One of our favourite Australians here at balls is Seanny Maloney of Rugby HQ. The same Seanny Maloney that brought us the wonderful Top 5 moments and the plays of the week. With the Australians coming to town this week, we'd thought that we'd honour Seanny with some top 5's of our own, continuing with Ireland's Top 5 moments against Australia.
Note: I couldn't bring myself to include two great Irish moments that ultimately ended in losses, so Brian O'Driscoll's outrageous try against Australia in RWC 2003 is sacrificed for Gordon Hamilton's try in 1991 based on the Irish standing in world rugby at the time.
See Also:
Top 5 Australian Tries Of 2014
Top 5 Australian Threats To Ireland
Top 5 Irish Disappointments After Big Performances
5. Gordon Hamilton's try 1991
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvhHy6MFfi4
I could talk about this fantastic moment, but I couldn't do it justice compared to this article remembering the try.
4. Brian O'Driscoll's try 2009
With 4 minutes to go, the 6 Nations grand slam winners unbeaten year was under threat. Tommy Bowe forces himself over the line, but the TMO can't see the ball being grounded and awards a five metre scrum to Ireland. What happens next was one of the best first phase moves to keep Ireland's unbeaten year alive.
3. Brian O'Driscoll Victory in 2002
It was 23 year old Brian O'Driscoll's first test as captain. The weather was horrible and the sun-soaked Australians weren't used to playing in muddy conditions. Did that stop us celebrating our first win over Australia since 1979? Of course not.
2. Denis Hickie's twirls in 2006
Twirling and ducking like a ballet dancer, Hickie's try to set Ireland off to a big win was poetry in motion. This was also Ireland's last clean sweep of a November international series. 2006 also included a win over South Africa and was a year before the World Cup. We know how that went don't we?
1. Stephen Ferris's Rag Doll
One of my favourite moments ever. But I often find that being in a pub at 7 in the morning delirious with a lack of sleep leads to great moments anyway. That Ireland were about to put on a show of dominance against a hugely fancied Australian side made things even better, and Will Genia's audition as Ferris's teddy bear was the highlight of the game, and the moment that is still fresh in any Irish rugby supporter when thinking back to that World Cup.
Plus, it silenced the arrogant Aussies no end:
Also Read:
Remembering The Loudest Roar Ever In Lansdowne Road
Video: Paul O’Connell Is Having None Of Your South African Cockiness
