There is a certain nervous wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth by Australian fans who can’t stomach the idea of a repeat of 2016 with the much-anticipated series between the Wallabies and European champions, Ireland, approaching.
Who could forget witnessing our beloved Wallabies getting their collective backsides handed to them by the old foe of England, three-zip, in a historic series long be remembered for the wrong reasons?
This formidable Irish side, who recently have conquered all in their way when you consider Leinster’s emphatic performances in Europe have – to a degree – justified Australian fears of seeing the Wallabies yet again put to the sword by a northern hemisphere powerhouse.
But to quote the great American president Franklin D. Roosevelt in his inaugural address, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
A wonderfully abstract statement perhaps, but in context of this forthcoming series I asked myself a simple question; I know the Irish can play, but can they tour?
History would suggest the Irish don’t play particularly well on extended tours against the same opponent.
Interestingly, in the rich history of Irish rugby, they have only ever attempted a three-test series tour twice – to New Zealand in 2012 and South Africa in 2016.
There is no shame in touring New Zealand in 2012 and losing three-nil against a side that had recently won a Rugby World Cup.
As Australians know all too well, New Zealand is an awfully difficult place to win. That aside, there is shame in losing the final test of that tour 60-0.
Despite Ireland not being coached by Joe Schmidt, they had a very good team with names like Rob Kearney, Cian Healy, Johnny Sexton, Peter O’Mahoney and Sean Cronin. All of whom will be touring Australia this June.
(AFP PHOTO / IAN MACNICOL)
The three-test tour of South Africa in 2016 got off to a better start for Schmidt’s men who won the opening encounter with the Springboks at Newlands, putting forth a dominant performance, winning 26-20 despite losing their own South African CJ Stander to a dubious red card early on.
Yet Ireland could not sustain the effort for the length of the tour and lost the final two tests, 32-26, in Johannesburg and, 19-13, in Port Elizabeth.
The interesting thing about the Johannesburg test is that Ireland was actually winning that test match 19-3 at intermission, but wilted in the second half.
This occurred only two years ago, featuring players such as Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray, Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong, Quinn Roux, Devin Toner, Rob Henderson, James Kilcoyne and Kieran Marmion.
Since then, there is no doubt Ireland have improved and dominated tournament rugby when they play against singular opposition and return home after each away test.
However, touring rugby is a different equation altogether. In the summer of 2017, the Irish toured the USA and Japan and had emphatic victories.
But dear friends, there simply is no cogent evidence to support a hypothesis that under Joe Schmidt, his team can win a three-test series away from home against a tier-one nation.
In fact, I would suggest such touring for the Irish is presenting as an exposed ‘Achilles heel’.
If Australia can rise to the occasion in Brisbane on June 9th and come away with the win – will the men from the Emerald Isle have the juice to go the distance for the rest of the series?
For star players touring Australia, they are nearing the end of what has been arguably the most intense 12 months of rugby.
Out of the touring squad, no less than eight of them toured with the 2017 British and Irish Lions. They then prepared and played a brilliant Six Nations Tournament.
Furthermore, at least 17 of the squad are part of the Leinster unit who dominated the domestic scene in Europe of late.
Yet the stark reality is that this team have played an awful lot of rugby leading me to wonder if they can maintain a level of intensity and excellence for an extended period of time to ultimately reach a zenith Irish rugby have never reached before – a three-test series away from home.
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The last time the Irish came close to a three-test tour of Australia was in 1979.
Skippered by the legendary flanker Fergus Slattery and accompanied by other Irish greats Ollie Campbell, Tony Ward, Willie Duggan, Ciaran Fitzgerald, Mike Gibson, Moss Keane, Gerry McLoughlin and Phil Orr, they defeated the Wallabies twice and nearly won every match on tour.
Eventually, they stumbled when they were defeated by a Sydney Team that featured a young Mark Ella.
Ominously, Slattery was quoted after a test, “We prepared well. It was our aim to contain them in the loose, and most of the game we had them going backwards, or sideways, perhaps more sideways.
“We knew they were dangerous on the loose ball, particularly that back row of Shaw, Cornelson and Loane.”
Such a game plan would succeed today, but can the Irish get the Wallabies to go backwards and sideways for three tests?
