# 2018 Ireland rugby union tour of Australia

In June 2018, Ireland played a three-test series against Australia as part of the 2018 June rugby union tests. It was the first time Ireland had played a test series against Australia in Australia since 2010. The series was part of the sixth year of the global rugby calendar established by World Rugby, which runs through to 2019.

## Fixtures

| Date | Venue | Home | Score | Away |
| 9 June 2018 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Australia | 18–9 | Ireland |
| 16 June 2018 | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Australia | 21–26 | Ireland |
| 23 June 2018 | Allianz Stadium, Sydney | Australia | 16–20 | Ireland |

## Squads

Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as per 9 June, the first test match of the tour.

### Ireland

On 23 May 2018, Joe Schmidt named a 32-man squad for the 2018 June rugby union tests.
On 31 May, tour captain Rory Best was ruled out of the test series with a hamstring injury. Munster's Niall Scannell was called-up to replace him, with Peter O'Mahony and Johnny Sexton sharing the captaincy duties for the tour.
Dave Kilcoyne trained with the squad as injury cover for Cian Healy ahead of the third test, whilst Will Addison also trained with the team, though neither player was officially added to the touring squad.
Coaching team:
* Head coach: Joe Schmidt
* Defence coach: Andy Farrell
* Forwards coach: Simon Easterby
* Scrum coach: Greg Feek
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Rory Best (c) | Hooker | (1982-08-15)15 August 1982 (aged 35) | 111 | Ulster |
| Seán Cronin | Hooker | (1986-05-06)6 May 1986 (aged 32) | 61 | Leinster |
| Rob Herring | Hooker | (1990-08-27)27 August 1990 (aged 27) | 3 | Ulster |
| Niall Scannell | Hooker | (1992-04-08)8 April 1992 (aged 26) | 7 | Munster |
| Tadhg Furlong | Prop | (1992-11-14)14 November 1992 (aged 25) | 23 | Leinster |
| Cian Healy | Prop | (1987-10-07)7 October 1987 (aged 30) | 78 | Leinster |
| Jack McGrath | Prop | (1989-10-11)11 October 1989 (aged 28) | 47 | Leinster |
| Andrew Porter | Prop | (1996-01-16)16 January 1996 (aged 22) | 7 | Leinster |
| John Ryan | Prop | (1988-08-02)2 August 1988 (aged 29) | 13 | Munster |
| Tadhg Beirne | Lock | (1992-01-08)8 January 1992 (aged 26) | 0 | Scarlets |
| Iain Henderson | Lock | (1992-02-21)21 February 1992 (aged 26) | 38 | Ulster |
| Quinn Roux | Lock | (1990-10-30)30 October 1990 (aged 27) | 5 | Connacht |
| James Ryan | Lock | (1996-07-24)24 July 1996 (aged 21) | 8 | Leinster |
| Devin Toner | Lock | (1986-06-29)29 June 1986 (aged 31) | 58 | Leinster |
| Dan Leavy | Flanker | (1994-05-23)23 May 1994 (aged 24) | 9 | Leinster |
| Jordi Murphy | Flanker | (1991-04-22)22 April 1991 (aged 27) | 20 | Leinster |
| Peter O'Mahony (vc) | Flanker | (1989-09-17)17 September 1989 (aged 28) | 47 | Munster |
| Jack Conan | Number 8 | (1992-07-29)29 July 1992 (aged 25) | 7 | Leinster |
| CJ Stander | Number 8 | (1990-04-05)5 April 1990 (aged 28) | 23 | Munster |
| John Cooney | Scrum-half | (1990-05-01)1 May 1990 (aged 28) | 1 | Ulster |
| Kieran Marmion | Scrum-half | (1992-02-11)11 February 1992 (aged 26) | 21 | Connacht |
| Conor Murray | Scrum-half | (1989-04-20)20 April 1989 (aged 29) | 64 | Munster |
| Ross Byrne | Fly-half | (1995-04-08)8 April 1995 (aged 23) | 0 | Leinster |
| Joey Carbery | Fly-half | (1995-11-01)1 November 1995 (aged 22) | 10 | Leinster |
| Johnny Sexton (vc) | Fly-half | (1985-07-11)11 July 1985 (aged 32) | 73 | Leinster |
| Bundee Aki | Centre | (1990-04-07)7 April 1990 (aged 28) | 7 | Connacht |
| Robbie Henshaw | Centre | (1993-06-12)12 June 1993 (aged 24) | 33 | Leinster |
| Garry Ringrose | Centre | (1995-01-26)26 January 1995 (aged 23) | 13 | Leinster |
| Andrew Conway | Wing | (1991-07-11)11 July 1991 (aged 26) | 6 | Munster |
| Keith Earls | Wing | (1987-10-02)2 October 1987 (aged 30) | 67 | Munster |
| Jacob Stockdale | Wing | (1996-04-06)6 April 1996 (aged 22) | 9 | Ulster |
| Rob Kearney | Fullback | (1986-03-26)26 March 1986 (aged 32) | 83 | Leinster |
| Jordan Larmour | Fullback | (1997-06-10)10 June 1997 (aged 20) | 3 | Leinster |

