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22nd November 2014
06:19pm GMT

Johnny Sexton 6
Peach of a chip over the top for Zebo's try. Kicking out of hand was extremely patchy and he fell off a tackle in the lead-up to Phipps racing over for his first try. Missed a make-able penalty in the first half after stalling too long over the ball amid heckles. Nailed his kicks with the second-half pressure well and truly on.
Conor Murray 7
His physicality was needed as Ireland got stretched and needed tackles to be made to prevent overlaps. Threw a stinker of a pass to Sexton, under pressure, leading to a rushed clearance kick in the moments before Bernard Foley's throw. Threw himself at the Aussies as Ireland nipped ahead and held on.
Jack McGrath 6
Kept his side of the scrum ticking over but muted for long spells in the loose. Rarely used as a carrying option, as Cian Healy would often be. Will be disappointed that he did not put himself about the pitch more. Saved the day at creaking 71st minute scrum by picking and going mid-wheel.
Rory Best 8
The hooker was brilliant in the loose and a breakdowns, while hitting his line-out marks with, until a 52nd minute overthrow, little bother. Secured the crucial turnover that left the Wallabies exposed for the Zebo try. 14 tackles landed in a whole-hearted 67-minute shift.
Mike Ross 6
Made one tackle in the first half as his team-mates were going gung-ho for anything in gold that moved. The Irish scrum had no more than parity and were fortunate not to concede a couple of penalties. Wallabies went after Ross in the scrum as the game ticked on and it paid dividends. A worrying November for the tight-head mainstay.
Devin Toner 5
Somehow listed in the official match stats as only missing one tackle in a frantic first half. I counted three. Solid in the line-out and at maul time but he failed to connect with Wallabies when Ireland were leaking points and needed him. Replaced on 61 minutes.
Paul O'Connell 8
Huge hit at the death proved the match-winner. Connected with a couple of meaty blows in the opening forays and offered himself up for the hard-yard carries. Directed a forceful maul that Australia could only stop by foul means.
Peter O'Mahony 6
Struggled to give his team any forward momentum with ball in hand. Missed a tackle in the lead up to a Phipps try but upped the ante after a below-par first half. Held up in the Aussie 22 after a fine Bowe break and turned over the ball.
Rhys Ruddock 7
Landed a good hit on Foley that looked, for all the world, to have prevented a try before the TMO said otherwise. Not in the same ball-carrying class as Stephen Ferris or Sean O'Brien but tackled gamely. His lack of openside experience may not have helped Ross at scrum time. Connected with 14 tackles.
Jamie Heaslip 6
One of the quietest matches I have seen from the Leinster captain in at least two years. Struggled to impose himself on the game and match the Australian back-row's for physicality and impishness. Outshone by opposite number Ben McCalman.