Well, it was another three-point loss, but whereas the close margin in Paris rather flattered the Wallabies last weekend, the 26-23 scoreline in Dublin was a fair reflection of how the game went.
The close scoreline showed how close the Wallabies ran with the Six Nations Champions, but also how Ireland was always just that little bit better.
And fair play to the home side, too. I haven’t seen enough of the November Tests to be able to say with any certainty that this was the best match of all of them so far, but it was certainly the best of the Tests I have seen.
Ireland found early success with their short precision kicking game, and would continue to take advantage of the space in behind the Wallabies defensive line and wherever Israel Folau wasn’t for the rest of the game.
Jonathan Sexton’s deft little kick after a turnover found a flying Simon Zebo in space to open the scoring, and ensured the covering Wallabies sweepers had plenty on their plate from there on.
However, despite being down 17-0 after what seemed like only a few minutes, I actually thought the Wallabies defence was much improved from last week. The missed tackle stats I looked at do show an improvement on the France Test, but it wasn’t just about the numbers, rather the method and the intensity.
The Wallabies, one week further into regime change, just looked that much more comfortable with the in-their-face method that new defence coach Nathan Gray has introduced. And the greatest improvement was the defensive organisation and pace that Matt Toomua brought to the Wallabies midfield.
Toomua was up in the faces of the Irish centres whenever they looked like getting the ball, and was instrumental in shutting Gordon D’Arcy and Robbie Henshaw down.
The most telling part of Toomua’s presence was the way the defenders beside him went with him, meaning the Wallabies more often than not presented a solid and not stuttered line as they did in Paris.
The Wallabies essentially did to the Irish backs what the French did to them the week before. This was pleasing.
It wasn’t just the backs though, all the forwards got through a mountain of work in defence. All but James Slipper, Rob Simmons and Ben McCalman made a double-digit number of tackles, and even then, these three weren’t far off. Michael Hooper was everywhere in defence, making 14 tackles and missing none.
The starting pack missed just nine of 88 tackles between them; their success rate was better than the team’s overall rate of 88 per cent.
However, the Irish were more than up for this fight, and as the second half became the grind that it did, I always had the nagging feeling that the Wallabies were playing into their hands.
That suspicion became a full-on knot in the stomach at scrum time, where once again the Wallabies’ pack lost the ground it was holding in the first half. I don’t know how this issue is resolved within a year, and now only five Tests before the start of the Rugby World Cup, but it just has to be resolved.
The Wallabies may not make the Rugby World Cup semis with the current starting scrum, but they definitely won’t with the bench pack.
But some credit where it’s due. I’ve been critical of Will Skelton’s scrummaging in recent weeks, and I saw a much improved body height on engagement when he came on against Ireland. He was still involved when James Slipper was penalised for collapsing in the 75th minute, but even in that case, you could see his head and especially his arse was a lot lower than it has been in previous weeks.
Just on Slipper, I thought he was a bit stiff on the 63rd minute to concede what would turn out to be the match-winning penalty from Sexton. Slipper was pinged for coming in from the side, right in front of referee Glenn Jackson, but watching it live and confirmed with several re-viewings, I thought Irish centre Robbie Henshaw quite obviously came in from the side himself and continued to clean out Nick Phipps well beyond the ball.
Slipper, in actual fact, came in with Sekope Kepu to clean out Henshaw.
The Wallabies made some major improvements with their offload and short passing game, with the big difference from Paris being that the early passes in Dublin stuck. This is important to note, because those passes sticking immediately allowed the confidence to grow as they gained more possession.
Indeed, there was no better example than Phipps’ second try, which originally started way back inside the Wallabies’ own 22. Toomua and Bernard Foley sent the ball wide to the right hand side of the field, where McCalman ran a very Kieran Read-like wide line before putting Henry Speight in to space.
Not very much space, but space nonetheless. Speight did superbly well to flick the ball back inside as he was about to be bundled into touch.