### Australia

On 30 May 2018, Michael Cheika named a 32-man squad for the three-test series against Ireland.
On 3 June, Pete Samu was added to the squad after New Zealand Rugby agreed to release the flanker, who plays for Crusaders in New Zealand, for the test series. On the same day however, hooker Jordan Uelese was ruled out of the series with a knee injury sustained playing for Melbourne Rebels. Tolu Latu was called-up to the squad to replace Uelese.
On 18 June, Jake Gordon was called-up to replace the injured Will Genia.
Coaching team:
* Head coach: Michael Cheika
* Attack coach: Stephen Larkham
* Forwards coach: Simon Raiwalui
* Defence coach: Nathan Grey
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Franchise/province |
| Folau Fainga'a | Hooker | (1995-05-05)5 May 1995 (aged 23) | 0 | Brumbies |
| Brandon Paenga-Amosa | Hooker | (1995-12-25)25 December 1995 (aged 22) | 0 | Queensland Reds |
| Tolu Latu | Hooker | (1993-02-23)23 February 1993 (aged 25) | 4 | Waratahs |
| Jordan Uelese | Hooker | (1997-01-24)24 January 1997 (aged 21) | 2 | Melbourne Rebels |
| Allan Alaalatoa | Prop | (1994-01-28)28 January 1994 (aged 24) | 22 | Brumbies |
| Sekope Kepu | Prop | (1986-02-05)5 February 1986 (aged 32) | 91 | Waratahs |
| Tom Robertson | Prop | (1994-08-28)28 August 1994 (aged 23) | 18 | Waratahs |
| Scott Sio | Prop | (1991-10-16) 16 October 1991 (age 32) | 43 | Brumbies |
| Taniela Tupou | Prop | (1996-05-10) 10 May 1996 (age 28) | 1 | Queensland Reds |
| Rory Arnold | Lock | (1990-07-01)1 July 1990 (aged 27) | 15 | Brumbies |
| Adam Coleman | Lock | (1991-10-07)7 October 1991 (aged 26) | 20 | Melbourne Rebels |
| Rob Simmons | Lock | (1989-04-19)19 April 1989 (aged 29) | 82 | Waratahs |
| Izack Rodda | Lock | (1996-08-20)20 August 1996 (aged 21) | 4 | Queensland Reds |
| Lukhan Tui | Lock | (1996-09-19)19 September 1996 (aged 21) | 4 | Queensland Reds |
| Ned Hanigan | Flanker | (1995-04-11)11 April 1995 (aged 23) | 12 | Waratahs |
| Michael Hooper (c) | Flanker | (1991-10-29)29 October 1991 (aged 26) | 79 | Waratahs |
| David Pocock | Flanker | (1988-04-23)23 April 1988 (aged 30) | 66 | Brumbies |
| Peter Samu | Flanker | (1991-12-17)17 December 1991 (aged 26) | 0 | Crusaders |
| Caleb Timu | Number 8 | (1994-02-22)22 February 1994 (aged 24) | 0 | Queensland Reds |
| Will Genia | Scrum-half | (1988-01-17)17 January 1988 (aged 30) | 88 | Melbourne Rebels |
| Jake Gordon | Scrum-half | (1993-07-06)6 July 1993 (aged 24) | 0 | Waratahs |
| Nick Phipps | Scrum-half | (1989-01-09)9 January 1989 (aged 29) | 61 | Waratahs |
| Joe Powell | Scrum-half | (1994-04-11)11 April 1994 (aged 24) | 3 | Brumbies |
| Bernard Foley | Fly-half | (1989-09-08)8 September 1989 (aged 28) | 55 | Waratahs |
| Kurtley Beale | Centre | (1989-01-06)6 January 1989 (aged 29) | 71 | Waratahs |
| Samu Kerevi | Centre | (1993-09-27)27 September 1993 (aged 24) | 18 | Queensland Reds |
| Tevita Kuridrani | Centre | (1991-03-31)31 March 1991 (aged 27) | 58 | Brumbies |
| Sefa Naivalu | Centre | (1992-01-07)7 January 1992 (aged 26) | 7 | Melbourne Rebels |
| Curtis Rona | Centre | (1992-05-26)26 May 1992 (aged 26) | 3 | Waratahs |
| Dane Haylett-Petty | Wing | (1989-06-18)18 June 1989 (aged 28) | 18 | Melbourne Rebels |
| Reece Hodge | Wing | (1994-08-26)26 August 1994 (aged 23) | 24 | Melbourne Rebels |
| Marika Koroibete | Wing | (1992-07-26)26 July 1992 (aged 25) | 8 | Melbourne Rebels |
| Tom Banks | Fullback | (1994-06-18)18 June 1994 (aged 23) | 0 | Brumbies |
| Israel Folau | Fullback | (1989-04-03)3 April 1989 (aged 29) | 62 | Waratahs |
| Jack Maddocks | Fullback | (1997-02-05)5 February 1997 (aged 21) | 0 | Melbourne Rebels |