Have Ireland prepared well enough? Could this side compete with the likes of David Pocock and Michael Hooper for loose balls?
For either team to win this series, they can take heed to what Irish Coach Noel Murphy said about his players of 1979 and apply it themselves.
He said, “We might not be the best rugby team to come to Australia, but in terms of discipline, courage and character, I’m sure there have been none better.”
Nanan
Roar Rookie
I like the way you construct you articles ,Im a fan
RedNed
Guest
Home ground advantage.. Ireland won't win a game.
Nick Turnbull
Roar Guru
Iain Henderson
Paul Murray
Guest
Rob Henderson didn't play against South Africa two years ago. His last cap for Ireland was in 2003!
taylorman
Roar Guru
‘intent to start dominating the world scene in a way Ireland never really have’... Geez, by picking his best squad you derived that? Baby steps first Id suggest. The biggest concern Id have is why they dont pick their best sides. You wanna play with the big boys, bring your best. Thats kinda how it works. Luckily kiwi Schmidt knows that. Ireland are ranked higher than oz, so could lose that position...I mean hulllloooooo?
Nick Turnbull
Roar Guru
Thanks mate. I will be there too with a 6'8 Irishman from Longford with red hair whose name is Patrick. You can't miss us!
Nick Turnbull
Roar Guru
Thanks mate. Very keen to see how our boys go, was enthused by the way the Rebels, Waratah's and Reds played this weekend.
Englishbob
Guest
I was slightly surprised Joe Schmidt picked his full squad for this tour. For me it shows a statement of intent to start dominating the world scene in a way Ireland never really have, even when they have won grand slams before they've wilted home and away against SH teams. However Johnny sexton will be 34 by next year's RWC, why take the risk of running him to death on bone hard red hot fast Aussie tracks when they could be giving a reserve first five invaluable experience against what I suspect will be a very good wallaby unit. I'm going for 2-1 wallabies, provided cheika resists his urges to play his favourites anywhere 'lets see if hanigan can do a job at full back or tighthead'. At the time of writing Wales are beating what might be the worst springbok team ever to pull on that proud jersey, maybe England do have a chance
Cathal
Guest
Still don’t get why all the questions are directed at Ireland, the questions should about all these doubts is do Australia have what it takes to capitalize? When I compare Ireland to England in 2016 people will say Ireland this year had a lions series yet people will ignore Irish players have played about half the time the English do meaning Ireland are at worst in a similar position to England in 2016 and anyone thinking its that big a factor are clutching at straws really and tbh what this is telling me is most on here have pretty much accepted that the Wallabies aren’t good enough to win this series on their own so need factors like this to go their way and if it does all it does is paper over cracks for the World Cup to beat a tired team...
Mzilikazi
Guest
Nice article, Nick. Thanks. Also some very good discussion following...well balanced and valid points made. Really intriguing series to look forward to. I am well entrenched in the camp that sees a real possibility of Ireland winning all three games. And my main fear is our coaching team, and their lack of ability to put a team on the field that can perform the basics, especially in the basics of defence, ball handling, and accurate and effective kicking. I feel we have enough good and experienced players to challenge Ireland seriously, if the above can be addressed by our coaches. Really interesting to see how Schmidt and his team deals with the fatigue factor, the natural anti climactic mental condition that can set in after such a successful and high adrenaline period for so many of his players. Therein probably lies any achilles heal that the WB's can exploit. This is a really good Irish team, which if fully developed, and remaining injury free, should really challenge for RWC 2019. Above all, I wish for a series which is injury free, and well refereed.....a lot to wish for !!
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I saw them in '67. They got flogged around the park in the lead up games but they won the gamethat counted. They won their second series here in the 70s but that has been about it. looking forward to the series.
Fionn
Guest
Yeah, Craig, totally agree. Wouldn't it be a strange reality if the Wallabies won the 2019 RWC?
Craig
Guest
Yeah, I agree with your sentiment regarding games in between the RWC - probably more accurate to say another dire series would be largely forgotten by the general public if we won the RWC, rather than by fans and supporters.
