Ireland Down Under: Australia v Ireland Second Test Post-Match Press Conference

Head coach Joe Schmidt and captain Peter O’Mahony comment on Ireland’s hard-fought 26-21 win in Melbourne to level the series ahead of next Saturday’s final game in Sydney.

Speaking about the victory over Australia, Joe Schmidt said: “The scrum was nice and solid and the ball retention was good and in that third quarter we kept the ball very well. Thankfully Tadhg (Furlong) managed to get over for the try. I think that third quarter was defining for us in the end.

“It all depends on what we can deliver next week and the Wallabies will be thinking the same thing. Nothing feel monumental when it is one-all (in a Test series).”

Peter O’Mahony remarked: “Hugely physical, hugely intense. It was as expected when you come up against one of the best teams in the world. We had a lot of ball but it was a very challenging game.”