Ireland v Australia - 30 November 2024

[Leonormous Boozer]

IRFU really make you work for those important details.

Commemorative jersey should have just been the jersey for the season, way nicer. We're 16 point favourites in the bookies, can get Australia at 9/1.

Hope to see some younger guys rewarded for strong showings v Fiji but hard to see a team without Healy (no one to replace him) or POM (contract). I'd back Henshaw at 12 and Prendo 22 for this.

 

[OllyM97]

IRFU really make you work for those important details.

Commemorative jersey should have just been the jersey for the season, way nicer. We're 16 point favourites in the bookies, can get Australia at 9/1.

Hope to see some younger guys rewarded for strong showings v Fiji but hard to see a team without Healy (no one to replace him) or POM (contract). I'd back Henshaw at 12 and Prendo 22 for this.

Yeah, that shirt is classy. I'm not sure Ireland will win by 16 but I'd say there will be two scores' difference between the sides. Australia were very poor in Scotland and they were distinctly 2nd best at the breakdown. That was ominous for this week because Ireland are usually extremely strong in the ruck area. Ireland by 12 points for me.

 

[Yulia]

Incredible shirt, VERY beautiful colour,I must say

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yeah, that shirt is classy. I'm not sure Ireland will win by 16 but I'd say there will be two scores' difference between the sides. Australia were very poor in Scotland and they were distinctly 2nd best at the breakdown. That was ominous for this week because Ireland are usually extremely strong in the ruck area. Ireland by 12 points for me.

I'm expecting a bit of a bounce back but also the same for us. Has the potential to be a cracker or a very dull game!

Won't be there but excited to see / hear about the reception Joe gets. We love him here.

For a team, I'd like to see:

Porter, Kelleher, Furlong / Bealham, Beirne, Ryan / McCarthy, Izuchukwu, VdF, Doris, JGP, Crowley, Lowe, Henshaw, Ringrose, Hansen, Keenan

Healy, McCarthy, Bealham / Clarkson, Ryan / McCarthy, POM, Casey, Prendergast, Aki (presuming Osborne is injured)

Reward the young lads who've stepped up this year and give them a better taste of what a 6n game will be like.

There needs to be a real focus on getting the bench under 30 as much as possible in the next 12 months imo. Should be able to build well and be competitive from there for the two following years.

A threepeat is on also in Feb / March and we have to throw everything with our more favourable home / away schedule.

 

[AlRums]

Yeah, that shirt is classy. I'm not sure Ireland will win by 16 but I'd say there will be two scores' difference between the sides. Australia were very poor in Scotland and they were distinctly 2nd best at the breakdown. That was ominous for this week because Ireland are usually extremely strong in the ruck area. Ireland by 12 points for me.

Is there a throwback to the original shirt colour in the same way England used an original style shirt in their anniversary match with Scotland a few years ago?

 

[General Melchett]

Watched Schmidt's post match presser in Edinburgh. Hard not to be impressed with the man as he just oozes class. Very generous in his praise for Scotland and always comes across as thoughtful, articulate and candid.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Watched Schmidt's post match presser in Edinburgh. Hard not to be impressed with the man as he just oozes class. Very generous in his praise for Scotland and always comes across as thoughtful, articulate and candid.

one of the interesting points in Johnny's book was that each year Joe would pick 4 values that the team would define themselves by. One was humbleness and Johnny could never understand it as a value to be the best team in the world. He's also pretty harsh on his 2019 coaching (whilst otherwise only speaking highly of him and confirming that he only revealed things he'd told Joe himself before and after). It'd be a stretch to say he insinuates that it became the wrong value for the team who were uncomfortable with constantly high expectations but I would believe it.

Interesting following three years now of being called an arrogant team. I don't think the current set up is arrogant at all and that's mostly to do with other nations not liking that we've "risen above our station" but it is interesting as I doubt it's something Farrell has concerned himself or the team with in the slightest as he tries to get them comfortable with favourite tags and being among the top performers in international rugby.

In any case, it's absolutely a value Australian rugby needs right now to grow and is one of the many reasons why I don't think you'd find a reasonable person in rugby who dislikes Joe.