The Junior Wallabies will attempt to make it two from two in their second game of the World Rugby Under 20s championships against Six Nations champions Ireland in Paarl. Join The Roar for live coverage from 7pm AEST.
The Aussies survived a scare against 11th-placed Fiji on Saturday morning, with kicking and defence being the big work ons for Nathan Grey’s men.
Grey knows the threats Ireland poses and is acutely aware of their structure and danger in-tight and at set-piece time.
“Once Ireland jump into that A-zone they’re very direct, very clear, they’re very patient with they’re pick-and-go’s and their short running,” Grey said.
The Waratahs duo of Teddy Wilson and Jack Bowen, the sons of Wallabies greats will start in the halves, which Grey hopes will put the team in good stead for an expected territory battle.
Ireland’s head coach Richie Murphy has made four changes to the side from last Saturday’s opening Pool B 34-all draw with England.
Murphy has opted to retain his starting halves combination of Sam Prendergast and Fintan Gunne. The coach is similarly trying to get his squad to learn on-the-run with the quick turnaround nature of the tournament meaning errors must be corrected.
“It has been a quick turnaround from Saturday but we were able to turn the page positively, and learn from our first outing of the tournament.
“We know the very nature of this World Rugby U-20 Championship is that the big games come thick and fast, and facing the Junior Wallabies is another huge test for our group. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
The Junior Wallabies are ranked second in the world at the age-level and will feel they are in with a good chance against the Irish who sit in eighth.
A Covid-19 induced hiatus has meant the Junior Wallabies have not played a northern hemisphere team since 2019. The world rankings may not give an accurate depiction of the challenge posed by the Irish who went through the Six Nations undefeated. However, the opportunity for Australia to test themselves against Europe’s best has Grey and the team chomping at the bit.
Venue: Paarl Gymnasium
Kick-Off: Thursday 7pm (AEST)
Watch: Stan Sports
Team lists
Australia
1. Jack Barrett (NSW Waratahs, Randwick)
2. Max Craig (QLD Reds, Easts Tigers)
3. Massimo De Lutiis (ACT Brumbies, Western District Lions)
4. Jhy Legg (Western Force, Wests Scarborough)
5. Daniel Maiava-Tapusoa (Melbourne Rebels, Wests Bulldogs)
6. Lachlan Hooper (ACT Brumbies, Vikings Rugby)
7. Ned Slack-Smith (Western Force, Palmyra Rugby Union Club)
8. John Bryant (QLD Reds, Souths Magpies)
9. Teddy Wilson (c) (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
10. Jack Bowen (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
11. Darby Lancaster (Melbourne Rebels, Eastern Suburbs)
12. David Vaihu (Melbourne Rebels, Wests Bulldogs)
13. Henry O’Donnell (NSW Waratahs, Northern Suburbs)
14. Tim Ryan (QLD Reds, Brothers Rugby Club)
15. Mason Gordon (Melbourne Rebels, Wests Bulldogs)
Replacements
16. Liam Bowron (ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals)
17. Harrison Usher (QLD Reds, Bond University)=
18. Nick Bloomfield (QLD Reds, Easts Tigers)
19. Toby Macpherson (ACT Brumbies, Uni-Norths Owls)
20. Leafi Heka Talataina (Melbourne Rebels, Endeavour Hills)
21. Klayton Thorn (ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles)
22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (QLD Reds, Souths Magpies)
23. Taj Annan (QLD Reds, Souths Magpies)
Ireland
1. Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
2. Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster) (capt)
3. Ronan Foxe (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) *
4. Charlie Irvine (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
5. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
6. James McNabney (Ballymena RFC/Ulster)
7. Ruadhan Quinn (Old Crescent RFC/Munster)
8. Brian Gleeson (Garryowen FC/Munster)
9. Fintan Gunne (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
11. James Nicholson (UCD RFC/Leinster)
12. John Devine (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
13. Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
14. Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
15. Henry McErlean (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
Replacements:
16. Danny Sheahan (UCC RFC/Munster)
17. George Morris (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
18. Fiachna Barrett (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
19. Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemians RFC/Munster)
20. Diarmuid Mangan (UCD RFC/Leinster)
21. Jack Oliver (Garryowen FC/Munster)
22. Harry West (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
23. Rory Telfer (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
BeginAgain
Roar Rookie
I thought that as soon as I typed it :happy: but nobody picked me up 9n it so I left it
BeginAgain
Roar Rookie
Gutterboy
Roar Rookie
I thought he was poor.
