The boys started out pretty poorly. Our lineout was rubbish in the first half, we consistently turned over our own ball and never threatened on Irelands throw. It did improve in the second half though and we even managed to turn over one of Irelands throws.
I think the main difference was the amount of jumping that Elsom and Palu did in the second half. For me that puts serious question marks over the inclusion of Chisholm and Horwill in the side. If the back rowers are out jumping the locks something has to change quickly.
Despite our improvement, it was a lineout turn over that gave Ireland the territory that they eventually converted into points to force the draw.
Granted that Ireland have one of the better lineouts in the world (easily the best in the north) but remember that they haven’t played together for 6 months so we definitely should have been more competitive.
The other big f*** up was our kicking game. Every single one of Quade Coopers kicks in the first half were caught on the full. EVERY SINGLE ONE. I have absolutely no idea why he was used as our first kicking option. Giteau is a much better kicker of the ball. He can kick it further, more accurately and his kicks have a lower trajectory allowing less time for the opposition to get under the ball before it bounces. I was never quite sure when Cooper was kicking it weather it was a bomb of a kick for territory such was the height he put on them.
His defence also probably cost us the game. It was his half tackles that allowed Tommy Bowe to cross the line twice in the second half (albeit only once for a try) and the hole that Brian O’Driscoll ran through to steal the win was between him and Ioane. Granted his kicking did improve slightly in the second half and his elusiveness and ball playing skills are first rate. But why not let him do the playmaking and Giteau do the kicking. If they want to take the pressure of Giteau then let Genia do it. He is a very good kicker from the ruck base. I think having Mortlock beside Coopper might also help his defensive game, that is provided he gets beck into the team….
Also I noticed the Wallabies were playing very flat in attack. I remember New Zealand trying this tactic when John Mitchell was coach (remember who John Mitchell’s assistant was anybody….that right Robbie Deans) it didn’t seem to work for them and ironically I think it was a thrashing from Australia that made them scrap the tactic. I didn’t seem to go to badly for us last night though. We made a lot of meters off quick phases using our big forwards and dominating the Irish at ruck. It will be interesting to see how Robbie and the boys continue to develop it.
However the ruck was the only area we dominated in this test. Ireland cut us to pieces out wide and if it wasn’t for David Pocock’s cover defence out wide we might have lost by 20 points. The pace of the Irish outside backs was very impressive as was their running lines. Having Paddy Wallace in the side helped them to take advantage of this.
Apart from Wallace debutant prop Cian Healy was very handy in the loose, breaking about 15 tackles every time he touched the ball. Now all he has to do is learn how to scrum and he will be a real asset to the Irish side. On the Wallabies side the hero was undoubtedly David Pocock. As I mentioned before he made countless try saving tackles out wide when the backs we’re torn apart. As is becoming customary for him he also won numerous turnover and put some big hits, including picking up big man Paul O’Connell and dropping him on his head. His back row partners also had good games with Rocky Elsom making good metres on the fringes and bagging a try out wide. Palu was also solid around the ground and in the lineouts. He was also very unlucky to get sent off for his hit on Kearney. He obviously was trying to get his arms around the fullback. Its not his fault is he bounced off his shoulder so quickly he couldn’t get there on time.
Even taking all that into account I’m still not sure how, in gods name, they managed to not win this game. We had most of the possession and, despite our shite kicking, the territory.
Looking forward to seeing an improvement in the lineout, kicking and general attacking by the backs against the Scots.
