'We never gave up' - Hugo Keenan pleased to make Ireland support proud with win over Australia in Nations Championship
Ireland’s man-of-the-match Hugo Keenan admitted “it could have gone either way” after his side’s last-gasp 33-31 win over Australia in their Nations Championship opener in Sydney.
Replacement prop Tom Clarkson struck from close-range for Ireland in the closing stages to tie the score at 31-31 and fly-half Sam Prendergast held his nerve to land the match-winning conversion.
There was still time for Australia replacement Ben Donaldson to snatch it back for the hosts, but his long-range penalty drifted wide at the end of a thrilling match, which saw both sides score five tries.
Leinster full-back Keenan, who scored a second-half try and made a series of crucial tackles, including two try-saving efforts, told ITV Sport: “It was so tight, so intense, a proper Test match.
“But to be fair to the lads, we asked to make this crowd, thousands in green, proud, and I think that’s exactly what we did.
“We never gave up, we dug in deep, and at the end of the day, it just came down to a kick. So hard luck to Australia, they were very unlucky. It could have gone either way.”
Australia led 24-19 at half-time, scoring four tries through winger Dylan Pietsch, full-back Jock Campbell, second row Josh Canham and scrum-half Ryan Lonergan.
Ireland went over three times before the break, with Cian Prendergast, fellow flanker Josh van der Flier and scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park going over.
Keenan’s converted effort early in the second period put Ireland 26-24 ahead, only for Australia’s replacement scrum-half Tate McDermott’s try to edge his side back in front.
But after Ireland skipper Dan Sheehan’s close-range try had been ruled out by the video referee for obstruction, Ireland’s late pressure told and Clarkson went over for Prendergast to land the winning kick.
“They’ve got some unbelievable ball carriers, some unbelievable threats at the breakdown, and they’re a top quality side,” Keenan added of Australia, who have now lost their last six Test matches against Ireland.
“We obviously have come up against them a few times between Autumn and the (British and Irish) Lions (tour), and we know what they can be like and how good they are. That was a proper Test match.”
Australia’s replacement second row Lachlan Shaw was shown a yellow card in the final few minutes after his side had repeatedly strayed offside.
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt, who will leave his role after the summer series of Nations Championship matches, pin-pointed why they slipped to a narrow defeat.
Schmidt said: “Probably just discipline at the end of the day let them have access into our 22.
“You can’t do that to the number three team in the world and the team who probably have the best conversion rate in the 22.
“Right now, we will reflect on some of the missed opportunities, but we have to dust ourselves off and go again next week.”