Late Clarkson try earns Ireland a Nations Championship win in Sydney

SYDNEY (AP) — Ireland came from behind twice in the second half to top Australia 33-31 in a tense Nations Championship match that wasn't decided until Ben Donaldson missed a last-gasp penalty kick on Saturday.

Donaldson confidently took two long-range penalties from close to the right-hand touchline; in the 71st minute for an eight-point lead and after the hooter to win the match. But both kicks sailed wide.

The Irish dominated the last quarter looking for the winning try and captain Dan Sheehan had a try ruled out for obstruction. Australia was put on a yellow card warning and Lachlan Shaw was sin-binned for offside with four minutes to go. Ireland tapped the penalty and prop Tom Clarkson burrowed over to tie the score at 31 and Sam Prendergast kicked the winning points.

“In patches we were really good,” Australia scrumhalf Tate McDermott said. ”The amount of penalties we gave away (13) we probably shot ourselves in the foot a little bit and that's the really disappointing thing."

Both sides scored five tries each at a sold-out Sydney Football Stadium and Australia's turning point may have been just before halftime.

Leading 24-12, Australia center Joseph Aukuso-Sua'ali'i broke and raced into Ireland's 22 when he was cut down by Ireland fullback Hugo Keenan in his first test since the British and Irish Lions were in Australia a year ago.

Instead of a potential 31-12 lead, Australia went into halftime only 24-19 up after an Ireland attack from inside its half was finished by Jamison Gibson-Park untouched between the posts.

Australia dominated the half, Ireland missed 19 tackles and yet was hanging on.

“Australia were awesome in the first half and we needed to come to the party a little bit more and I think we did that after the break,” Ireland coach Andy Farrell said. “There were some big moments for us. Hugo Keenan's tackle and Sam Prendergast having the calmness to convert that (Clarkson) try.”

Ireland led for a third time straight after the interval thanks to Keenan's converted try.

But Australia hit back with a try by McDermott under three Irish with a helpful push by captain Harry Wilson.

Australia led 31-26 and Ireland took 25 more minutes to overcome it.

The Wallabies enjoyed a brilliant start around a couple of muscle tries by Ireland and had the four-try bonus point inside the 27th minute. Top-shelf support play led to tries by wing Dylan Pietsch and fullback Jock Campbell, in his first test since 2022. Then Josh Canham finished a Rob Valetini break and starting nine Ryan Lonergan backed up an intercept by Max Jorgensen.

Next weekend, Australia hosts France and Ireland stay in Australia to face Japan.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Australia's Dylan Pietsch, brings down Ireland's Nick Timoney during the Nations Championship rugby international between Australia and Ireland in Sydney, Saturday July, 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Jock Campbell, left scores his side second try during the Nations Championship rugby international between Australia and Ireland in Sydney, Saturday July, 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Ben Donaldson reacts as he fails to score from a penalty kick during the Nations Championship rugby international between Australia and Ireland in Sydney, Saturday July, 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Referee Brian O'Keeffe, indicates that Ireland's Thomas Clarkson score sa try as during the Nations Championship rugby international between Australia and Ireland in Sydney, Saturday July, 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Max Jorgensen, second left passes the ball during the warm up ahead of the Nations Championship rugby international between Australia and Ireland in Sydney, Saturday July, 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Ireland's Hugo Keenan scores his sides fourth try during the Nations Championship rugby international between Australia and Ireland in Sydney, Saturday July, 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Irish fans pose for the cameras ahead of the Nations Championship rugby international between Australia and Ireland in Sydney, Saturday July, 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Ireland's Stuart McCloskey gets past he diving Australia's Carter Gordon during the Nations Championship rugby international between Australia and Ireland in Sydney, Saturday July, 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Max Jorgensen tries to evade the tackle of Ireland's Sam Prendergast during the Nations Championship rugby international between Australia and Ireland in Sydney, Saturday July, 4, 2026. CORRECTION: corrects ID to Australia's Max Jorgensen to replace Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was handed his India senior cricket debut on Saturday after being picked for the second Twenty20 against England at Old Trafford.

The teenage sensation is the youngest player to appear in India’s senior men’s team. The great Sachin Tendulkar was 16 years and 205 days when he made his test debut in 1989, then made his ODI debut 33 days later.

Sooryavanshi — who is aged 15 years and 99 days — is the youngest player to feature in a top-tier men’s T20. Ireland’s Joshua Little previously held the record — he was 16 years and 309 days on his debut.

He replaces Sanju Samson in India's only change from Wednesday, when the first match of the series was abandoned because of rain in Durham.

Sooryavanshi was picked in the squad for the tour of Ireland and England after scoring 776 runs in 16 innings in the 2026 Indian Premier League, and being voted as the competition’s MVP.

The youngest player in men’s international cricket remains Hasan Raza, who was 14 years and 227 days when he made his test debut for Pakistan in 1996.

England made two changes with Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue replacing Saqib Mahmood and Luke Wood.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays a shot during the second T20 cricket match between England and India in Manchester, England, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead during the first IT20 cricket match at Chester-le-Street, England, Wednesday July 1, 2026. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

FILE - Rajasthan Royals' Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gestures as he warms up before the start of the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals in New Chandigarh, India, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia, file)