Certainly all Australian rugby fans are relieved at the win over Italy by the Wallabies but it wasn’t a great performance by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it was barely good.
If the Wallabies play like that against Ireland they will lose.
Kicking in general play was poor. Never mind Will Genia’s not-quite-a-box-kick that led to Italy’s first try, Matt Toomua’s kicking out of hand was quite poor – going dead twice, going straight to the back three several times – and Quade Cooper’s wasn’t any better, a couple of kicks directly to the sweeping defence stick in the memory.
The body height of players making hit ups is still too high. There was at least one maul turnover and several others where the ball only just came out.
Ireland perfected the technique of holding up Australian ball-runners in the 2011 Rugby World Cup pool match at Eden Park and there is little doubt it will be a focus for them again this match.
The clean-out and support needs to be closer, more active and the ball carrier needs to be more aware of his body height to avoid problems at the tackle.
Genia’s service was better but it is still taking a half-beat too long and he is still being offered insufficient protection by the forwards. Against the more physical Irish pack he’ll be harassed all game long.
Defensively it is difficult to evaluate the Wallaby performance, given the quality of the Italian backline, however I was alarmed at the easy yardage the Italians were able to make close to the ruck on several occasions.
There is little doubt the Irish forwards will have noticed this too.
Of course there are still the old chestnuts of the restarts and the scrum. There’s nothing to be said here other than they need to work hard at both, if the Wallabies slack off mentally in this area, they will revert to the shambles they have been for most of the past two years.
Selection-wise, I have to add my voice to the calls for a Benn Robinson/Stephen Moore/James Slipper front row to start – is there something going on at training we just don’t see?
Tatafu Polota-Nau should be fit to come off the bench. Scott Fardy should be back from concussion (hopefully forcing Sitaleki Timani and Dave Dennis out of the 23 entirely in favour of Kane Douglas).
While I would like to see Liam Gill start, I actually thought Michael Hooper had his best game in terms of breakdown presence in the Wallaby jersey on the weekend and on the strength of that he will retain the no.7 spot; Gill will most likely get his starting shot against the Scots.
The Wallabies have not won two Tests in a row this year. With only a week to prepare for Ireland, the focus at training needs to be on set piece, defensive realignment, and kicking (including chasing and taking the high ball).
The Wallabies can beat Ireland, I would argue they should beat Ireland, but they will need to improve again to do so.
Mike
Guest
Good article. If the Wallabies take all these things to heart and go in with an attitude that victory must be earned, they will win.
Magic Sponge
Guest
The bleeding obvious scrum and pace of the backrow To the breakdiwn in numbers. Mowen has to do something sometime
Old Bugger
Guest
Bakkies Agreed but smartness is tempered by the next game on Ireland's calendar. It's a sure-fire recipe for disaster when you have one eye on this week and one eye on the next week, so Ireland could easily fall off the edge if that's the case. To that end, there's no reason for the Irish to get overly smart about this match but at the same time play the percentages, improve the set pieces from the last game, do the basics and do them well, challenge for the errors and force the WB's to chase the game. As for the WB's, well we all know dont we....?? Play the game at pace, get into multi phase plays all day even if it only gains inches but challenge Ireland's aerobic and fitness levels, support each other for offloads and breakdown cleanouts to get quick ball, put up the high ball and challenge the catcher, quick lineout throw ins, short lineouts all day, run the ball back at every opportunity and don't kick for territory, unless its a penalty or an absolute necessity. Yes, Ireland may well use all of its collective nous and experience to slow the play down and go for a slug-fest, penalty ridden win. The challenge is on the WB's to play it fast and be confident that the offloads etc will open up spaces for team-mates to attack. There is a slim chance that the Irish, may just have their minds on the next match (unforgivable if they do), so the WB's must take advantage and pounce.
Justin3
Guest
what about the kick that went dead strait siren the middle. that's not a bad bounce...
onetruegame
Guest
The source of misplaced arrogance seems to be a lost and gloating Pom with a pretentious movie star moniker.
Brian M
Roar Rookie
Chris Pollock referred the first Lions test, his approach to scrums is get it in, get it out. No penalties awarded unless it is completely blatant. I feel this may advantage Australia, as Cian Healy and Mike Ross are strong scrummagers.
Derm
Roar Guru
Same as last week, except swap AAC in centre for 12, and put White in for Genia and Gill in for Simmons at 6.
Dublin Dave
Guest
No excuses possible there mate. Chris Pollock of New Zealand will be the man in the middle for Ireland Australia.
Squirrel
Guest
Agree a trip to the Jamieson factory , get them fired up with triple instilled scotch.
Derm
Roar Guru
eh….Conan
Bakkies
Guest
Harinordoquy in recent times was the most rounded number 8. Superb in the lineout, work rate huge, covered kicks, hit rucks, carried well, had the skills to link, was able to play tight or loose.
Bakkies
Guest
It's shocking, the lack of technique with carrying and cleaning out. Timani is pretty useless but we knew that a couple of years ago.
Bakkies
Guest
Everyone smart enough knows that beat the Wallabies, slow down the ruck ball, force mistakes to get scrums, get ahead on the scoreboard to see heads drop. '' I dont believe they will try to out-run the WB’s through the backline simply because they haven’t got enough milage in the tanks, being their 2nd game to date.'' Ireland won't use the backs do that. Instead it will be a battery of carriers to soften the defence. Heaslip, O'Brien, Healy, Best, O'Mahony. O'Brien's carrying has been excellent this season and his pilfering has come on to.
Bakkies
Guest
Scrummage properly then you won't get resets. Simples.
Bakkies
Guest
Look at the tries again. At least 3 were from lazy ball watching by Italy. One instance Cooper had four players watching him (instead of nailing the tackle), he got the pass away to an unmarked winger who scored. Italy had given up when the try was scored off the kick off. They weren't hitting rucks with vigour either. In fact you could say that Italy played like Australia have since the 3rd Lions Test. No mongrel, sloppy defence, gave quick ball to the opposition, ball watching, gave up just a few points behind.
Bakkies
Guest
Red Kev what about the passes to touch that Cooper threw which bombed easy tries? Cooper also threw the intercept to Bowe and that was a ridiculous pass too.
In Brief
Guest
Conor the Barbarian - think it was a film. Patrick is a lovely name, suprised it is not more popular.
Bakkies
Guest
Pot how many, Munster, Connacht and Ulster matches have seen recently? The choke tackle is still being used. Ireland's problem this year was that there was no heart in their play as Kidney lost the team.
Bakkies
Guest
Judging by the 1st Lions Test Pollock doesn't referee scrums. Early engages, crooked feeds, collapsed scrums allowed to play on, boring in, anything goes.
Selector
Guest
Haha that first paragraph was perfect FOS... Still laughing while writing this. Dennis was the ultimate let down following his Super form in 2012.