A last-minute converted try by captain Brian O’Driscoll earned Ireland a 20-20 draw with Australia and put paid to any Aussie Grand Slam ambitions.

The Wallabies had upped a gear from their defeat of England last week and put in their most professional performance of the year yesterday.

A second-half try from Rocky Elsom had put the visitors within sight of their second UK and Ireland tour victory - especially after the determined Aussies held up Tommy Bowe after he crossed the tryline.

But Ireland skipper O’Driscoll, affectionately known as Bod to fans,? accelerated through a gap in the final minute and steamed under the posts to cap his 100th Test with another crucial try.

Drew Mitchell’s try after just two minutes had put the Irish on the back foot.

But O’Driscoll’s men rallied well. With Wycliff Palu in the sin bin, they put the visitors under pressure at the end of the first half.

A second-half try from Elsom seemingly secured the match for Australia but, after ten minutes of determined attack, Bod cut through the Wallaby line to draw the scores level on the stroke of full time.

England coach Martin Johnson has warned his players that a repeat of the performance they produced against Argentina will land them in big trouble when they face the All Blacks this weekend.

Johnson’s men made a host of basic errors yet still managed to come out of the game against the Pumas with a 16-9 victory - thanks to Mat Banahan’s late try. And Johnson warned: “If the All Blacks are anything they are consistent in their performance and so we need to be a lot, lot better.

“If we make those same mistakes we will be in big trouble. It was a tough game to watch. It was frustrating for all of us. We have to get them back up for next week.

“Fear is always there, it is (about) what you turn that into and we need to turn that into a spirited display against the All Blacks. The guys need to trust themselves more.”

However, Johnson insisted there were some positives.

“Ultimately you have to win the game however you can and we did that. If it was a World Cup knockout game or a big pool match that would be enough,” he said.

Johnathan Thurston fired a parting shot to league world champions New Zealand after Australia hammered England 46-16 in the Four Nations final.

The Kiwis shocked the Aussies by winning the World Cup title, but Thurston said this victory had shown the Kangaroos were still top dogs.

“New Zealand are the world champions and no-one can take that away from them,” Thurston said.

“But I think we just showed why we are the best in the world and to come away with the trophy is awesome.”

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