There were only five penalties in rugby league’s Origin 1 on Wednesday night, but buckle up for 25-30 penalties at Suncorp tomorrow night through the whistle of Marius van der Westhuizen.
The South African has control of the first of three Tests between the Wallabies and Ireland that brings in two of the world’s best rugby sharpshooters head-to-head – Wallaby Bernard Foley, and Ireland’s Jonathan Sexton.
Foley has chalked up 543 points from 55 Tests, at an average of 9.87 points a game, while Sexton has scored 683 points from 79 for an 8.64 average.
The breakdown shows the Wallabies are more likely to score tries, with Foley converting 106, to Sexton’s 88.
But Sexton clearly leads the successful penalty count by landing 150 to Foley’s 86.
(AFP PHOTO / IAN MACNICOL)
With van der Westhuizen a renowned penalty giver, that stat should prove to the Wallabies to remain disciplined tomorrow night, or pay the penalty – literally.
Penalties aside, tomorrow night will be the perfect litmus test to see how the Wallabies are shaping up.
Ireland were mighty impressive in capturing the 2018 Six-Nations, taking the men in green to world number two behind the men in black.
The Wallabies are ranked four behind England, and with hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, backrower Caleb Timu, and benchman Peter Samu all set to make their international debuts, there are three new Wallaby faces with the rugby world at their feet.
It’s a changing world with Paenga-Amosa and Timu both Auckland born, but became Wallabies via vastly different backgrounds – Paenga-Amosa was a garbo, Timu a Bronco.
But both have physical clout – Paenga-Amosa’s 183 cms and 117 kgs, Timu 190 and 117.
How consistently Paenga-Amosa finds his lineout men, and how smoothly Timu links with David Pocock and Michael Hooper in the backrow will both be critical.
There’s no doubt the Wallabies can upset Ireland, providing they are disciplined, retain possession, and tackle to let the high quality backs cut loose.
Once Will Genia, Foley, Kurtley Beale, and Samu Kerevi set up a rampaging Israel Folau by either slick passing, or kick passing, Ireland won’t know what’s hit them.
(AAP Image/Joe Castro)
The knockers will say the Wallabies are far too hot and cold to beat such a quality side, and in many ways they are right.
But when the Wallabies pull on a gold jersey, you expect them to play up to, or near their best which is good enough to win.
Anything less, then punt the offenders to find those who will do the job they are very well paid to do.
Come tomorrow night, let it be golden.
Noodles
Guest
In fact watching the game now I think my observation is well demonstrated. I expect even more so late in the game.
Noodles
Guest
Goodness! So our backs were magnificent! And the forwards crap? What are you saying exactly.
Fionn
Guest
Between 04-12 we won 8 and lost 4 including 4 of 6 in London. I think it's safe to say that during that era we definitely didn't have the stronger forward pack the majority of the time, if at all.
Noodles
Guest
Fiona: No. we can’t. So can we go back to my point: being that forwards are key to this???
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Always thought Wallabies had a good backline with a so so fowards pack now finally looks like we have alot of forwards that can do some damage.
Fionn
Guest
Surely we can't say that between the years of 2004-12 we had a better forward pack than England? Do you remember some of the props, locks and number 8s we played during this period?
Noodles
Guest
I’ll just stick with my opinion and make two points: one is that the 52% is presumably a fact whereas the 70% is purely an opinion. The other is that England are obsessed with forward play: I wonder what you think about a kiwi comparison?
Gepetto
Guest
Foley had a good game against the Reds last weekend and I recall he once played well against Scotland years ago; Apparently things happen in threes, so the Wallabies should be OK tonight. If they have another ordinary Test season, will RA rip the band-aid off and dump Coach Clown.
Bfc
Guest
A minor technicality....:)
PeterK
Roar Guru
of course SOMETIMES Aust have had better packs than England, and yes that includes the best teams ever. However the fact is Aust have won 52% head to head against England. Also I would say England have had the better pack 70% of the time but have not won anywhere close to 70% of the matches.
StuM
Guest
This is a very good Wallabies side I think, with one very glaring weakness - Michael Hooper.. In my opinion, he's just not big enough to be a world class 7 specifically, when pitted against the very best. Actually David.. On the eve of these international series kicking off globally, I'd love to see an objective piece written, from a Wallabies viewpoint, on where individually our run on incumbent 1-15 players rank compared to the players in their positions from other countries. It would also make a fantastic voting poll, where we get a Roar public cross section of thoughts. I'm sure Hooper would end up about 8th in the world at 7. It would be educational to see where the masses really ranked our individual players.. Maybe selector Cheika would read it! :-D
Fox
Roar Guru
Yeah I know Nick and fair call - I didn't explain that well did I readingit again - what I meant to say was he is a 15 who seems - in some quarters - to be a pretty good 10. The kiwi scribes rate him highly as a player and say he has performed very well when at ten. You would obviously know whether this is true better than me :) Mind you, I don't think they would have him there if they thought he couldn't perform well. Time will tell I guess.
Fox
Roar Guru
Well he isn't exactly absent Nick - he is on the benchafter all
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Maybe you should manage T-man and co-write his material. You guys seem to have a deep understanding of each other ;)
Jacko
Guest
come on Neutral that was rather funny....And so much truth to it
jacko
Guest
Had to be the refs didnt it? Also the Aus players were all off side.........
Jacko
Guest
Were they coaches errors? I thought the players let their coaches down and didnt play to the game plan...LOL
Jacko
Guest
Neutral...Its awesome to see Georgia coming thru with these sorts of results...They really impressed me from last years U20 and had their first ever win at that tournament. and YES its not just a forward based game either...A nation on the Up...Romania is another one on the rise...Georgia looking to improve on their 2015 WC where their player was MOM against the ABs and they performed very strongly and consistantly.
Rugger
Guest
If the Wallabies don’t be careful they’ll end up getting smashed around the park like a typical Western Force side chained to the bottom of the ladder. Defence will be key and carrying small forwards like Hooper in the first half could produce the type of result we’ve become accustomed to over the past 3 years.
BobDown
Guest
Home ground advantage.. 2nd half yellow card. WB's 35-10. That is all.