The Wallabies have gone down in a heartbreaking thriller with Ireland, the visitors coming from 12 points down to win 33-31 in an entertaining opener in Sydney.
In front of a sellout crowd, the promise of running rugby has lived up to the hype, with ten tries scored across the match.
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The hosts bolted out of the blocks with tries to Dylan Pietsch and Jock Campbell, with the lead changing several times across an entertaining first half.
Josh Canham celebrated his return to the side up with a try, while Ryan Lonergan also scored from a long range effort as the hosts took a 12 point lead.
However, the Irish stayed in touch through tries to Cain Prendergast and Josh van der Flier, with Jamison Gibson-Park scoring a critical try on halftime to keep them in the match.
The Irish kept up the pace with a try to Hugo Keenan in the second half, but a reply by Tate McDermott gave the hosts the lead back, setting up a grand stand finish.
However a Thomas Clarkson try was enough to give the hosts a two point lead, and despite earning a penalty to win it with the clock red, but Ben Donaldson pushed it wide to see the Wallabies drought over the Emerald Isle continue.
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The ball pushes wide. Gibson-Park grounds it in goal. It's over. The Wallabies go down in a thriller.
It's all or nothing for the Wallabies as McDermott sends it to the air. They're going to have to do it from deep. They make it to halfway… and get an advantage!
We go back for the penalty, and the Wallabies point to the sticks! It all ends here.
The Irish maul it, then send it. They get closer and closer, this is a thriller on our hands. The play breaks down and the Wallabies are penalised, and Harry Wilson gets an official warning.
The Irish eat the clock up and tap and go, and the play breaks down. But it's a penalty, and Lachie Shaw is sent to the bin.
The Irish tap and go again… and Clarkson gets over! That might be it! Prendergast converts!
Donaldson's kick is wide, and the Irish attack from deep, making it to halfway before being stopped. The hosts tidy up off a high ball and send it long, and the visitors attack again, and the Wallabies are pinged for offside.
They go to the corner.
After a tense maul and forward play, the Irish knock it on, another chance goes begging for the visitors. Scrum to the hosts, and they win a penalty! Critical.
They kick to halfway and attack, and the visitors are penalised for obstruction. The visitors point to the posts as the final ten minutes begins.
Tom Hooper enters the fray for the hosts, as a new stadium record of 41,971 is confirmed.
After a Wallaby attack that falls apart, the Irish clear and then regather off a dangerous Wallaby attack. Jock Campbell attacks and gets into space to link up with Jorgensen, but they can't regather and the Irish get a lineout.
They win and go on the attack, and break through before the Wallabies are penalised again for not rolling away. They go to the corner.
The Wallabies restart of the lineout and… Loughman been knocked out cold in a hit up with Valetini. Fortunately he's back on his feet but a nasty hit and he's off. Big shift for O'Toole tonight.
Big changes for the Wallabies as Bell, Slipper and Paenga-Amosa come onto the field.
The Irish win a lineout off the restart, then earn a penalty for the Wallabies not releasing the player. They go to the corner… but the Wallabies pinch another lineout and clear it to the 22.
The Irish attack, Paenga-Amosa is penalised for not rolling away. The hosts go to the corner, and maul it… and this time they get over through Sheehan. Prendergast converts, but Wilson is pleading for a TMO obstruction, and we're going upstairs.
The crowd makes their voice known, and… it's a no try! The Wallabies survive again!
Lachie Shaw comes on for his debut.
The Irish concede a free kick, and just like that McDermott is off! There is no space, and he gets over to give the hosts the lead back. Gordon converts and the lead is back to five for the hosts.
The Wallabies restart well, and Ireland are penalised for a high tackle. The hosts kick to the corner immediately.
They go quickly off the lineout, and the forwards get to work in the middle of the field. Slowly, they get closer, and it's a battle of the forwards. Eventually, the Irish are penalised for not staying on their feet. The hosts opt for the scrum, and on cue, the Irish empty the forwards from the bench.
The Wallabies are penalised from grabbing the player in the air, and a critical moment is coming up for the Irish to score. They kick to the corner.
The Wallabies are penalised again off the lineout, and the Irish tap and go. The Wallabies concede an offside penalty, and Hugo Keenan gets through off a wrong read. Prendergast converts, and the Irish reclaim the lead.
After some great pressure from the Wallabies, the Irish deliver a stunning spiraling kick to get out of danger off the restart. However, they make a high tackle and concede a penalty, and the Wallabies kick into enemy territory.
The Wallabies look dangerous, but a kick ahead sees the visitors take the mark. The Irish pinch the lineout and break out, but a kick ahead sees Jorgensen tidy up and clear to halfway.
The sides are back out on the park. The Wallabies kick off, and we are back underway!
The siren blares as the sides reset the scrum. The Irish decide to attack, and make it up to halfway. Good passage here by the visitors. After a few phases, Gibson-Park finds himself in space and the visitors score a critical try on halftime. Prendergast converts, and it's game on here at halftime.
