Battered Wallabies skipper reveals regret with crucial decision
Updated . First published
The Wallabies have slumped to their sixth straight loss against Ireland after Ben Donaldson missed a game-winning penalty attempt with time expired.
Donaldson’s difficult shot from near the sideline never looked likely as Ireland clung onto a thrilling 33-31 victory to open their Nations Championship campaign in Sydney on Saturday night.
Ben Donaldson is gutted. Stan
Ex-Wallabies back Morgan Turinui teed off on what he viewed as incompetent judgement from the officials.
Turinui was filthy with what he viewed as an obvious forward pass from Jack Conan for Jamison Gibson-Park’s try for Ireland just before halftime. There were only minor grumblings in the written press box.
“Clearly forward out of the hands, a try that shouldn’t stand,” Turinui said on Stan Sport.
“The Wallabies here unable to overcome a brilliant Ireland who showed what a champion team they are.
“A Wallabies team unable to overcome another howler from a refereeing quartet, a Wallabies team that showed how good they can be, but they need to do it for longer, dust themselves off and go again.”
New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe was the referee, supported by assistants Karl Dickson and Andrea Piardi and TMO Matteo Liperini.
Both teams scored five tries in a wonderful advertisement for running rugby in front of a sellout, record, crowd of 41,971 at Allianz Stadium.
Dylan Pietsch of Australia scores his team's first try. Getty
“Ireland survive in Sydney in one of the all-time Test matches, and the Nations Championship is off to an incredible start,” Sean Maloney said in commentary.
Dylan Pietsch, Jock Campbell, Josh Canham, Ryan Lonergan and Tate McDermott were Australia’s try-scorers.
Fullback Campbell was excellent in his first Test in four years and was strangely substituted in the 78th minute for Tom Wright.
They were Canham and Lonergan’s first Test tries in their first Test starts.
Canham won special praise from coach Joe Schmidt for his sterling job running the lineout, while Lonergan left the field with a sternum injury.
Schmidt didn’t think it was a serious issue.
Nor did he take serious issue with the performance of O’Keeffe - who handed a late yellow card to debutant lock Lachlan Shaw.
Lachlan Shaw reacts to being given a yellow card. Nine/Stan
“This will really frustrate him, the fact that he got pinged for a skinny old kind of hand on a ruck while he’s defending, he’ll learn from that,” Schmidt said.
“I thought Ben O’Keeffe controlled the game pretty well. We’ll look back at it and anything that we feel we’ve got questions about, we’ll send in through the right channels as we always do. He certainly was keen to let it flow.”
Ireland coach Andy Farrell gave special mention to fullback Hugo Keenan’s try-saving tackle on Wallabies star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii with halftime approaching.
Not long after, Gibson-Park was scooting under the posts.
It capped a tough day for Australian sports fans after the Socceroos bowed out of the World Cup to Egypt on penalties.
“It’s been heartbreak for Australia with balls off the boot today,” Turinui said on Stan Sport.
Ben Donaldson of the Wallabies looks dejected as Tom O'Toole of Ireland celebrates victory. Getty Images
Farrell quipped that the result was never in doubt.
“Honestly, I thought he’d get it,” Farrell said of Donaldson’s shot at victory.
“Having said that, it was a long way out, tough, tough old kick. He’s a class operator, I suppose you would love that option of a player like that with so much experience to come off the bench and have the opportunity.
“But it’s a tough old kick. Fine margins isn’t it? That’s top-level Test match rugby, that’s how it should be.”
Battered Wallabies captain Harry Wilson admitted he would have liked to have done things differently with the benefit of hindsight.
In the 72nd minute, Wilson asked Donaldson to have a crack at a penalty from a similarly tough position. It also missed.
Harry Wilson of Australia is interviewed at fulltime. Getty
“We had a bit of a chat, because he couldn’t really make many metres if he did kick for touch and, contemplated having a scrum there,” Wilson explained.
“And ultimately sort of went for goal hopefully, to try and get eight points ahead going into the last seven or six minutes. And, yeah, hindsight, obviously potentially, probably, could have gone for a scrum there and let our backs go.
“And then in the 80th minute, I guess we did have a lock off the field there too (Shaw), and I backed Donno.
Ben Donaldson is consoled by Harry Wilson. Getty Images
“I know he’s a good kicker and I loved how he stepped up in that moment, he wanted it, and that’s what you want from your 10. I can live with him missing that because he wasn’t scared at the moment.
“He wanted it and I’m sure down the future in Wallabies he’ll step up and get that win for the Wallabies.”
Lucas Herrington can relate.
Donaldson also missed a game-winning opportunity in 2022 in Florence which gave Italy their first-ever win over the Wallabies.
Earlier on Saturday, New Zealand kicked off the Nations Championship with a similarly thrilling 34-32 win over France in Christchurch.
The All Blacks recovered to give Dave Rennie the win in his coaching debut after new No.10 Ruben Love was yellow carded in the second minute.
Japan then pulled off an impressive 27-10 upset against Italy in Tokyo.
Eddie Jones was not allowed to coach the Brave Blossoms as he serves a suspension for abusing officials during a recent Japan A tour of Australia.
The Wallabies must now dust themselves off for a clash with France in Brisbane next Saturday.
Ireland will meet Japan in Newcastle while the All Blacks host Italy in Wellington.
