Ireland ended the Wallabies’ Grand Slam campaign with a 27-24 win in Dublin this morning, and if there were any doubts about Dean Mumm’s future, his spear tackle in the 22nd minute with his team in all sorts of trouble was a sure fire “on your bike”.
When Ireland led 17-0 just 20 seconds from half-time, only a Michael Cheika would give his side a ghost of a chance of winning.
All the wash-up from Ireland vs Wallabies:
» Match report: Ireland victorious, 27-24
» Five talking points from the match
» What changes should Australia make for England
» Vote on our DIY player ratings
» Re-live the match with our live blog
» WATCH all the highlights from the match
Ireland had 70 per cent possession and 73 per cent territory, they owned the ball and the referee Jerome Garces with 12 penalties to one.
In fact, the men in green should have led by a whole lot more, but the Wallaby defence was the only part of their game that clicked.
The Wallabies had no ball, no territory, and no light at the end of the tunnel until Dane Haylett-Petty broke clear midfield 20 metres out to score under the posts.
Bernard Foley did the rest, with the Wallabies down 17-7 at oranges.
Whatever Cheika said at half-time should be bottled.
Step up to the plate the Fijian connection of Tevita Kuridrani and bench winger Sefania Naivalu.
Their two converted tries after slick Wallaby backline moves saw the men in gold in front 21-20, with a quarter to go.
The Wallabies were all over the Irish, and even the die-hard locals in the packed house were impressed – the Wallabies were back from the dead, the Grand Slam still alive.
Momentarily.
Just as quickly, the Wallabies took the foot off the pedal, the forwards who had made a comeback slumped into lethargy, and Ireland was in with a converted try from Keith Earls on the wing as the Wallaby defence ran out of numbers.
That was 14 minutes from time, the score 27-24 in Ireland’s favour, as the Wallabies lifted in short periods, only to bomb certain tries.
I never ever though I’d report Israel Folau butchered a certain try, but he did with two supports outside and one to beat, the Wallaby fullback died with the ball. You had to see it to believe it in the 51st minute.
But in all fairness to Folau, he wasn’t the only bombed Wallaby try. In my book there were five.
Any one of them would have been good enough for victory, but as we all know – ‘if’ never wins anything.
But this international was one that got away despite Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, and Haylett-Petty turning in their usual high-quality performances.
The last word on Dean Mumm, who must surely have played his 56th and final Test.
He has been a liability to the Wallabies this year, yet for some unfathomable reason Cheika keeps picking him.
This morning should be the last time he dies so with England next week to end the season on a high.
This won’t be a dead rubber, far from it.
There’s a ‘small’ matter of the three-zip series defeat at the start of the season, and the fact it’s being played at the home of rugby, where a win counts most.
And there’s the Eddie Jones factor where Cheika would dearly like to make a dent in his impressive CV as England’s coach.
With no Mumm, Cheika can return the explosive potential of Lopeti Timani to the starting lineup as number eight, having left him out altogether this morning to make room for Mumm.
Timani must never be left languishing again.
Doubles
Guest
Rebellion Genia is twice the player Phipps is.. He can replace himself..Yes..
soapit
Guest
players in rucks are usually attached to something somewhere somehow. if you lift their legs they'll always end up head pointing down. and he didn't try and stop him going head first when it went wrong.
Daire Thornton
Guest
Australia score obstruction tries probably more than any other country. You cant complain. In any case Toner barely touched the Aussie defender so it was a weak enough case. I liked Pocock's trickery in the second half when he appeared to be offside but he was benefiting from there being no ruck. Australia can be quite wiley themselves. In the second half Dane Haylett-Petty made a break down the right wing. One of his support runners grabbed the Ireland defenders jumper to hold him back so he couldnt catch Haylett-Petty. It didnt lead to a try but Oz didnt get blown up for it either. I have no sympathy for Australia at all because if the shoe was on the other foot we would get none from them.
