Picturedabove: The O2 advertisement, featuring Ireland's Paul O'Connell, BrianO'Driscoll and Andrew Trimble, which found its home over the Wandererspavillion last Sunday was certainly apt, given the bucketing rain.
Memories of Ireland's 2002 win over the Wallabies came flooding back (excuse the pun!) as tries from Denis Hickie and Geordan Murphy and 11 points from the boot of Ronan O'Gara saw the Australians defeated for the second time in three visits to Lansdowne Road.
Making his first start for Ireland, Ulster scrum half Isaac Boss roars his encouragement to his team-mates. The 26-year-old Tokoroa-born pivot admitted after the game: "I loved every minute of it. You couldn't wipe the smile off my face all week when I got selected and I am still smiling now which is a good sign!"
Boss, seen here preparing to steady the ball for a Ronan O'Garakick at goal, added: "We had to keep the ball in hand into the wind inthe first half and I got involved a few times. I was reasonably happywith the way I did things, but I was disappointed with a few areas liketaking some wrong options at the start of the second half. So there arethings to work on.
"We played some good rugby and probably should have scored a couple more tries in the first half. But to stop Australia scoring a try took some effort. They haven't done that for a while."
Leinster and Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy goes on the charge with Wallabies duo Stirling Mortlock and Rocky Elsom for company. D'Arcy, if selected, is certain to come up against another pair of big, physical centres when the notoriously strong Pacific Islandersvisit Lansdowne Road on Sunday, and he admitted he was still feelingthe effects of taking on the Mortlock-Lote Tuqiri combination lastweekend.
TheWexford man said: "(Physically) it was very hard last Sunday. To befair, they (Mortlcok and Tuqiri) were in the more difficult positionbecause they weren't getting the ball, we were. Defensively, they madeit hard for us, they made some big hits. I'm still feeling a bit sore,to be honest."
Wallaby lock Mark Chisolm beats Ireland's Paul O'Connell to a lineout ball at Lansdowne Road. O'Connell's nomination for the IRB World Player of the Year hascaused him his fair share of grief. The 6ft 6in Limerick-born lock is aman of modesty, preferring for his team or team-mates to be in thespotlight. "People remember teams not individuals,"said the 2005 Lion.
But his second row partner for province and country, Donncha O'Callaghan, summedit up best by saying: "I'm telling you, when Paul gets around towriting his own autobriography he won't mention himself until page 78.Truthfully though, we all say that Superman is now wearing PaulO'Connell pyjamas."
Ireland's David Wallace carries the ball forward as Chris Latham and Stephen Larkham step in to tackle him during the 26th Test match between the two countries. Wallace made history in Australia in June 2001. When he came on as a substitute against New South Wales Country, he became the third member of his family to be capped by the Lions, following in the footsteps of his brothers Richard and Paul.
A tour replacement for the injured Lawrence Dallaglio, 'Wally' made a near 40-hour journey fromCopenhagen to London, on to Singapore and Sydney and then Coffs Harbourto make his Lions bow as a second half substitute for Martin Corry in the
There is delight all round as Leinster winger Denis Hickie, makinghis first appearance in an Ireland jersey for 20 months, gets over forthe opening try in last weekend's 21-6 defeat of the Wallabies. The30-year-old now boasts an enviable record of 26 tries in 52 Test matches - or one every two games.
A sizzling move puts recalled full-back Geordan Murphy over for Ireland's second try, setting up a 15-3 half-time advantage for Eddie O'Sullivan's men. It was Kildare man Murphy's 17th Test try, which makes him joint-third on the all-time list of top try scorers, level with his team-mate Shane Horgan and former record holder Brendan Mullin.
Ireland number 8 Denis Leamy looks to break through the tackle of Australia's Matt Giteau. The Rockwell College-educated Leamy, despite being only 16, was part of the Ireland Schools side that lost 22-12 to Australia in 1998.
Helined out alongside Shane Jennings and Neil McMillan in the back rowthat day, with the Aussie line-up including the likes of futureinternationals George Smith and David Lyons.
Bustling Leinster and Ireland winger Shane Horgan is sandwiched in a tackle by Australia's Clyde Rathbone and Stirling Mortlock. Horgan, 28, had the pleasure of leading out Ireland for their second Guinness Autumn Series Test match, on the occasion of his 50th cap.
Heis the last of the five players, who famously made their senior debutsagainst Scotland in February 2000, to hit the half century mark. RonanO'Gara (65), John Hayes (67) and Peter Stringer (71) have all pastthrough 50 caps while flanker Simon Easterby made his 50th appearance for Ireland against South Africa the previous week.
**All photos by Inpho Photography**
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