17 min: Ireland have an opportunity as they win a penalty on the floor inside Australia\u2019s 22. McReight thought he pinched it legally, but not according to the man with the whistle. Another line-out five from the line for Ireland.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16 min: Brilliant from Australia with ball in hand. Their attacking ruck speed is next level and every time Lonergan and Gordon touch they ball they\u2019re doing so on the front foot. From there Ikitau and Sua\u2019ali\u2019i can motor forward and the wide men can gallop into space.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>TRY! Australia 10-7 Ireland (Campbell, 15)<\/p>\n What a comeback story this is! Jock Campbell gathered on the right wing, the pass slightly behind him, but he gathered in his stride and he just kept going. He had a mate to his right but didn\u2019t need him as he pinned his ears back and ran to the corner. Gordon misses the conversion though. That\u2019s four points left on the floor.<\/p>\n Jock Campbell of Australia. Photograph: Nations Championship\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.30 EDT<\/p>\n 14 min: Gordon explodes through a hole in midfield inside his own territory and in a flash Australia are the rampage in Ireland\u2019s half. Australia keep the ball and go through the phases. They\u2019re up to the 22 with some lovely tip-on passing and continuity. Oh my word, Campbell shows and goes and the space opens up\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 12 min: Tell you what, I\u2019m not convinced that the the ball was dotted down. Ben O\u2019Keefe was convinced though and he\u2019s the only one who matters.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>TRY! Australia 5-7 Ireland (C Prendergast, 11)<\/p>\n Ireland get it down! From the line-out they maul and can;t make the ground. Then McClosky has it and cuts back infield and takes it to within a metre. Cian Prendergast collects at the back of the ruck and uses his heft to simply flop over the line. Australia thought they\u2019d pinched it on the deck but the ball is over. Cian\u2019s brother, Sam, converts to nudge Ireland in the lead.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 9 min: Conan puts in a mighty shove at the ruck inside his own half on the right and wins the ball back with a lovely counter ruck. Ireland spiral the ball from right to left where Osborne goes to the boot and hoofs it down town. The return kick doesn\u2019t have the same heft so Ireland will get the throw inside Australia\u2019s half, about ten in on the left. They then get a penalty from a maul so Prendergast nudges it to the five metre line for another throw.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7 min: Osborne steps in off his wing on the right and is smoked in contact by two defenders. He\u2019s isolated and suddenly a wall of gold falls on him and he coughs up a penalty. Ireland kept the ball well but went nowhere. All too familiar and predictable. Australia will kick out and take the line-out back in Ireland\u2019s patch on the left.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6 min: Ireland almost hit back straight away. Gibson-Park has the ball inside Australia\u2019s 22 and tries to grubber ahead but he can\u2019t make it stick. Australia dallied with the ball and almost paid the price there. But they escape with a drop-kick exit on their own line. Ireland have it back and look to build through the phases about 30 metres out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>TRY! Australia 5-0 Ireland (Pietsch, 4)<\/p>\n What a start! Poor line-out from Ireland meant they were on the back foot, but the ruck speed and timing of the passing from Australia was next level. Ikitau all over this with a wonderful line-break and continuity. with ball in hand. Then with men out to the right, Campbell joined the line, flung a pass wide where Pitcsch gathered on the half volley and dived over in the corner. Gordon can\u2019t land the conversion but that\u2019s a flying start for the home side.<\/p>\n Dylan Pietsch scores the Wallabies\u2019 first try during the Nations Championship match against Ireland. Photograph: Nations Championship\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.20 EDT<\/p>\n 4 min: Ireland lose their line-out as Bell come away with it. Both Australian centres combine before Sua\u2019ali\u2019i off-loads. They\u2019re up inside the Irish 22 with an advantage. Three metres now with Nasser carrying..<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2 min: Both teams exchange kicks as they feel each other out. Campbell makes a tidy catch to settle his nerves. Gordon rakes a lovely touch finder from his own 22 that dribbles out inside Irish territory.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Kick-off!<\/p>\n Anthems are done, the stage is set, the players are ready and the opening whistle sounds!<\/p>\n Ireland in green kick to the Wallabies in gold.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Sydney Football Stadium looks stunning!<\/p>\n It\u2019s sold out and has been for some time.<\/p>\n We keep hearing how rugby struggles to find elbow room at the table in Australian sport, but something is clearly working.<\/p>\n The Lansdowne Cup on display at Allianz Stadium. Photograph: Mark Metcalfe\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.22 EDT<\/p>\n More good news for the southern hemisphere (and my prediction of a clean sweep this weekend).<\/p>\n Japan are 24-10 up against Italy afterwards after 50-odd minutes.<\/p>\n I know Japan is actually in the northern hemisphere (about 2,466 miles above the equator in fact) but spiritually, the Brave Blossoms are a southern hemisphere team.