DORIS TELLS FANS: MAKE NOISE LIKE FOOTBALL CROWD

CAPTAIN Caelan Doris hopes Ireland's rugby team take inspiration from their footballing counterparts and spark another raucous Aviva Stadium atmosphere during tonight's sold-out showdown with Australia.

- BY EDWARD ELLIOT

The Republic of Ireland kept alive their hopes of qualifying for next year's FIFA World Cup thanks to Thursday evening's stunning 2-0 victory over Portugal.

Troy Parrott’s first-half double did the damage for Heimir Hallgrimsson’s hosts before Cristiano Ronaldo's 61st-minute red card further fired up a euphoric Dublin crowd (above).

Ireland rugby internationals Garry Ringrose, Josh van der Flier (inset), Jacob Stockdale and Ciaran Frawley were among those in attendance, while the rest of Andy Farrell's squad tuned in on television at the team hotel ahead of facing Joe Schmidt's Wallabies at the same venue.