Ireland have caused the shock of the Rugby World Cup by beating Australia in Auckland today, in a final scoreline of 15-6.
A tenacious Ireland showed a marked improvement on last week’s win over the USA in the first half today, but matters were still level at the break, 6-6. Ireland’s points had come from a Jonathon Secton penalty and drop goal.
Sexton added another penalty in the second half in the second half, after which Ronan O’Gara took up the scoring mantle, kicking two more penalties to leave the final score 15-6.
Australia pushed hard for a late try, but an intercept pass and 90m run by Tommy Bowe sealed the historic win for Declan Kidney’s men.
Two more group stage wins for Ireland, against Russia and Italy, would give us top spot in Group C and a Quarter-Final with Wales as the most likely oppostion.
Before that in Group B, Argentina ran in 6 tries to beat 43-8 Romania, and in Pool D South Africa also scored 6 tries in their 49-3 win over Fiji.
