The Wallabies snapped their nightmare losing streak with a tense 30-14 victory over Ireland at Lansdowne Road.

A two-try performance from winger Drew Mitchell was the highlight of an unconvincing win which Eddie Jones' men will nevertheless gladly take.

It was the Wallabies' first win since July 9 when they beat South Africa in Sydney, ending a run of seven straight losses that equalled Australia's worst streak in 36 years.

The game was still in the balance in the 73rd minute when the Wallabies were down to 14 men and the Irish were attacking the line.

But replacement hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau intercepted a cut-out pass by David Humphreys to counter-attack and then find Mitchell, who outsprinted Andrew Trimble and then pushed off wingers Tommy Bowe and Shane Horgan to score.

It was his second try after crossing in the 49th minute, the second time in as many weeks the young Queenslander has barged his way over after being seemingly held by two defenders short of the line.

At the time, the match was deadlocked at 6-6 and Ireland had had the better of the play.

The home side edged back to 13-9 down through Humphreys but a brilliant 50m solo try to fullback Chris Latham in the 67th minute appeared to kill off the Irish challenge.

Latham showed great pace and footwork and brushed off Humphreys and rival fullback Geordon Murphy on his way to the line.

But when standout back-rower George Smith was sin-binned for an attempted mid-air trip on halfback Peter Stringer the game was back on.

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