RWC: Australia - Ireland (17-09-2011 20:30)

[Darwin]

Should be a good game. Not expecting many changes for Australia; O'Connor should come in for Ioane, and they will possibly bring Drew Mitchell onto the bench (though they may start both O'Connor and Mitchell, shift AAC back to centre, and move Faingaa to the bench). I'd probably look at starting Simmons ahead of Vickermann at lock; Vicekermann has looked ok since his return, but the huge work-rate that Simmons brings is really needed by Australia.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Australia scrum was looking ok until Vickerman went off. I don't think Australia have much option in the second row: one lock is the captain and the other is the keystone to their line out and scrum (though Simmons and Sharpe can do well at the line out, I think Vickerman is pretty ireplaceable come scrum time).

 

[munstermuffin]

Peat I know Trimble can play both wings but my point was his good form was on right wing but agree he has better form than Earls but Earls isn't in bad form.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

vBookie Australia - Ireland

vBookie added for this amazing clash...


Go nuts!!!

 

[Darwin]

Australia scrum was looking ok until Vickerman went off. I don't think Australia have much option in the second row: one lock is the captain and the other is the keystone to their line out and scrum (though Simmons and Sharpe can do well at the line out, I think Vickerman is pretty ireplaceable come scrum time).

Good point, I hadn't actually considered the scrum. The Aussie scrum did seem to go down hill when Vickermann came off, though Slipper came on about the same time too.... hard to know which of these changes made a biggest impact on the scrum. I've never considered Vickermann a particularly strong scrummager, but he may well be important to the Aussie scrum.

 

[Shaggy]

The only way I can see Ireland winning this is if there forwards front up and destroy the Aussies in that department. And retain fast ball for there backs, the Aussies backs are obviously better but there forwards are not!

I agree, they need to prevent the Wallabies from getting front foot ball, and suck their defenders into the rucks and mauls

I think we have to shut down Quade. Last time I can remember seeing him being closed down was against Force in week 1 of the S15 and he was absolutely awful and seen as that was really the first time I saw Quade, I don't rate him too highly and I think he can be shut down easily.

Yes, Quade doesn't look that great when he's put under pressure ... maybe a rush defense could be employed

 

[donmcdazzle]

Irish forwards need to dominate, as has been said. Cane their forwards and you go a long way to taking Genia out of the game, which in turn takes Cooper and the rest of the Aussie backs out of the game to a degree. Can they keep them out of it for long enough though.. Will be a very good game to watch.

Personally I think the Aus forwards will get enough decent ball for their classy backline to do the damage.

 

[Ostrayian]

Good point, I hadn't actually considered the scrum. The Aussie scrum did seem to go down hill when Vickermann came off, though Slipper came on about the same time too.... hard to know which of these changes made a biggest impact on the scrum. I've never considered Vickermann a particularly strong scrummager, but he may well be important to the Aussie scrum.

Slipper is a mushroom. No reds on the front row at all.

 

[Ostrayian]

The only way I can see Ireland winning this is if there forwards front up and destroy the Aussies in that department. And retain fast ball for there backs, the Aussies backs are obviously better but there forwards are not!

JW is right. The key is for the Irish forwards to win the collision and breakdown contests, disrupt and annoy the hell out of genia. When quade doesnt get quick front foot ball he sits deeper and has less of an impact in attack. The game in Auckland this year was a perfect example.
Im expecting the irish to come back hard at australia despite all the negative commentry from the irish camp. Who knows maybe theyre talking themselves down to lull the aussies into complacency which has been a issue for them for a few years now.

 

[MunsterMan]

I am expecting a big, big performance. Irish team is stacked with big game players. How often have BOD, POC, DOC, Heaslip, D'arcy, etc. played poorly one week and come out and played like world beaters when the pressure is on the week after? **** or get off the pot time. My money is on the former.

Sexton's defence will be needed. Trimble is in better form than Earls. Reddan to start at scrumhalf, because he is the best of a bad bunch. Let's have them!

 

[Darwin]

Ireland team named:

Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell; Stephen Ferris, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: Jerry Flannery, Tom Court, Donnacha Ryan, Denis Leamy; Conor Murray, Ronan O'Gara, Andew Trimble.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Ireland team named:

Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell; Stephen Ferris, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: Jerry Flannery, Tom Court, Donnacha Ryan, Denis Leamy; Conor Murray, Ronan O'Gara, Andew Trimble.

Who's sister did Leo Cullen get in bed with? This is just unfair.

Seems Boss and McFadden won't be getting any time either.

 

[Cassie]

Very interesting game <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <wunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> This is going to be a very interesting game between these two respected countries. The Australians have the edge on Ireland but don't count them out as they to can be a formidable team on any given day.

 

[Logorrhea]

Dont undersatand the selection of BOTH Ryan and Leamy. Beyond a joke now. Murray is also a risk.

As for the rest, I think ROG was unlucky but Ive been screaming for Reddan to get a shot with Sexton so happy enough with that.

Wont be enough, were gonna get well beaten. 10 ish points to the Aussies.

Oh ....... weather forecast is for rain, rain, more rain and mud.

 

[i tickle ur tum]

earls & darcy must be delighted with themselves...id be embarresed!!

 

[munstermuffin]

Looks like Cullen obviously is down the pecking order although he did have injury last week seemingly.
Leamy deserves to be ahead of Jennings on the bench and last week showed that even more as Jennings was invincible.
Was right call starting Sexton as ROG will make the bigger impact of the 2 off the bench and well both will be needed.
As for Earls/Trimble selection - if Trimble started I wouldn't argue but I don't think Earls was bad against US and well they both the same so no big thing here.

 

[Peat]

Looks like Cullen obviously is down the pecking order although he did have injury last week seemingly.
Leamy deserves to be ahead of Jennings on the bench and last week showed that even more as Jennings was invincible.
Was right call starting Sexton as ROG will make the bigger impact of the 2 off the bench and well both will be needed.
As for Earls/Trimble selection - if Trimble started I wouldn't argue but I don't think Earls was bad against US and well they both the same so no big thing here.

Very sporting to drop an unbeatable player.

Last week should count against Leamy more than Jennings, particularly as your bench now has 2 guys who can play 6 and none who can play 7.

 

[munstermuffin]

Also I disagree that Murray is a risk on bench. I think Reddan is the bigger liability and well hopefully he will perform beside Sexton.

 

[monkeypigeon]

earls & darcy must be delighted with themselves...id be embarresed!!

There's nobody to come on for D'Arcy, except maybe McFadden and Kidney seems blind to that option. Earls was our best wing in the 6 nations and best back against USA (probably). I agree Trimble can feel hard done by but I'd hardly be embaressed if I were Earls - more annoyed by the fact I had to play centre twice in the warm ups..

Looks like Cullen obviously is down the pecking order although he did have injury last week seemingly.
Leamy deserves to be ahead of Jennings on the bench and last week showed that even more as Jennings was invincible.
Was right call starting Sexton as ROG will make the bigger impact of the 2 off the bench and well both will be needed.
As for Earls/Trimble selection - if Trimble started I wouldn't argue but I don't think Earls was bad against US and well they both the same so no big thing here.

Typo perhaps?

 

[munstermuffin]

Peat Leamy has played 7 before and it was Ferris who moved to 7 last week and well Leamy at least will be seen on pitch Jennings is non existent and not up to this level.