Heartbreak in Sydney: Donaldson's miss hands Ireland a 33–31 win as Wallabies blow 12-point lead

Australian rugby's heartbreak story continues. The Wallabies had Ireland beaten - they held a 12-point lead in Sydney, in front of a sellout Allianz Stadium crowd, in the opening match of the brand-new Nations Championship - and found a way to lose.

Ben Donaldson's penalty miss in the dying seconds saw Ireland win 33–31, extending Australia's losing streak against Andy Farrell's side to six consecutive Tests and denying coach Joe Schmidt a fairytale send-off in his final match against his old side.

"We did enough to win that game. We didn't win it. That's the brutal truth." Said Harry Wilson.

For the first half, this was the Wallabies at their very best. Dylan Pietsch crossed in the third minute after brilliant early work from Carter Gordon, and the home side never looked back. Tries to Jock Campbell - in his first Test start after an extraordinary 1,300-day absence - Josh Canham, and Ryan Lonergan had the Allianz Stadium crowd in raptures as Australia led by 12 at halftime despite Ireland scoring through Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier, and a critical Jamison Gibson-Park try on the stroke of half-time.

The second half was a different story. Ireland, disciplined and physical up front, began to dominate the set piece. Penalties mounted against the Wallabies' forward pack (particularly at the breakdown and at the lineout) and Ireland's Sam Prendergast, excellent all evening, kicked his side back to within touching distance.

Hugo Keenan (returning from injury) and hooker Dan Sheehan both crossed in the second half as Ireland stormed to a 33–31 lead. The Wallabies had one last chance with the clock gone red.

Donaldson, the replacement flyhalf, stepped up to attempt a penalty from just inside the Irish half. It had the distance. It had the angle. In the end, it had neither - the kick drifted left, Ireland celebrated, and the Wallabies were left to reflect on another agonising near-miss against the northern hemisphere's premier side.

Joe Schmidt, who steps down as Wallabies coach at the end of this month, cut a stoic figure in the aftermath. "I'm proud of how we played for most of that game," he said. "We created enough. We just didn't convert enough." The two sides meet again next Saturday in Sydney. The Wallabies will need to be better at their conversions and exits in particular.

Ireland 33 (Tries: C. Prendergast, van der Flier, Gibson-Park, Keenan; Cons: S. Prendergast 3/4; Pen: S. Prendergast 1) def. Australia 31 (Tries: Pietsch, Campbell, Canham, Lonergan, McDermott; Cons: Gordon 2/5; Pen: Donaldson 0/1)