Andy Farrell signs off for Lions duty as late Ireland comeback thwarts Australia - Hooker Gus McCarthy scores match-winning try as Joe Schmidt foiled on return to Dublin

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 rugby coach Andy Farrell will head into his secondment with the British and Irish Lions on the back of a narrow win over Australia, the team he intends to bring down on next year’s tour. Replacement hooker Gus McCarthy crashed over at the back of a rolling maul for the clinching try in a 22-19 victory in Dublin on Saturday,