Wallabies produce ‘Gallipoli’ epic as Ireland snatch the win

July 5, 2026 — 12:35am

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This was another “Gallipoli” for the Wallabies, a magnificent performance but . . . still a loss in the end. A 33-31 loss to a team as strong as Ireland, currently ranked third in the world, with the game in the balance to the final whistle is no shame, but the frustration remains that it was SO close to fame!

Let’s go to the good stuff first.

The big news is that the Wallabies have finally solved the halves issue. Mark these names down for next year’s World Cup: Ryan Lonergan and Carter Gordon. Like every brilliant halves combination, in this match they added up to 1.25, not 1.00 – each one complementing the other’s game. Lonergan’s pass was fast and accurate. (When Lonergan was injured, Tate McDermott came on and was equally strong, his every dart hitting the bullseye - and one scoring a try.)

Carter Gordon, newly returned from a disastrously injured spell in the NRL, was a revelation. He was what we have long needed, a fly-half who not only fed his outside backs with quick hands, but also regularly broke the line himself, and had a judicious kicking game.

Outside him Joseph Aukuso Suaalii had his best and busiest game in at least a year. And they don’t call Len Ikitau, “Flikitau” for nothing. His no-look flicks were fabulous, and constantly put his wingers,........

© The Age