## Matches
### First Test

* 9 June 2018 20:05 AEST (UTC+10)
| Australia | 18–9 | Ireland |
| Try: Foley 33' m Pocock 71' c Con: Foley (1/2) 73' Pen: Foley (2/2) 2', 69' | Report | Pen: Carbery (3/3) 13', 25', 55' |
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 46,273 Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
| FB | 15 | Israel Folau |
| RW | 14 | Dane Haylett-Petty | 62' |
| OC | 13 | Samu Kerevi |
| IC | 12 | Kurtley Beale |
| LW | 11 | Marika Koroibete |
| FH | 10 | Bernard Foley |
| SH | 9 | Will Genia | 73' |
| N8 | 8 | Caleb Timu | 48' | 58' | 62' |
| OF | 7 | Michael Hooper (c) |
| BF | 6 | David Pocock | 73' |
| RL | 5 | Adam Coleman |
| LL | 4 | Izack Rodda | 54' |
| TP | 3 | Sekope Kepu | 55' |
| HK | 2 | Brandon Paenga-Amosa | 55' |
| LP | 1 | Scott Sio | 62' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Tolu Latu | 55' |
| PR | 17 | Tom Robertson | 62' |
| PR | 18 | Taniela Tupou | 55' |
| LK | 19 | Rob Simmons | 54' |
| LK | 20 | Lukhan Tui | 73' |
| FL | 21 | Pete Samu | 48' | 58' | 62' |
| SH | 22 | Nick Phipps | 73' |
| WG | 23 | Reece Hodge | 62' |
| Coach: ||
| Michael Cheika ||
| FB | 15 | Rob Kearney |
| RW | 14 | Keith Earls | 24' |
| OC | 13 | Robbie Henshaw |
| IC | 12 | Bundee Aki |
| LW | 11 | Jacob Stockdale |
| FH | 10 | Joey Carbery | 56' |
| SH | 9 | Conor Murray | 77' |
| N8 | 8 | CJ Stander |
| OF | 7 | Jordi Murphy |
| BF | 6 | Peter O'Mahony (c) | 68' |
| RL | 5 | Iain Henderson | 64' |
| LL | 4 | James Ryan |
| TP | 3 | John Ryan | 47' |
| HK | 2 | Rob Herring | 56' |
| LP | 1 | Jack McGrath | 47' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Seán Cronin | 56' |
| PR | 17 | Cian Healy | 47' |
| PR | 18 | Tadhg Furlong | 47' |
| LK | 19 | Quinn Roux | 64' |
| N8 | 20 | Jack Conan | 68' |
| SH | 21 | Kieran Marmion | 77' |
| FH | 22 | Johnny Sexton | 56' |
| FB | 23 | Jordan Larmour | 24' |
| Coach: ||
| Joe Schmidt ||
* Man of the Match:
* Will Genia (Australia)
* Touch judges:
* Pascal Gaüzère (France)
* Paul Williams (New Zealand)
* Television match official:
* Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Notes:
* Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Pete Samu and Caleb Timu (all Australia) made their international debuts.

