Brian O’Driscoll celebrated his 100th Test appearance by scoring a dramatic late try to salvage a draw for Ireland at Croke Park.

The Irish pounded away at Australia’s line in a nail-biting climax to a thrilling contest and were rewarded by O’Driscoll’s try with a minute to go. Ronan O’Gara added the conversion from beneath the posts to deny the Wallabies victory and conclude Grand Slam tour ambitions.

Former Leinster back row Rocky Elsom appeared to have won it for Australia upon his return to Dublin when he crossed in the 62nd minute.

But Ireland refused to concede defeat with Tommy Bowe, who crossed earlier in the half, almost wriggling over before rugby’s newest centurion made the breakthrough.

Ireland’s play was light years beyond what England produced at Twickenham yesterday, yet for all their invention they failed to make the impact on the scoreboard they would have wanted.

The outcome also salvaged some pride for Irish sport after the Republic’s football team was beaten by France in a World Cup play-off on Saturday night.

Ireland’s first-choice XV had not played together since edging Wales in March to complete the Grand Slam with debutant prop Cian Healy and centre Paddy Wallace the only new faces.

Their rustiness showed as early as the third minute when Australia, coming off the back of a Tri-Nations campaign and matches against New Zealand and England on successive weekends, surged ahead.

A poor pass by O’Gara caused the disastrous opening.

O’Driscoll had to reach around his shoulder to gather the pass and was immediately tackled, spilling the ball into the path of winger Drew Mitchell who sprinted home.

The conversion was added by Matt Giteau but O’Gara replied with a penalty and shortly after Ireland were on the front foot when Healy charged down Giteau’s drop-goal attempt.

Giteau then missed a penalty, preceding a superb passage of play by the Irish who repeatedly worked the ball across the line until Paddy Wallace ran out of support and conceded a penalty.

Australia scrambled frantically to give Mitchell support after the winger was hurled backwards by a swarm of green shirts chasing Luke Fitzgerald’s chip ahead.

The tide had turned in Ireland’s favour but with O’Gara and Giteau exchanging penalties, the scoreboard still belonged to the Wallabies who soon set about reasserting themselves on the pitch.

Elsom brought memories of last season’s Heineken Cup flooding back when he set off on a 30-yard break, starting a move that ended with Rob Kearney’s try-saving tackle on Giteau.

Kearney did brilliantly to stop the Wallaby fly-half but shortly after he was on the receiving end when he was flattened by Wycliff Palu.

Referee Jonathan Kaplan decided Palu had not used his rams to make the challenge and sent the destructive Waratahs number eight to the sin bin.

Thankfully for Ireland, Giteau had not brought his kicking boots as he sent a second penalty wide as Australia made a brisk start to the second half.