High winds and rain greeted the teams as Ireland launched their bid to secure unprecedented back-to-back victories over major southern hemisphere opposition for the first time.
A 32-15 victory over South Africa had got their autumn series off to a flying start and once again Ireland started as favourites with the bookies giving them a five-point lead over Australia.
Head coach Eddie O'Sullivan made four changes, giving prop Bryan Young and scrum-half Isaac Boss their full debuts and opting for Geordan Murphy over Girvan Dempsey at full-back.
Denis Hickie replaced hamstring-injury victim Andrew Trimble on the left wing while Shane Horgan celebrated a half century of caps.
Gales had been forecasted, which had the potential to rob the game of his main spectacle — the showdown between two supremely gifted backlines.
Midfield was expected to be the main battleground with Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy lining-up against Stirling Mortlock and Lote Tuqiri, the biggest centre pairing in Wallaby history.
Australia boss John Connolly restored Stephen Larkham to fly-half after two games at 12, handed Mark Gerrard a start on the wing and recalled Phil Waugh at the expense of George Smith.
Ireland had beaten Australia seven times in previous 26 meetings but had registered just one triumph since 1979, emerging 18-9 winners at a rain-soaked Lansdowne Road in 2002.
It was the penultimate rugby Test match to be played at Lansdowne Road before the ground undergoes major refurbishment in January.
