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

[munstermuffin]

Agreed Samo is better now but in fairness that mans acomplishment to get the 8 jersey so late in his career shows how well he is playing but Heaslip as I said can match him Saturday

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

If our backrow turn up and play to their best tomorrow we will win, if not we'd need a helluva performance from the other 12 players to win.

 

[profitius]

Pocock is out of the match. McCalman replaces him.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Pocock is out of the match. McCalman replaces him.

Link?

 

[ret]

91 World Cup an Irish forward (Matthews?) threw a punch at Willie O,99 (I think) World Cup another mad Irishman had a crack at Kefu-see a pattern here? I'm fairly certain that over a few Guinesses in the last couple of days straws were drawn as to who will throw 'em at Samo. Bring it on boys-I for one can't wait!

 

[i tickle ur tum]

Link?

"green & gold rugby" will get u there..

 

[Ostrayian]

Yep Pocock is definitely out. To go to RWC with no back up for Pocock was a poor choice by deans.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Big blow for the Wallabies - will make the contest at the breakdown more even though

 

[Magricos]

Ireland will lose by at least 10pts.

 

[Darwin]

The loss of Pocock is massive for Australia - if Pocock had been playing I think they would be huge favourites, but without Pocock I think it could really go either way. I bet Deans is regretting not having any openside cover in the squad now, as McCalman is in no way an openside. Unfortunately (for Ireland) they don't really have the loose-forwards to exploit Pococks absence at the breakdown, but they will certainly be thankful he is not playing (as he is in my opinion the best 7 in the world rugby).

Some interesting matchups all over the park. I'm not sure how the scrums will go - Australia were solid for 60 mins versus Italy, before they started going backwards (after Slipper came on). Both teams should be able to secure there own lineouts (assuming Best throws the ball in ok), and each have plenty of powerful ball runners in the loose-forwards.

It will be interesting to see who defends in the 10 channel for Australia now that Ioane is out: I suspect they may use AAC there, though the may go for O'Connor. AAC is probably the best choice as he can physically handle the Irish loosies that will likely be running at him (not that O'Connor is a poor defender, just that big players can make good metres against him before he brings them down), but O'Connor does have much more experience defending in this channel. As always a lot will depend on how Quade Cooper plays - if Ireland can put a lot of pressure on him it can help to nullify the potent Aussie backline. Ireland are going to be careful to make sure they kick the ball out, or if not make sure their kick chase is very good, as Cooper, Beale, and O'Connor are deadly on the counterattack.

Overall I'm picking Australia to win a close one by about 5 points, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if Ireland pull off the upset.

 

[TNT88]

AAC will defend at 10. Simple switch.

How is the weather? Unless it is raining I think the Wallabies will win by a 5-10 point margin. McCalman will step up.

 

[big ginger 8]

I'm excira and delira that Pococks out. (phrase an Irish broadcaster reguarally says not including the Pocock bit)

 

[Darwin]

AAC will defend at 10. Simple switch.

How is the weather? Unless it is raining I think the Wallabies will win by a 5-10 point margin. McCalman will step up.

The forecast reads: Occasional showers, some heavy. Westerlies.

Not being in Auckland I have no idea what the weather is like at the moment though (beautiful, as always, in Dunedin though )

 

[i tickle ur tum]

i was hoping fiji would light up my morning before the big 1...dont think so now!!

 

[TNT88]

Apparently Steven Moore is out with injury. TPN in. Faingaa to the bench.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That's not as big a blow - I'm a big fan of TPN
Not so much Fainga'a, but he should do all right

 

[munstermuffin]

Come on Ireland!
Now it's even playing field and well if we are honest this is our best chance to beat Aus now as Pocock is out but also our backrow can now really have a cut

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Paul O'Connell just said "There's a lot of hungry guys in the squad"

Yeah, they're called props

 

[RuckinGoodStats]

Australia v Ireland stats from RWC, unless otherwise specified

Kickers: Wallabies O'Connor 3 from 4 (In 2011 games he is kicking 66/95 or 69%) Cooper 2/3 (In 2011 games he is kicking 82/121 or 68%); Ireland Sexton 33% (2/6) O'Gara 1/2.

Concerning Wallabies stats: Missing on average 1 in 9 tackle attempts, 17 lost possessions/turnovers (2 the ruck, 10 handling errors), conceded 12 penalties (3 while in possession, 3 at the ruck 5 at scrum time).

Concerning Ireland stats: Missing on average 1 in 4 tackle attempts, 19 lost possessions/turnovers (4 at the ruck, 8 handling errors) 8.7 penalties (4 while in possession, 2 at the ruck).

Concerning average per game stats from all 2011 Wallabies games: Missing on average 1 in 7 tackle attempts, 20.2 lost possessions/turnovers (3.7 at the ruck, 9 handling errors) 8.7 penalties (2.3 while in possession 6 at the ruck).

Stats Wallabies want to continue:10 linebreaks, 5 offloads, 1 charge down, 1 intercept, broke 17 tackles (3 in opposition's 22)

Stats Ireland wants to continue:13 linebreaks, 10 offloads, 2 charge downs, and broke 26 tackles (9 in opposition's 22)

Average 2011 stats Wallabies want to continue:8 linebreaks, broke 22.8 tackles (5.7 in opposition's 22)

Ref Lawrence: 7 scrum resets, 4 scrum infringements, 27 penalties, (17 at the ruck), 2 for offside, 5 penalties awarded were inside the 22. 16 penalties resulted kicks at the sticks. Ranking Lawrence out of the 10 refs at RWC (1 = most/highest), he is1st for scrum resets, 1st for awarding penalties, 1st for ruck penalties, 1st kickable penalties. Ref Lawrence in 2011 average per game: 4.4 scrum resets, 3.6 scrum infringements, 19 penalties awarded (10.8 at the ruck) 2.1 for offside.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Come on Ireland, time to wake up !!