### Second Test

* 16 June 2018 20:05 AEST (UTC+10)
| Australia | 21–26 | Ireland |
| Try: Beale 1' c Penalty try 25' Tupou 77' c Con: Foley (2/2) 2', 77' | Report | Try: Conway 6' c Furlong 53' c Con: Sexton (2/2) 7', 55' Pen: Sexton (4/5) 12', 16', 21', 65' |
* AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 29,018 Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
| FB | 15 | Israel Folau |
| RW | 14 | Dane Haylett-Petty |
| OC | 13 | Samu Kerevi |
| IC | 12 | Kurtley Beale | | 63' |
| LW | 11 | Marika Koroibete | 6' to 16' |
| FH | 10 | Bernard Foley |
| SH | 9 | Will Genia | | 26' |
| N8 | 8 | Caleb Timu | | 40' |
| OF | 7 | Michael Hooper (c) |
| BF | 6 | David Pocock |
| RL | 5 | Adam Coleman | | 42' |
| LL | 4 | Izack Rodda | | 55' |
| TP | 3 | Sekope Kepu | | 50' |
| HK | 2 | Brandon Paenga-Amosa | | 40' |
| LP | 1 | Scott Sio | | 71' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Tolu Latu | | 40' |
| PR | 17 | Tom Robertson | | 71' |
| PR | 18 | Taniela Tupou | | 50' |
| LK | 19 | Rob Simmons | | 42' |
| LK | 20 | Lukhan Tui | | 40' |
| FL | 21 | Pete Samu | | 55' |
| SH | 22 | Nick Phipps | | 26' |
| WG | 23 | Reece Hodge | | 63' |
| Coach: ||
| Michael Cheika ||
| FB | 15 | Rob Kearney |
| RW | 14 | Andrew Conway | | 14' |
| OC | 13 | Garry Ringrose |
| IC | 12 | Robbie Henshaw |
| LW | 11 | Keith Earls |
| FH | 10 | Johnny Sexton | | 78' |
| SH | 9 | Conor Murray |
| N8 | 8 | CJ Stander |
| OF | 7 | Dan Leavy | | 31' | 38' | 40' |
| BF | 6 | Peter O'Mahony (c) | | 63' |
| RL | 5 | James Ryan |
| LL | 4 | Devin Toner | | 75' |
| TP | 3 | Tadhg Furlong | | 71' |
| HK | 2 | Niall Scannell | | 48' |
| LP | 1 | Cian Healy | 26' to 36' | | | 45' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Rob Herring | | 48' |
| PR | 17 | Jack McGrath | 76' to 80' | 31' | 38' | 45' |
| PR | 18 | Andrew Porter | | 71' |
| LK | 19 | Tadhg Beirne | | 63' |
| FL | 20 | Jordi Murphy | | | | 40' |
| SH | 21 | John Cooney | | 78' |
| FH | 22 | Joey Carbery | | 75' |
| FB | 23 | Jordan Larmour | | 14' |
| Coach: ||
| Joe Schmidt ||
* Man of the Match:
* Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
* Touch judges:
* Pascal Gaüzère (France)
* Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
* Television match official:
* Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Notes:
* Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) made his international debut.
* This was Ireland's first win against Australia in Australia since their 9–3 victory in Sydney in 1979.

