Ireland A were robbed of a prized win tonight as late tries from Morgan Turinui and Stephen Hoiles helped the Wallabies to a 24-17 victory at Thomond Park.
Two weeks ago John Muggleton's tourists were beaten 24-16 by the Welsh region, but they rose to the occasion in Limerick to bounce back from an 11-0 deficit and nick the result with a powerful two-try finish.
Ireland A deserved better than a last minute defeat however.
Michael Bradley's men looked like getting at least a deserved draw until flanker Hoiles pounced on a loose ball as it rolled over the line and full-back Cameron Shepherd converted.
But the occasion will have happy memories for Leinster's rising star, Luke Fitzgerald, who gave a superb display at full-back.
The 19-year-old scored a debut try and also produced two superb cover tackles which prevented certain tries.
With Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan holding a watching brief, Fitzgerald crowned a great display by bagging Ireland's only try, on the half-hour mark.
Wasps fly-half Jeremy Staunton booted the Irish in front with penalties from distance after five and seven minutes.
The second time his shot at goal was brought closer following dissent by Stephen Moore - the Aussie hooker with Irish parents - after the initial award for offside came on halfway.
Ireland's 11-3 interval lead was well deserved and it should have been more as two great try-scoring chances were lost. But the only try was a superb bit of play from the hosts.
Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris made the initial break, linking with Barry Murphy - who offloaded to John Kelly, and the speedy Fitzgerald was in the right spot to take the final pass and crash over in the corner.
Staunton's conversion attempt from near the touchline came back off an upright.
Some sleepy Irish defending allowed Australian winger Adam Ashley-Cooper arrow through for a converted try, just seven minutes after the interval.
In reply Staunton landed two more penalties, but they proved to be Ireland's final scores. He clipped over a 54th-minute shot after Aussie lock James Horwill was sin-binned for a high tackle.
His fourth successful kick of the night followed, yet the tourists took full advantage while Leinster flanker Keith Gleeson was in the sin-bin - for hands in the ruck close to his line.
Persistent pressure was rewarded when Turinui sped in for the 70th-minute try which Shepherd converted.
And he was also on target when converting Hoiles' scrambled effort, on 79 minutes, which denied the Irish a draw.