Fionn
Guest
I guess the defence has struggled, but our attack has been very good for a couple of years now. It is defence, line out, discipline, rucking and kicking that we're struggling with. I wouldn't forgive another 0-3 series. Perhaps some fans are happy to just do well every four years in the world cup. Even if we won the next RWC while I would have very fond memories of Cheika's 2015 and 2019 I would overall have very mixed feelings of him if we lose 3-0 to Ireland. 2016-17-18 would leave a very bad taste in my mouth.
Fionn
Guest
Read the article after you mentioned it. However, this second part leaves me concerned: "We've got a huge change over the year now of what our squad is looking like, they're really young, and I really feel like it's a great opportunity for the lads against the No.2 team in the world to show what they've got." I do not want to hear Cheika blaming a 'young squad' if we lose. If we win he definitely deserves a LOT of credit. However, if we lose he doesn't get any excuses.
Derm
Roar Guru
I’m interested to see how strong the leadership group is in this squad and how it can develop further. Best is a big loss in that regard. As is SOB. O’Mahony (47 caps) is the experienced talkers/example setter in the forwards, with Murray, Sexton and Kearney out in the backs. Depending on his selections and desire to trial different combinations, the team could be quite callow on one of the tests days. If Rob Kearney is not starting at 15, then it’s either Conway or Larmour. If Sexton or Murray don’t start, the fall-off in experience drops sharply again. If Schmidt wants to really test some of the younger/low test cap players, his selection decisions are going to be interesting. (Starting caps in brackets) Most experienced starters 45+ caps: Healy (60), Toner (47), O’Mahony (41), Murray (62), Sexton (70), Earls (59), Kearney (81). Medium experience plus bench 20-44 caps: McGrath (30), Cronin (9), Furlong (18), Henderson (19), Stander (21), Henshaw (30). Low experience plus bench 10-20 caps: Carbery (2), Ringrose (12), Murphy (11), John Ryan (3), Marmion (5). Newbies/uncapped* 0-9 caps: Stockdale, Conway, Aki, Cooney, R Byrne*, Larmour, T Beirne*, Herring, Leavy, Porter, Roux, James Ryan, Conan, Scannell.
IrelandsCall
Roar Rookie
Great read Nick. I will be in the stadium on Saturday next barracking for the boys in green. Looking forward to close exciting contest and the amazing atmosphere of over 45, 000 Aussies and Irish trying to out sing each other! Also it's my young fellas first international so cant wait! By the way, if you are not drinking Barry's tea, you are not drinking Irish tea! 2-1 Ireland!
Craig
Guest
Those are quite damning stats, aren't they? Would we have the same dire record had Ewen McKenzie not spat the dummy and walked? I doubt it. It's hard to get a genuine bearing on Cheika as a coach. He has undoubted pedigree but the mounting losses and the ranting/raving from the coaches' box undermine his reputation. He's probably been unlucky to lose a number of those games and certainly unlucky that his tenure has coincided with a terrible dearth of capable clearance kickers to call upon - a shortfall that has absolutely hobbled the Australian teams in recent years. To his credit, we no longer resigned to our scum getting monstered - in fact I think that'll be an area we'll be very competitive in this series. He got us to the RWC final last time around and even losing this series 3-0 would be largely forgotten if we go one better in the RWC next year. That said, his coaching team are struggling. Our defence, in particular, has struggled and there has been a sense that players have previously been picked more on the basis that they are familiar with Grey's defensive stratagems, than on form. The 2015 coach of the year would struggle to make the top five list now. I hope this series will see evidence that we are on track, making up ground and that Cheika and his team have been playing the long game. Schmidt will be coming with a very clear and specific plan for beating the Wallabies - hopefully the reverse it true too.
Ed
Guest
I know you don't read the SMH Wallabies/Waratahs propaganda unit but this quote today from Chieka means he has little room for an excuse this year: ""For us we're much better prepared this year than we've ever been for a June before. The other two coahces, Stephen Larkham and Nathan Grey ... we've been together all year now, so we're preparing exclusively for the national team, [we] feel really ready," he said.
Red Block
Roar Rookie
Well said BV. For me this is the real question that is going to be answered in the Irish series, can Cheika and co bring something new and different to the table? Atm it would appear everyone knows how the WBs are going to play and to be fair we have seen nothing new since 2015. Even Cheika admits 'there is no Plan B, the plan is to do Plan A better.' However the squad contains the usual Cheika favourites, so I'm not hopeful.