Daire Thornton
Guest
That's fine. That's your view. For me as an Ireland fans it is ironic/amusing though how many Aussies are complaining about the ref given the amount of pieces written and posts posted on the Roar how Ireland are the new whingers of world rugby in the lead up to this game. Ireland's discipline has been exemplary over the last couple of years. I would actually be willing to bet that Ireland have conceded less penalties than any other top ten team. Personally I think New Zealand's and Australia's dicipline over the three tests was very poor. Both teams should have been given red cards and they both deserved the majority of penalties and yellow cards they received. If they had done their homework they would known that Ireland are an uber disciplined side.
bennalong
Guest
David Making Dean Mumm the object of your piece on Australia's loss against Ireland is churlish and unfair. The tackled player was, unknown to Mumm, held around the shoulders when he lifted his legs to push him off the ball laterally laterally. I see how many are critical of Mumm's selection and you're probably one of them. I have no objection to the yellow cardbecause we're trying to protect players, and its an open question as to his place in the team but.......... let's not get precious! He's not a dirty player (not tough enough for lots of critics) and he wasn't trying to pile drive him. If it was thought intentional it would've been a red. Ireland did score when he was in the bin but we came back to lead in the second half so...................... leave out the drama!
wally
Guest
i agree with this. Mumm didn't have a shocker. Hooper had a pretty average game... to be fair he actually tried to contest a lot of breakdowns, but as per his capabilities, he was found ineffective time after time. I have never seen a test rugby 7 get tossed out of so many rucks in one game. Sure he runs the ball in wide channels... so what, pick him in the backline.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
and the fact that Hooper and Mumm was not helping out.
Markus
Guest
"Try backing up your bull with stats, you’ll note if you care to look at Mumms, that he has one of the highest work rates in Australia’s team" Here are the stats: Played a full game, 70 minutes of it on the field, 10 minutes off it. Made 7 tackles (Simmons made 15). 3 runs for 5 metres. One lineout steal. Two penalties conceded, both of which Ireland scored converted tries from. Cheika has regularly dropped players after even a single average performance, yet a select few are exempted from this approach. Most, but not all, of these players happen to be players he coached previously.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
I think his negative contributions outweigh his positives.
John R
Roar Guru
I think you've got capital and lower case letters mixed up.
John R
Roar Guru
The ref's explanation to the Irish after that call was fairly amusing. "There was no ruck, it was tackle only, TRUST me, I've very sure of this, there was no offside line.'
John R
Roar Guru
The fly half was in position, then had to come in to secure the ruck. Not sure where all those tight forwards were... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZYAXYJb_cg
John R
Roar Guru
That's because the 10 was securing the ruck, whilst the prop forward was standing out at first receiver: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZYAXYJb_cg
Waratah Phil
Guest
get behind it https://www.change.org/p/michael-cheika-remove-dean-mumm-from-the-australian-rugby-team
Doubles
Guest
Chieka has also dropped Sio Timani Slipper Arnold Kerevi Frisby and Mcmahon out of the 23 this year.. The favourites below ( Who all have had multiple poor games, have never been dropped ) Foley Mumm Phipps Hooper Izzy
bruce bridges
Roar Rookie
The Wallabies defence was not as tested as much asyou think, the Irish had no guile. England's backs will be s much sterner test generally quick and more skillful and smarter than the Irish if our forwards win up front England should win but your backs are bloody good and can win matches without much possession. Promises to be good game with huge Aussies potentially on the end 4-0 this year to the poms but also with chance to end England's unbeaten run and prevent a year unbeaten for England.
Doubles
Guest
You can`t help yourself can you EJ ? Stop referring to other players ..You haven't learnt anything have you.. We are talking about the hopeless MUMM,not Simmons.. PUUUURLEASE..( WARATAH) .Timani was a bigger man than Simmons, 15 kilo heavier and 3 cm taller and he had way less effect then Simmons.
Borkos
Guest
The reason he held onto it was that the media has gotten to him about his poor try scoring record in 2016
Red Kev
Guest
Typical South of the Tweed comment. "Everything suits me so you all should just get on board".
Dave_S
Guest
No not close to a red. The tip is the result of forces applied by in 3 different directions by 3 different players acting independently, Mumm happened to be the most obvious and reckless but I honestly believe he didn't intend even close to that result. Did the Ireland players blow up about it when it happened? No. That's usually a pretty good indicator.