[EOYT] Ireland v Australia 16/11/13

[Jaguares]

Wallabies by 15

 

[profitius]

Its a big game for Australia and it should tell a lot about how they're developing under McKenzie. Are they flat track bullies beating weaker teams well or are they starting to perform like traditional Australian teams?


I think they could be plenty of tries in this match as both coaches are very attack minded.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I'd quite like to see us go over a few times. This Six Nations just past we boasted a very poor scoring record. Only once did we score above 15 points and that was in the first game of the tournament. Even making allowance for our luckless run of injuries that's unacceptable. I want to see 20+ put on the Wallabies today.

 

[ruggabee]

5 more hours. Can't wait!!
I'd be pretty confident of an Irish win if it wasn't down to the backs. I think the Aussies have an edge there. They can produce tries from nothing. For Ireland to produce any kind of attacking threat they will need their passing game and running lines to be spot on. Schmidt will know this but at the end of the day it's the players who have to go out there and produce the goods.
Exciting to see Marshall in the midfield with BOD. Haven't seen Henshaw play before so I'll be keen to see what he can do if he comes on.
I have no doubts about Toner's aerial ability but I just hope he doesn't get found out physically around the park.
Heart says Ireland but brain says 50/50.

 

[Darwin]

Wallabies by 15

I would be very surprised if Australia won that comfortably. However stranger things have happened!

This looks a very even match to me. Ireland should have the edge in the front row, but Australia has actually scrummaged ok in recent weeks. I feel the locking combo's are pretty evenly matched. Simmons has actually pretty good for the Wallabies this year, while Horwill has started to show some form over the last two weeks. O'Connell is still obviously class, and though I haven't seen a lot of Toner, he obviously has a bit of height! Australia may look to target Ireland at lineout time - Best can struggle at times, and Australia does have 4 excellent lineout options in Fardy, Mowen, Simmons, and Horwill.

I think Ireland have the advantage in the loose-forwards, with a more balanced combination and much better ball runners. Fardy and Mowen are hard-working players but don't offer much with ball in hand. It is somewhat ironic that Michael Hooper - by far the smallest member of the forward pack - is easily the most effective ball runner. The breakdown battle with be intriguing - it is not really an area where Australia have been as dominant as in recent seasons as Hooper is nowhere near as effective at Pocock in this area (though Gill could be a real threat off the bench).

The battle of the halves will likely have a big bearing on the result of the match. Genia as Cooper can be brilliant on their day, but Genia has been poor this year, and though Cooper has made some improvements (most notably in defense), he doesn't seem to be playing with the freedom he used too. Reddan and Sexton are probably much more consistent, and I feel Murray could be useful from the bench with his running game. I'm not sure how well Sexton has been goal-kicking, but Cooper has actually looked pretty good with the boot since he took over from Lealiifano.

I haven't seen a lot of Marshall, but I would give Ireland the edge in the midfield, though largely due to O'Driscoll. He may not be the player he once was with ball in hand, but he can still be a handful, seldom makes and error, and is rock solid on defense. Toomua and Kuridrani are starting to develop a handy combination in the midfield. They need to continue to work out there defensive patterns, but both do hit hard on defense, and offer a range of different skills with ball in hand. I feel the outside backs are pretty even. Cummins and Ashley-Cooper are both big strong players who give 100%, but aren't as elusive as some of Australia's wings in the past. In general I feel McFadden and Bowe fall into the same category (Bowe being probably the most elusive). Folau is obviously the key for Australia - they just need to get the ball in his hands. I expect we will see Australia will put a few high balls across to Folau on the wing - Bowe and Kearney are both excellent under the high ball if I recall correctly, but Folau is quite phenomenal in the air!

Overall I find it a hard game to call. For me it could go either way, but I picking Ireland to win close match, but maybe 5 points.

 

[ruggabee]

Imagine a backline of:

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. Giteau/O'Connor
13. Kuridrani/ACC
14. O'Connor/Folau
15. Folau/Beale

Ireland are fortunate to have access to all fit players regardless of where they play. There would be so much more homework if they had to face that kind of threat.

 

[Peat]

. O'Connell is still obviously class, and though I haven't seen a lot of Toner, he obviously has a bit of height! Australia may look to target Ireland at lineout time - Best can struggle at times, and Australia does have 4 excellent lineout options in Fardy, Mowen, Simmons, and Horwill.

Famous last words, but Best's lineout travails are greatly overstated. He had a poor season last season, largely thanks to bucketloads of second row injuries for both Ireland and Ulster - the other hookers did not do a great deal better - but he's returned to form this season and so far has been fine. Still get slightly nervous when he goes for the tail in clutch situations, but with POC and Toner on the pitch, it'd be a surprise if Australia got too much out of the Irish lineout.

Now that I've said that, watch it all go ***s up...

 

[Groundhog]

Best's throwing ruined his form last season and knocked him off the Lions hopeful, but I have seen nothing this season to suggest he hasn't recovered. It's not his throwing that makes him class though, it's his loose play. He was my MOTM last week.

 

[Tony Manx]

Come on Ireland...........................!!

 

[big ginger 8]

Ahh RO'G is back.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Ahh RO'G is back.

Aussies haven't a hope!!!

 

[big ginger 8]

Aussies haven't a hope!!!

Interesting to here his thoughts on French rugby. "French flair is a myth" that's something coming from him!

 

[ruggabee]

Did he say that even though Sexton has played a lot in France, he shouldn't be tired because the game plan over there is to just kick the ball.

 

[big ginger 8]

Did he say that even though Sexton has played a lot in France, he shouldn't be tired because the game plan over there is to just kick the ball.

Yeah, said some provincial training sessions whould take more out of you.

That's poor from Sexton can't kick loosely today.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

This has been ****!

 

[ruggabee]

3-0 to Australia. Couple of line out blips for Ireland..

Edit: I wish Kearney would pass. But Bowe was probably at fault there for coming in there.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Bowe ****ed away a try there.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

F*cking ***** ***** s*it

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

**** sake. Our defense is something shocking.

 

[ruggabee]

That was horrible. Hooper ran that in like a winger. Crowd went dead quiet.