For the first time ever, Ireland have beaten Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the same year.
Ireland completed an Autumn Nations Series clean sweep as they held off Australia in a tight encounter in the Aviva on Saturday evening.
Andy Farrell’s men were able to end the year with a 13-10 victory to close out a successful 2022. Bundee Aki scored Ireland’s only try with Ross Byrne kicking the decisive penalty late on.
In what was a tense first half, young out-half Jack Crowley, replacing Johnny Sexton, scored the only points off the first 40 scoring a penalty in the tenth minute to give Ireland a 3-0 lead.
Jamison Gibson-Park looked to have scored the opening try just seven minutes after the restart but his score was disallowed following a decision that Mack Hansen had gone out of play just as he gave off the pass to JGP.
The Wallabies came level in the 56th minute thanks to a Bernard Foley penalty after a period of pressure from the men in Gold.
Ireland went ahead again after replacement Aki powered over at the end of a period of phases which Crowley duly converted.
Wallabies substitute Jordan Petaia brought them level after he ran clear to cross the line in the right corner, with Foley landing the conversion after.
Substitute Byrne impressively held his nerve to give Ireland victory after a draw looked likely with a penalty putting Ireland ahead before they held out Australian pressure to seal the win.
The results brings an end to an impressive year for Farrell’s men seeing them get nine wins from eleven games including a series win in New Zealand.