Foley picked up the loose ball, got a nice pass back outside to McCalman, who made more metres and presented quick ball.
The Wallabies went another phase down the short side before going wide, where Toomua found Foley on an inside angle and in space, before drawing the final Irish defenders and finding Phipps on the outside to score.
Contrast this with passes behind the man last week, offloads going to no-one and virtually no use of the inside runner that I readily recall, and it’s not surprising that France’s defence looked as good as it did.
In Dublin, Ireland’s defence was just as good – maybe even better – but the Wallabies supported the ball carrier better than they have before under Michael Cheika. And this was also pleasing, but also very encouraging, because it shows that the new approach and the new method is beginning to click.
Foley looked a lot better in attack for mine, and I can’t help but wonder how much of that is down to the return of Toomua at inside centre. Between the two of them, the Wallabies certainly asked more questions of the defence.
Impact off the bench was also an improvement for mine, with Quade Cooper especially slotting into the attacking patterns and method quite easily in the 16 minutes he played. I can’t help but think the Cheika methods of attack might actually be the re-making of Cooper as an international player.
I will, however, say I’m not sure if Cooper and Kurtley Beale can exist on the same bench though. In those 16 minutes they were on together, the Wallabies looked dangerous when Cooper ran with support, but contradicted when Beale tried to make the play from that roaming role he seemed to be playing. Coming in from the wing as he was, Beale appeared to cut off wider attacking options more than a few times when he popped up in midfield.
All in all, while the loss was a bummer, I was quite impressed with the way the Wallabies not just competed with the best team in the northern hemisphere, but genuinely pushed them on plenty of occasions.
And after England looked a bit ‘off’ against Samoa, I think there’s plenty of reason for the Wallabies to be confident at Twickenham next Saturday.
"Bowled Shane"
Guest
As far as public speaking goes- I'll take your guidance. I just watched Clarke in TV and his leadership on the Phil Hughes tragedy and thought hopper is not in that league yet - but public speaking (which after re reading you r post is what you were talking about) - I'll take your word on that!
Kirko
Guest
MARF - I very much agree with your points, but my one thought is that Genia is still not hitting his straps....i'd really like to see the Phipps/Cooper/Toomua combo given a go with the starting pack with Genia getting more & more game time off the bench. And I think Izzy would work out pretty quickly how to run off QC Though it seems the horse has bolted & we are going to see Foley yet again.....so much for trying a number of combinations. I'll be in the crowd cheering loudly as always, though am expecting us to struggle with no kicking game....and who do you think the English were not wanting to see in the 10 shirt
cs
Guest
Disagree 'Bowled Shane', at least in the articulate stakes. He's a more confident and better spoken young guy for his age than Tubby Taylor and Ricky Ponting have ever been. Indeed, Tubby's still lucky to ever get his words straight. I would also say he beats Clark. As it happens, I can speak with a little authority on this facet, since I've been teaching kids his age for too many years than I care to count. Trust me on this: I can attest that Hoops is a well above average fluid and confident public speaker, something that strikes me every time I see him in a press conference. I never expected it, and keep looking for where he has stashed his notes; but there you go ... Within my professional world, I consider this rather amazing. He must have had some training, but even then, his aptitude is beyond doubt.
"Bowled Shane"
Guest
Hooper is a great player... But talking him up as if he is a Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting or Michael Clarke is crazy.. As of now
"Bowled Shane"
Guest
Is it natural? Do you realise it? or due you work it out at the crisis town hall meetings?
"Bowled Shane"
Guest
Yep- he needs some form of a fury apparatuses
"Bowled Shane"
Guest
Or to twelve
Mick
Guest
The 50 point blip to the AB's not included in your genuinely poor results? I certainly remember it.
