, was hauled down metres from the line but the wing popped the ball up to the onrushing Lynagh, who powered over in the corner to snatch a stunning 19-18 victory.
Australia went on to defeat England in the final at Twickenham for their maiden World Cup success.
With Keith Wood sidelined with a knee injury, Eddie O’Sullivan handed 23-year-old Brian O’Driscoll the Ireland captaincy for the first time for the visit of the world champions.
However, it was Ronan O’Gara who inspired his side to a first victory over the Wallabies since 1979. On a wet and windy November afternoon in Dublin, the Munster fly-half kicked six out of six penalties as Ireland recorded an 18-9 success.
O’Driscoll, who had brought a flip-chart to the team meeting leading up to the game, set the tone with a powerful tackle right from the kick-off, and O’Gara punished Australian indiscipline as Ireland defeated a southern hemisphere side for the first time in 25 attempts.
“It was a great indication of Brian leading by example,” said Ireland loosehead Reggie Corrigan. “He was not just happy to be on the pitch, he was very much about success and a lot of what he did brought standards up in training and in turn the players demanded more from each other.”
David Humphreys was off target with a late drop goal attempt as Ireland fell to a 17-16 defeat in Melbourne in their final pool game at the 2003 World Cup.
The defending champions led by eight points early in the second half, with Ronan O’Gara having a difficult day from the kicking tee, but Brian O’Driscoll gave Ireland hope when he crossed in the corner for a converted try.
Australia hit back through an Elton Flatley penalty but an O’Driscoll drop goal left one point between the teams with 13 minutes remaining.
Ireland continued to press during the closing stages, but replacement fly-half Humphreys saw his attempted drop goal go wide as the Wallabies held on for a narrow win.
Australia went on to reach the World Cup final, where they were defeated by England in extra-time, while Ireland were thumped by France at the quarter-final stage.
Eden Park was a sea of green as Ireland stunned Australia in the pool stages of the 2011 World Cup.
Declan Kidney’s side had lost all four of their warm-up matches and stuttered past the USA in their opening pool game, while Australia travelled to New Zealand as Tri-Nations champions.
However, the form book was turned on its head in Auckland as Ireland beat one of the World Cup favourites, their first win over the Wallabies in the southern hemisphere since 1979.
Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O’Gara each scored a brace of penalties, while the former also landed a drop-goal. James O’Connor twice kicked Australia level but their struggles in the set-piece were punished by Ireland, who recorded a deserved
Joe Schmidt’s first defeat as Ireland coach came in his second game in charge as Australia romped to a 32-15 victory in Dublin.
Nick Cummins and Michael Hooper both scored early tries as the Wallabies punished some shoddy defending by the hosts. Jonny Sexton responded with four penalties to cut Australia’s lead to three points at the interval but he didn’t reappear for the second half due to a hamstring injury.
Ireland’s defence were again found wanting as Quade Cooper scored a third try six minutes after the restart. Australia mauled their way to a fourth in the final quarter, openside Hooper touching down for his second try in what remains Schimdt's heaviest defeat as Ireland boss.
Watch Ireland v Australia live on Sky Sports 2 on Saturday from 4pm
