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No Irish party until Test series victory

Despite breaking a 39-year drought with a win over Australia at home, Ireland coach Joe Schmidt says they won't celebrate until they wrap up the Test series.

Rob Kearney of Ireland.
Ireland's Rob Kearney celebrates his team's second-Test win over the Wallabies in Melbourne. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Ireland have put the celebrations on hold until after the third Test in Sydney despite breaking a 39-year drought with a gutsy 26-21 win to level the series against the Wallabies.

The last Irish victory over the Wallabies on Australian soil was a 9-3 victory in 1979 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Despite ending the record Schmidt said his team couldn't celebrate until the job - winning this Test series - was done.

"All we did was balance the series," Schmidt said post-match.

"I think it all depends on what we can deliver next week and I know the Wallabies will be thinking the same thing.

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"Nothing feels monumental when it's 1-1.

"It feels like a huge amount to play for."

Despite the tight scoreline it was a dominant display with a full-strength Ireland starving the Wallabies of possession and forcing them into some panicked play.

"We looked after our ball a lot better than last week and that didn't allow them as much access to play off turnover ball where we know they are so dangerous," Schmidt said.

Ireland lost three players to injury through the match which had the side out of their feel towards the end but they managed to hold out a frenzied Australian attack.

"We were just hanging in toward the end ... it was another nip and tuck game.

"If people wanted a Test series, it's a genuine test every time."

Schmidt believed the trio all could be available for the Sydney showdown.

Winger Andrew Conway, who scored their first try, had a hip pointer injury, prop Cian Healy a shoulder knock, and flanker Dan Leavy, a sternum injury.


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