[June Tests 2018: 2nd Test] Australia vs. Ireland (16/06/2018)

[munstermuffin]

Surprised Sean Cronin isn't in the squad. Are all three hookers getting one start and one bench spot during the series?

Happy with the team. No excuses this week because it's very close to full strength.

No rumours are he got an almighty dressing down from Schmidt over conceding penalty last week.

 

[Amiga500]

Looks like Sean Cronin is the man dropped for struggling. And Schmidt obviously didn't hold him as high

Bit of a strange one.

If he was looking to blame individuals, I'd say Henshaw's bad reads would have been in around top of the list.

Stockdale wasn't exactly sparkling in the aerial battle - the pack in general struggled to clear the rucks - Aki and Henshaw's angles and passing selection weren't stellar.

There were plenty of individuals further up the "blame" list than Sean Cronin.


Thus, its likely its for another reason. A ****le, or rotating depth (being very aware of Rory Best's age).

 

[munstermuffin]

Bit of a strange one.

If he was looking to blame individuals, I'd say Henshaw's bad reads would have been in around top of the list.

Stockdale wasn't exactly sparkling in the aerial battle - the pack in general struggled to clear the rucks - Aki and Henshaw's angles and passing selection weren't stellar.

There were plenty of individuals further up the "blame" list than Sean Cronin.


Thus, its likely its for another reason. A ****le, or rotating depth (being very aware of Rory Best's age).

Possibly but that's what is being reported. And they gave reasons for All being out and Stockdale. (Both injury ****les).

 

[Groundhog]

Harsh on Cronin if not a matter of rotation. If we were dropping players for making one big mistake we'd be dropping half the squad Sexton included. He's such a good bench option at the very least. Good team though. Thought Toner wouldn't start, but no complaints here. Hope Byrne gets some decent game time. Interesting back three with Conway at wing. Should be a bit more defensively sound, but I prefer Conway at 15. I will say for Kearney though he rarely has two poor games for Ireland in a row and expect him to go hard.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I reckon we'll see Cooney/Marmion and Sexton with Murray and Byrne on the bench next week, that way you'll have just about as much rotation as you could ask for, although I'd like to see Conan start.

 

[RedruthRFC]

I'm confident of this one, Pocock and Hooper won't be as effective against that front five,better backrow, halfback pairing and centres too and a back three better equipped to dealing with Folau after Stockdale was targeted last week.

+1. I was hoping that the bookies might have overreacted a bit more to last week's result, but I'm on Ireland at evens. As you say, hopefully greater gainline success reduced the Pooper factor this week.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I was looking for Ireland for a series win but can't find it anywhere. Might walk into the bookies later.

 

[RedruthRFC]

I was looking for Ireland for a series win but can't find it anywhere. Might walk into the bookies later.

Betfair are offering 12/5, it's under "International Tours" in the RU section. It's listed as 2-1 Ireland not "Series Win", which is obviously the same thing. This looks a bit on the tight side given that the bet is effectively a double on Ireland winning this week and next. Ireland are evens this week, if they go off at the same price next week, the true price would be 3/1. It's reasonable to expect that an Irish win this week would see them go off as favourites, but they would have to be shorter than 8/11 in order for the 12/5 on offer to be a fair price.

If you can't find a bookie that you've got an account with offering the bet and can't be bothered to go to a B&M bookie (and likely take a shorter price), you could just bet on Ireland to win this week and roll the winnings over onto Ireland to win next week. Given the possibility of Schmidt rotating the squad again next week (meaning Ireland start at evens or longer), this would probably be a better way of making the bet anyway.

Hope this makes sense!

As an aside, was it that the Lions were the first team to lose a series opener to Australia and win the series the last time out or was it the first time that the Lions had lost an opener and won the series? I started thinking the former, now I'm thinking it was the latter. Either way, it's a hint towards what a difficult feat it is to pull off. All in all, it's not a bet I'd be making for value, but good luck.

 

[Leinster Fan]

I honestly don't get not picking Cronin. He's been so far ahead of every other hooker this season in terms of performance levels. I like the rest if the team though.

 

[munstermuffin]

I honestly don't get not picking Cronin. He's been so far ahead of every other hooker this season in terms of performance levels. I like the rest if the team though.

According to Schmidt the official line is his scrummaging is an issue. Rumours thought are for discipline and a difference of opinion.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Will sporting public watch this match in Australia or watch the Australia v France game at the WC?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Were we unwelcomed to country during the week?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

What kind of a welcome is that?

She didn't tell me to down a pint!!!!!

 

[TommiG88]

I prefer the guy from last week.

 

[big ginger 8]

I thought telling us to skull our pints was a formal part of the Welcome?

 

[Every Time Ref]

Singer missed the note on "call" baaaaadly there.

This backing track is so Eurovision

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Ho'cock is about to get used and abused by Dirty Dan.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Aussies looking confident.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Can't the Aussies find decent singers? This is the second week the anthems have been butchered by people singing off key

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Ho'cock is about to get used and abused by Dirty Dan.

Beale just spanked dat ass