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I also want to see more from the other Wallaby centre, Joseph-Aukuso Sua\u2019ali\u2019i.<\/p>\n The lad exploded onto the scene but has lost a bit of lustre of late.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt he\u2019s an athlete plucked from the top of the tree, with gifts that us mere mortals could only dream of.<\/p>\n But I want to see more. I want to see control, I want to see him show organisation on defence and provide a bit more link-up besides sensational off-loads.<\/p>\n I know I\u2019m being greedy, and perhaps a little harsh on someone still learning the game having made the switch from league not too long ago, but I just know that if everything clicks his ceiling could be higher than the Burj Khalifa.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Really keen to see how the midfield battle plays out.<\/p>\n Len Ikitau is one of the elite ballers in the game and Stuart McClosky was the best centre of the Six Nations (imo).<\/p>\n The winner of their contest could sway the game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Late change for Ireland<\/p>\n Sad news for Rob Baloucoune.<\/p>\n He\u2019s ruled out of the match and will be replaced by Jimmy O\u2019Brien on the right wing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n How about some stats:<\/p>\n The Wallabies last beat Ireland in 2016 and have lost their last five, four of which were within seven points.<\/p>\n They have been held under 20 points in five of their last six games, including their 18-9 win in Brisbane.<\/p>\n The Wallabies hold an 11-5 record over Ireland in Australia<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Angus Fontaine has focussed on Joe Schmidt\u2019s farewell tour.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Thanks to Geoff who wrote in and corrected a mistake.<\/p>\n Of course Ireland\u2019s coach is Andy Farrell, not Owen, as I incorrectly said in my preamble.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.42 EDT<\/p>\n For those with an eye on the England v South Africa game later, I\u2019ve got some news.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not good if you\u2019re English.<\/p>\n George Furbank has been ruled out of the game could miss the entire July tour because of appendicitis. Wishing him a speedy recovery.<\/p>\n In a crushing blow to a player poised to make his first Test appearance since November 2024, Furbank was taken to hospital in Johannesburg on Friday after experiencing painful symptoms.<\/p>\n Marcus Smith \u2013 who was supposed to start on the bench \u2013 appears the most likely replacement given Freddie Steward has been struggling with an ankle problem. Henry Slade could then assume the 23 jersey.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n What\u2019s your take on the Nations Championship<\/a>?<\/p>\n Some of my colleagues are not too hot on the idea.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s Michael Aylwin who cites player welfare as a reason why this whole thing is a bit much:<\/p>\n And Rob Kitson yearns for proper tours (like the one we\u2019ll get later this year when New Zealand head to South Africa in what we should all call \u2018The Ashes of rugby\u201d):<\/p>\n Got to say, I\u2019m with both of them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Teams<\/p>\n A whopping 1,316 days have passed since Jock Campbell donned the gold and green of the Wallabies, but here he starts at 15.<\/p>\n He\u2019s been in top form on the domestic scene for the Red and is part of a tasty back three with plenty of pace to burn.<\/p>\n James Slipper has come out of retirement and will start on the bench.<\/p>\n Starting art scrum-half and the second row, and joining Slipper on the bench, are a trio of debutants. They are Ryan Lonergan, Josh Canham and Lachlan Shaw.<\/p>\n Australia: Jock Campbell; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch; Carter Gordon, Ryan Lonergan; Angus Bell, Josh Nasser, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson.<\/p>\n Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Lachie Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Tom Wright<\/p>\n Australia dressing room at Allianz Stadium. Photograph: Nations Championship\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Ireland have made four changes from the side that secured the Triple Crown back in March.<\/p>\n Caelan Dorris is injured so Dan Sheehan will skipper.<\/p>\n Hugo Keenan, Sam Prendergast, James Ryan, and Cian Prendergast all come into the starting XV with Jamie Osborne shifting to left wing for the first time.<\/p>\n A whole host of the boys from Leinster, fresh from their URC triumph, take up their usual spots in the group.<\/p>\n Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jamie Osborne; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Tom O\u2019Toole, Dan Sheehan, Tadgh Furlong, Joe MCCarthy, James Ryan, Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.<\/p>\n Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Bundee Aki<\/p>\n Ireland dressing room at Allianz Stadium. Photograph: Nations Championship\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.24 EDT<\/p>\n I\u2019m sticking with my prediction that this will be the game of the weekend.<\/p>\n Which means it\u2019ll be one of the greatest games of all time (you\u2019re welcome) as New Zealand just edged France in a proper humdinger!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.24 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble If the run towards the 2027 World Cup can be considered a 10,000m race – please just go with it – then we\u2019re about to start the penultimate lap.<\/p>\n![\"Daniel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Daniel_Gallan.png\")
Daniel Gallan<\/p>\n