On an afternoon teeming with sub-plots, the simple narrative arc at the Aviva Stadium was that a misfiring Ireland ground out a 22-19 win over stubborn Australia in their final Autumn Nations Series Test.

Ireland supremo is now Australia's head coach and was in good form as he met the media at the Wallabies' team hotel in Dublin

Ireland showed character to deny former coach Joe Schmidt a winning return to Lansdowne Road today NZT by edging Australia 22-19 in a scrappy encounter. The hosts outscored the Wallabies three tries to one to give head coach Andy Farrell a victorious farewell before he takes charge of the British and Irish Lions next year.

Australia boss Joe Schmidt is optimistic next summer’s British and Irish Lions series will be competitive following an agonising 22-19 defeat to Andy Farrell’s Ireland in Dublin. Former Ireland head coach Schmidt looked set to enjoy a memorable return to the Aviva Stadium before Gus McCarthy’s late try snatched victory for the hosts.

Schmidt's successor, Andy Farrell, watched his players almost make a mess of the IRFU's 150th commemoration party as their errors tallied up

GUS MCCARTHY’S 73RD-MINUTE try proved to be decisive as Ireland finished their Autumn Nations Series with a narrow win against Joe Schmidt’s Australia in the Aviva Stadium. Cian Healy came off the bench in the second half,

Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt is back in Dublin as his Australia side look to spoil Andy Farrell’s farewell before his Lions sojourn.