Ireland hold off Australia to wrap-up series 2-1

Australia 16-20 Ireland, Allianz Stadium
Scorecard

Ireland managed to hold off Ireland in a tight 16-20 encounter at Allianz Stadium in the third Test as they signed off from the summer tour with a 2-1 series victory.

The first 12 minutes saw Johnny Sexton and Bernard Foley exchanging penalties but Australia suffered a setback when Michael Hooper limped off the field with a leg injury in the 16th minute. The hosts were aided when Jacob Stockdale was sin-binned in the 21st minute when he elbowed Nick Phipps in his throat.

Immediately, Foley kicked his second penalty goal to take Wallabies into the lead. However, it was short lived as Sexton helped Ireland level the scores by the half hour mark with a three-pointer. A minute later, Ireland lost Peter O'Mahony after a head injury and he could not take any further part in the game.

Nevertheless, Sexton took Ireland into lead with his third penalty goal in the 35th minute after Adam Coleman was cited for off side. Sexton and Foley also traded penalties in the final five minutes of the first half as the teams headed into the break with a 9-12 scoreline.

The opening try of the game came at the start of the second half when CJ Stander powered from a line out to go over the line in the 44th minute but Australia were unwilling to relent as they responded back with a touchdown from Marika Koroibete in the 54th minute and Foley improved it to take the score to 16-17.

With all three results possible, Australia lost the plot when Tolu Latu was penalised for illegal play at a ruck in the final stage of the game and Sexton kicked a penalty goal to complete a 16-20 win for Ireland and more importantly a 2-1 series victory.