John Ferguson
Expert
Thanks Gary, I appreciate you picking up on that. My mistake.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Bowen did look comparatively mature out there. Mistakes, mixed positives were de rigour du jour. A certain winger with an Irish surname dropped a sitter, but was also the hero who chased and stopped a certain intercept try. Joeys are far from bad, but Grey obviously didn’t have a budget to train them in mud under a fire hose. Joeys had half the experience that was necessary to win last night.
Hhhmmmm
Roar Rookie
Isn’t angus Mabey a nz ref though ?
Hhhmmmm
Roar Rookie
Turning points were the loss of tight head leading to complete Irish set peice control, the missed ruck infringements prior to penalty before half and then Aussie winger dropping ball cold with line open. Those happened in quick succession just before half and opening second half . Then momentum went fully to Irish and our forwards couldn’t match it.
Hhhmmmm
Roar Rookie
Looked like a good crowd at Redcliffe , pity it wasn’t more competitive . That new training facility at ballymore needs a lot of use by the looks of it .
WEST
Roar Guru
Might as well be 40 years ago. The fact is rugby still has fundamentals that will never grow out of fashion. I’m yet to see a successful rugby team with a weak forward pack.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I saw a ball on the ground Paul, eventually.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
West your post looks like one from 40 years ago. Have we still not learnt to prioritise the tight head ? WBs had one last night/day? And some scrum power. Then we didn’t.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
No need to apologise for that Moa. I was being facetious about the score. Heard that it was a drubbing. Thanks for the report.
Gary
Roar Rookie
Bowen didn’t miss that kick for touch towards the end that was the replacement Harry Mac and incorrectly called by John. The Irish really deserve that win as they played to the conditions which would’ve suited them not us. However there were some major turning points so I feel in that match was there for the taking - one was losing the tighthead prop from our scrum that up to that point had dominated the Irish, the winger dropping that ball with the line wide open and that early stanzas where we dominated but missed opportunities to score these or could’ve swung the momentum in our favour potentially The refereeing was also poor and didn’t suit us , the offside line was not policed very well on the green side at ruck/maul and as an example he missed three howlers towards the end of the second half or within the space of about 60 seconds may have resulted in some points for us towards the end of that half but that’s all water on the bridge and well done to the Irish team.
WEST
Roar Guru
Another fine example of NH pack dominating a SH team.. Can’t do sht if you can’t get parity up front. Rugby has gone through hundreds of changes over the year. But the game still needs to be won up front.. the engine room has to be humming. Sure there’s occasionally a game won by a team who gets lucky bounce of the ball, a fluke kick etc but those types of wins are becoming few & far between. Can’t hide from the physical challenge lay down in front of you. Have to front up and be prepared to put your body in the firing line.. Ireland, France, even the English don’t shy away from the collisions, they actually embrace it. Dominating up front must! Be the priority.. then throw the ball around once you start to dictate the terms or the flow of the game. NZ under 20 had a similar game.. Hiding! France made it look like boys vs men. Getting embarrassing
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Funding is the biggest problem John, RA seem ignorant about the growth of the women’s game. They said that it was a record crowd in Australia yet my wife said ‘look at all the empty seats’ the crowd was 7,500.
John Ferguson
Expert
Cheers for coming along Ken!
John Ferguson
Expert
If you watch the game there really wasn't much else that was positive. Bowen made his mark early in the first half. No-one in the Jnr Wallabies played particularly well in the second half. It was slim pickings.
John Ferguson
Expert
That is just not good enough and frankly, Australia should think about parachuting in some sevens girls to help lift standards. They also obviously need more funding so to be fully professional at nationals Super level.
John Ferguson
Expert
100%
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Hi Ken, I was getting fed up with head clashes not going to the medical team. The first collision? The two players involved stayed on the field. Two minutes later, another collision, different players, it was late in the match and I suppose everyone was getting tired. The second collision it looked like those two too would stay on the field. (I put fingers to keyboard to lament this). But then both players went off for HIAs. So I edited my comment because finally (finally!) the right thing was done. Cheers!