McDermott clears, and incredibly, the Wallabies pinch a second lineout. They send it to the air, and McReight reclaims it to give the hosts a good position.
They go wide, and Suaalii breaks through, but the Irish defence catch him and he knocks it on. The Irish clear and the Wallabies attack again, and look threatening. They go wide again at the 22 but can't link up, and knock it on as we enter the final minute. Scrum to Ireland.
The Irish go back to basics, but the hosts defense looks strong. Eventually they kick ahead into the 22, and Lonergan clears off the Wallaby lineout. The visitors attack and earn a penalty for the Wallabies being offside, but a great defensive effort from Suaalii sees the Irish knock it on.
Tate McDermott is on for Ryan Lonergan, who is off to the blood bin.
The Irish build up looks good, but just like that, Jorgensen plucks the intercept and links up with Lonergan to score a long range stunner! Gordon converts, and the hosts extend their lead.
Williams earns a penalty for not releasing, and just like that, the Wallabies strike back through great runs to Valetini and Lonergan get the hosts on the front foot. Canham gets there and the hosts get their third! Gordon converts.
After a strong attacking play by Ireland, McReight is penalised for not releasing and the Irish kick to the corner. Another chance to reply for the hosts.
The maul off the lineout breaks down, but the visitors get the advantage and the hosts have to defend again. After over ten phases, the play breaks down but we're called back.
The Irish tap and go, and a trick play sees van der Flier get over for the Irish's second. Prendergast misses the conversion, but the Irish have the lead.
After a strong kick from the Irish, Gordon finds space and the Wallabies are on the front foot.
They go wide, and Campbell gets rounds the defence to score in the corner. The hosts have the lead again. Gordon misses the conversion.
The Wallabies attack, but the Irish turn it over, spin it wide and kick ahead. the hosts regather and Gordon clears. The Irish win a lineout and earn a penalty, and kick to the corner. Chance to reply coming up.
The visitors maul, then go to the forwards. After three phases, they strike back through Prendergast. S. Prendergast converts, and the visitors lead for the first time.
The Wallabies restart well, but it gets messy and the ball goes into touch for a goal line drop out.
The hosts send it long, and it's time for the visitors to attack. The Irish retain the ball, but Bell earns a penalty for not holding on. The Wallabies kick into enemy territory.
The Wallabies take the kick-off well, and after a few kicks, Gordon takes a mark and sends it long. The Irish try and chip over, but the Wallabies mop up well and Gordon kicks ahead well into Irish territory, the ball going out.
The Wallabies win the lineout, and look dangerous early. They suck the Irish in, and sling it wide, and Pietsch is in the corner. A perfect start for the hosts. Gordon misses the conversion from out wide, but a good start.
Both sides come out on the park to a massive roar! The anthems are sung, and Ben O'Keefe prepares to get us underway.
The whistle blows, and Irish kick us off! The 2026 season is underway!
Tries: Pietsch, Campbell, Canham, Lonergan, McDermott
Cons: Gordon 3/5
Pens: Donaldson 0/2
Cards: Shaw (Yellow - 75')
Tries: C. Prendergast, van der Flier, Gibson-Park, Keenan, Clarkson
Cons: S. Prendergast 4/5
Both sides have departed, and commence final preparations. The stadium is buzzing with thousands of fans, and should serve as the perfect backdrop to an entertaining evening. The Lansdowne Cup is hoisted into it's plinth, and the team names are read out.
Both the Wallabies and Irish are going through their warm ups, with plenty of intent in both sides.
The Sydney faithful have turned out early, with a lot of gold in the building, but plenty of green at the southern end of the field. While the Irish will expect plenty of support in Sydney, all signs are pointing to a vocal Wallaby crowd tonight.
Welcome to this evening's coverage of the first Test match of the season as the Wallabies take on Ireland in Sydney.
It is a chilly evening in Sydney, but no wind and not a cloud in sight makes it a perfect evening for Test match rugby.
Both teams have commenced preparation, with the Wallabies out on the park, followed by the visitors.
No confirmed changes for the hosts, however Ireland have had a late withdrawal in Rob Baloucoune, with Jimmy O'Brien coming straight into the starting side as his replacement.
WALLABIES (15-1): Jock Campbell, Max Jorgensen, Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Carter Gordon, Ryan Lonergan, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Nasser, Angus Bell
Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Tom Wright
IRELAND (15-1): Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Tom O’Toole
Reserves: Rónan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Bundee Aki
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) & Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
The Wallabies' clash with Ireland will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport and the Nine Network.
Coverage will be live on Stan Sport, scheduled to start at 7:00 pm (AEST).
The game will also be shown on free-to-air television from 7:30 pm (AEST) via Channel 9 (NSW, QLD, VIC, SA) and 9Gem (WA)