Rex
Guest
I was thinking that myself! Wont happen, but could be a great option
William Tell
Guest
Pretty much on the ball - maybe the Genia-Phipps comparison is a bit of a stretch. I have felt lonely about Hooper as captain - not as a player but as someone who understands that sometimes lonely role. I hope you are right about the selections - but I fear Beale will be given a big role in the centres. And given his weird contribution in the Irish test, who would know what to expect. As I have said previously a loss against England will be a blow - at least it will take the p&w out of the "free at last" brigade and have Chieka settle down to devise strategies that match the capabilities of the Wallaby squad when facing international level teams. Playing 20-20 style in a test just won't cut it - whether it is ego or inflexibility, it is not working so far. And one win against an England team of modest performances will prove nothing.
rl
Guest
Sorry Rex, you're joining me apparently on my lonely planet of one...
"Bowled Shane"
Guest
I'm in the middle- you've got to give the new regime a fair amount of time to see if they can get more from this playing group... But that still means we shouldn't be excited by being competitive against the 3rd best side in the world. I bet Cheika wouldn't be happy that we "gave it a fair old go". Winning is a habit... And losing many close ones does hurt mentally
"Bowled Shane"
Guest
We'll put...
Rex
Guest
Wow... kettle, pot, black.
Chivas
Guest
I said you did rl, but the difference is, no-one requested you respond, but a tr0ll always does what a tr0ll will always do.and I think all those comments relate to most of what you have to say. The difference between us, is that some people, not you obviously actually are interested in what i have to say. Advise me again what your insight and value has been over your numerous posts. And before questioning my contribution, why don't you have a look at your own. Don't feel the need to respond, but I am sure your ego will require it. Having the last word seems more important to you than making any important contribution, which is actually how this particular discussion came about... you making a typically personal comment towards me when I never mentioned anything about you. Further, you saying my frustration is somehow feigned is typical of someone who pre-supposes they actually understand someone else. That in many people's eyes is referred to as being a t0sser. Further you will notice I never add or contribute to your posts... for obvious reasons. I am curious as to why you feel the need to respond to mine. Maybe saying it is st00pidity may be a bridge too far, but I can't work out what it might be. I think the mum comment came about when you were posting your typical childish nonsense. So you are right they do all aptly describe your contributions including your latest. Feel free to continue without me.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Taps
rl
Guest
Whoa - this is freaky: I feel exactly the same way about your postings. Couldn't come up with a suitably childish response so instead opted to choose some quotes from one of my favourite Roar posters (I hope you feel suitably flattered): (a) "i think i hear your mum calling" (b) "are you always this stupid?" (c) "are you always this insightful?" (d) "you come across more as a t0sser" Hmmm, I can't decide which. Anyway, I certainly agree there should be way less hyperbole and personal insult. You can lead the charge, if you like?
Chivas
Guest
what makes you so certain... Messa is correct no matter how you wish it otherwise to support your point. Sometimes we just have to accept we get it wrong and on this occasion you are. Professional players actually get paid to play. It is the goal to win of coach and players, not a pre-requisite to being a professional player. The higherst paid players in the world aren't the AB;'s, even though they are the winningest. Their pay doesn't depend on the team winning, nor does whether they are paid or even whether they make the side depend on it. On the other hand the goal of the coach and team is to win games, but it is not a pre-requisite to getting paid.
cs
Guest
Goodonya Chivas. The criticism of Hoops is not only a very strange feature of the Roar commentary; it's often more than a bit catty.
Ckeeky halfback
Guest
For a consumate lesson on being coordinated, and less haphazard the Wallabies need only watch the All Blacks last quarter against Wales. A more composed, measured and well executed 20 minutes you will not see. Conrad smith catching a perfectly measured cross field kick to coftly offload to Kaino. Barrets kick and chase speaks for itself even allowing for the rugby bounce. But to my mind the way Reid followed up his charge down should be rerun as perfection. Many would have run full tilt approached the ball side on, allowing a faster winner to rail along the side line or alllowing would be defenders to bundle him into touch. Not Reid.Running at pace with full spacial awareness he checked his line to protect the ball making it the pick up less fraught and touched down parallel to and well clear of the sideline. And he is only one of the best 15 players in the All Black team.