### Third Test

* 23 June 2018 20:05 AEST (UTC+10)
| Australia | 16–20 | Ireland |
| Try: Koroibete 53' c Con: Foley (1/1) 55' Pen: Foley (3/4) 12', 21', 39' | Report | Try: Stander 43' m Pen: Sexton (5/5) 8', 29', 34', 40'+2, 78' |
* Allianz Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 44,085 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
| FB | 15 | Israel Folau |
| RW | 14 | Dane Haylett-Petty |
| OC | 13 | Samu Kerevi |
| IC | 12 | Kurtley Beale |
| LW | 11 | Marika Koroibete | 68' |
| FH | 10 | Bernard Foley |
| SH | 9 | Nick Phipps | 60' |
| N8 | 8 | David Pocock |
| OF | 7 | Michael Hooper (c) | 15' |
| BF | 6 | Lukhan Tui |
| RL | 5 | Adam Coleman | 44' |
| LL | 4 | Izack Rodda | 71' |
| TP | 3 | Sekope Kepu | 55' |
| HK | 2 | Brandon Paenga-Amosa | 40' |
| LP | 1 | Scott Sio | 60' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Tolu Latu | 40' |
| PR | 17 | Tom Robertson | 60' |
| PR | 18 | Taniela Tupou | 55' |
| LK | 19 | Rob Simmons | 44' |
| FL | 20 | Ned Hanigan | 71' |
| FL | 21 | Pete Samu | 15' |
| SH | 22 | Joe Powell | 60' |
| WG | 23 | Reece Hodge | 68' |
| Coach: ||
| Michael Cheika ||
| FB | 15 | Rob Kearney | | 57' |
| RW | 14 | Keith Earls |
| OC | 13 | Robbie Henshaw |
| IC | 12 | Bundee Aki |
| LW | 11 | Jacob Stockdale | 20' to 30' |
| FH | 10 | Johnny Sexton |
| SH | 9 | Conor Murray |
| N8 | 8 | Jack Conan | | 68' |
| OF | 7 | Peter O'Mahony (c) | | 30' |
| BF | 6 | CJ Stander |
| RL | 5 | James Ryan |
| LL | 4 | Devin Toner |
| TP | 3 | Tadhg Furlong | | 66' |
| HK | 2 | Niall Scannell | | 55' |
| LP | 1 | Jack McGrath | | 55' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Rob Herring | | 55' |
| PR | 17 | Cian Healy | | 55' |
| PR | 18 | John Ryan | | 66' |
| LK | 19 | Tadhg Beirne | | 68' |
| FL | 20 | Jordi Murphy | | 30' |
| SH | 21 | Kieran Marmion |
| FH | 22 | Ross Byrne |
| FB | 23 | Jordan Larmour | | 57' |
| Coach: ||
| Joe Schmidt ||
* Man of the Match:
* CJ Stander (Ireland)
* Touch judges:
* Paul Williams (New Zealand)
* Cam Stone (New Zealand)
* Television match official:
* Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Notes:
* Peter O'Mahony and Jack McGrath (both Ireland) won their 50th test caps.
* This was Ireland's first series victory against Australia since 1979, whilst Ireland also retained the Lansdowne Cup.

## Statistics

Key
* Con: Conversions
* Pen: Penalties
* DG: Drop goals
* Pts: Points