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The talk leading up to Ireland versus Australia was that the Irish could inflict yet another upset over the Wallabies with some even putting Ireland as outright favourites.
However, Australia showed they are a team on the up under Ewen McKenzie, as they were able to record a resounding 35-12 victory. Here we discuss the five talking points from the game in Dublin.
1) Folau is Australia’s best back during 2013
Israel Folau was simply the best player on the pitch. Though Michael Hooper scored two tries (ill-discilpine at the breakdown leading to his yellow card was a small blight) the full back showed his talents on display.
He offloaded well, countered into Ireland’s half when the Irish’s kicking did not find touch, chased his own kicks so to put pressure on the Irish in their own half, tackled well and was dangerous throughout.
But it was under the high ball where he was most impervious – taking four catches with the greatest of ease no doubt perfected by his AFL and NRL background.
Whenever Folau has had the ball regularly in Australia’s matches this year he has either scored tries or been at the forefront of Australia’s attack.
Though Hooper won the 2013 John Eales Medal I am sure if Folau continues his brilliant form he will be in contention for the award in 2014.
If Michael Cheika is able to sort out those issues with the Warathas board then many Tahs fans will be excited for the Super Rugby season next year.
2) Australia’s scrum is not the flaw it has been in the past
The talk prior to the end-of-year Tests was how Australia’s scrum had been brutally exposed in The Rugby Championship.
But the scrum more than held its own – in fact it dished out the treatment the Australians had suffered during the last few years.
On its own feed the Wallabies were able to hold its own and at times win penalties.
But the Australians excelled when the Irish had the put in.
They managed to put pressure on the Irish props and won penalties that relieved pressure or led to Cooper scoring penalties.
One scrum that was most impressive was when they managed to wheel the Irish scrum 90 degrees and gave the Australians the feed in the scrum just 10 meters from the Irish tryline.
It proved decisive as it led to Quade Cooper’s try that made it 22-12 and killed the game.
As a prop Ewen McKenzie would be ecstatic with his forwards’ efforts in the scrum and showed that while they did concede a few penalties in the scrum they were able to turn one of their worst flaws into one of their positives.
3) Errors and sloppiness show Ireland are a team in transition
Tonight’s game was Joe Schmidt’s second game in charge for Ireland.
While Ireland did beat Samoa last week, it was not a clinical performance and Schmidt will not be impressed at his team’s efforts against Australia.
They suffered from errors made mostly at those times when Ireland entered Australia’s half whether it was knock-ons or giving away penalties.
The Irish also suffered the same problem Wales did against South Africa – lack of composure in the opposition 22 and disappointing in their execution.
They scored no tries whatsoever and relied on the boot of Jonathan Sexton and Ian Madigan when he came on in the second half – though the loss of Sexton to a hamstring injury did not help.
Their lack of finishing was compounded by scoring no points after Wallaby centre Tevita Kuridrani was sent off (and likely to face a ban) for a spear tackle in the 72nd minute.
As I said before the northern hemisphere sides will never beat the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies if they don’t take what chances they get.
Though the Irish did fight back to 15-12 at half time after going down 15-3 after 20 minutes it was due to ill-discpline by the Wallabies at the ruck (ref Craig Pollock was as ever stringent at the breakdown) and whenever Ireland made a line break there was no support runners to continue the attack and score a try.
The talk before the game in the press was how Ireland had every chance of beating an Australia team that was out of sorts.
A sense of complacency did seem to show within the Irish team but if you are complacent in Test rugby you will certainly be punished.
4) Ireland’s defensive narrowness was punished
Another thing that Schmidt will not be happy about is their wing defence.
Like against Italy it was an area that Australia were able to exploit with success.
Ireland were too narrow especially the wingers and Australia used it to their advantage. Their two tries in the first half came from Ireland’s narrowness in defence.
Australia used the full width of the pitch and exploit the space on the wings. Moreover, the Wallabies excellently combined their forwards and backs.
For Nick Cummins and Hooper’s tries in the first half the forwards (Stephen Moore for Cummins’ try and Scott Fardy for Hooper’s try) produced excellent offloads.
In addition, the Australians were able to get support runners to those line breaks that punctuated Ireland’s defence and led to those tries.
Moreover, it was that narrow defence that nearly led Cummins’ second try early in the second half, but the TMO ruled he had knocked on when trying to ground the ball.
The All Blacks will certainly have seen Ireland’s narrowness in defence and certainly have the players to punish them in the form of Julian Savea, Charles Piutau and Ben Smith.
5) Australia showing green shoots of recovery
Though 2013 has not been a successful year for Australian rugby they are at least ending the year well.
Their victory against Ireland meant they achieved back to back victories under the short McKenzie regime. Though they did concede 15 penalties (a high number seeing most teams win matches if they concede less than 10 penalties) they were clincial in their finishing.
Quade Cooper is slowly repaying the faith Ewen McKenzie has shown in him while the backrow is certainly fierce and allow them to control the breakdown as they did against Ireland.
You do wonder who will drop out when David Pocock returns from his long term injury or if Pocock will be able to get into the side.
However, more options for McKenzie to choose means more depth for Australia, which can only be good for the Wallabies.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.