Ireland 20-20 Australia

Brian O'Driscoll marked his 100th Test cap with a last-minute try to help Ireland salvage a 20-20 draw against Australia at Croke Park. Australia led 10-6 at half-time, Drew Mitchell scoring a try, but Tommy Bowe touched down for Ireland in the second half and then Rocky Elsom scored a try. Matt Giteau kicked 10 points to put the Aussies 20-13 ahead but O'Driscoll ran in under the posts to make it 20-18. Ronan O'Gara converted with the last kick of the match to level the scores. The draw ended Australia's hopes of a Grand Slam tour of the home nations, but it was a fair result after Ireland dragged themselves back into a match that seemed to have slipped away. The result also maintains Ireland's unbeaten record in 2009, with games against Fiji and world champions South Africa to come. Much of the pre-match build-up focused on O'Driscoll becoming the 11th player to reach a century of Test caps (with six of those coming for the British and Irish Lions), but he made an unwelcome contribution with his first touch of the ball.O'Gara's pass put the centre under pressure and he spilled the ball to give Mitchell a stroll to the line for the opening try in the second minute. O'Gara replied with a straightforward fifth-minute penalty after the Wallabies were penalised for offside after a knock-on. The visitors had the better of the opening 15 minutes but Giteau missed with his first penalty attempt of the game after the Irish were penalised for straying offside.