Ireland push Wallabies all the way.

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Australia - 18

TRIES:A Barnes, Horwill; CONS: Giteau PENS: Giteau 2

Ireland - 12

TRIES:A A Leamy, O'Driscoll; CONS: O'Gara

IRELAND were left to rue errors that cost them a first win Down Under for 29 years. In patches the tourists were the better side, in Melbourne, but were not able to make their immense second-half pressure count, as the Wallabies clung on for a win in new coach Robbie Deans' first match. And Ireland lock Paul O'Connell insisted the only reason his side lost was because of a few errors.

"We made too many mistakes, myself included. If we cut out the mistakes, we would have won the game and that is very disappointing," said O'Connell. "If we want to get to the next level, we need to cut that out. "We conceded two soft tries. I don't Matt Giteau should have been allowed to offload for the second try, nor Lote Tuqiri for the first."

Ireland, throwing the ball around at every opportunity, dominated possession and territory in the first half but only crossed the try-line once. Wycliffe Palu and Tuqiri combined for Australia's opening try, scored by Berrick Barnes. But the Irish stormed back with flanker Denis Leamy scoring off a rolling maul close to the Wallabies' try-line. Ronan O'Gara's conversion gave Ireland the lead, but it did not last long with lock James Horwill scoring on his Test debut.

Giteau added the extras for a 12-7 advantage and put his team further ahead with a 27th-minute penalty goal. Another Giteau penalty extended the lead. But the Irish refused to throw in the towel creating several chances, before skipper Brian O'Driscoll went over for the score to edge the Irish to within six points, but Australia hung on.

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