Target on Ireland grows bigger after November sweep

Certain statistics can be interpreted a number of different ways, depending on how full or empty your glass is.

In Ireland's 13-10 win against Australia on Saturday, the Wallabies spent a whopping seven minutes and 16 seconds inside the Irish 22, more than twice the amount of time Andy Farrell's side had done.

For context, in last week's win against Fiji, Ireland had eight minutes of possession inside the opposition 22. The fact that they only came away with five tries for their dominance was a source of huge frustration.

Those that feel Ireland have regressed since their summer series win in New Zealand will point to Australia's dominance of territory and possession, particularly in the first half at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

But for the optimist, holding the Wallabies to just one try and 10 total points, while spending a significant portion of the game defending your own try-line, is a major defensive win.

The watertight defence can be appreciated, while also addressing the fact that the hosts brought it on themselves. With 12 penalties conceded, Ireland gave Australia an open highway to attack.

"It wasn't our best, and everyone knows that the opposition always has a say in that, but we added a lot to our own downfall at times and got in our own way, certainly discipline wise," Andy Farrell said after the game.

"I’ve never seen us be as ill-disciplined."

With a combined 26 points conceded to Australia and South Africa, it has been a sound Autumn Nations Series from the point of view of defence coach Simon Easterby, both in open-field tackles and around the set-piece.

In particular, Ireland's maul defence has been first-class. They weren't for budging against the Springboks a fortnight ago, while in Saturday's win it was