Farrell: Ireland far from perfect, but good teams find a way

It will be a game that perhaps won't live long in the memory, but the manner in which Ireland dug deep when not at their best to see off Australia was the most pleasing aspect for Andy Farrell.

The head coach saw his team sign off the Autumn Series with a 100% record and a record-equalling 12th successive home win after a 13-10 win over an undisciplined Australia at the Aviva Stadium.

Jack Crowley was parachuted into the starting team at the last minute after captain Johnny Sexton pulled up during the warm-up and his penalty was the only score of an arm-wrestle of a first half.

Bundee Aki and Jordan Petaia crossed for tries as the game opened up somewhat, but it took a nerveless penalty by replacement out-half Ross Byrne, only added to the match-day squad shortly before kick-off, to seal the game in Ireland's favour.

Farrell has overseen an Ireland team to record wins over the southern hemisphere’s big three in the same calendar year for just the second time - first achieved in 2016 when Farrell was part of Joe Schmidt’s backroom team - yet concedes it was a far from perfect performance.

"What growth for the team, finding more out about ourselves and looking after those coming in," he told RTÉ Sport after the match.

"You look at the Jack Crowley situation, what an awesome story. Five or six weeks ago, he wouldn’t have dreamed of starting a game against Australia, never mind getting his debut last week.

"How the group looked after him and made him feel comfortable in his role is testament to the group.

"The game certainly wasn’t perfect, but I think it shows the character of the side. Good sides always find a way, even when they are not quite at their best."

The result cements Ireland’s standing at the top of the world rankings