Schmidt reluctant to celebrate Australia win

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt will not fully celebrate his side’s historic win against Australia until after the conclusion of the three-match series, saying “nothing feels monumental” with the score at 1-1.

The tourists triumphed 26-21 in Melbourne for their first away win against the Wallabies since 1979.

But Schmidt’s men must repeat the feat in Sydney next weekend if they are to secure a famous series victory, having lost last Saturday’s opener in Brisbane.

The New Zealander refused to recognise the significance of the victory in the immediate aftermath of the match.

“Probably not right now because all we did was balance the series,” Schmidt said. “I think it all depends on what we can deliver next week and I know the Wallabies will be thinking the same thing.

“They’re a really good side and if they do get a bit more access I know… as you saw toward the end we were chasing shadows.

“So nothing feels monumental when it’s 1-1.

“It feels like there’s still a huge amount to play for. So we’ll glue ourselves back together, get the trip out of the way to Sydney [on Sunday] and Monday, have a bit of a look back at the game, then Tuesday to Thursday get back out on the training pitch in North Sydney Oval and try to work our way through things.

“There’s still a few things that we know we need to do better because we know they’re going to keep getting better.

“I think it’s really evenly poised and I wouldn’t be keen on favouring either side just because the way the series has gone so far, both games have really been in the balance.”