Ireland vs Australia - Discussion Thread

[MMC]

First topic message reminder :

Ireland:
1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Donncha O'Callaghan
5. Paul O'Connell
6. Stephen Ferris
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Eoin Reddan
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. Keith Earls
12. Gordon D'Arcy
13. Brian O'Driscoll (c)
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Rob Kearney

Replacements:
16. Jerry Flannery
17. Tom Court
18. Donnacha Ryan
19. Denis Leamy
20. Conor Murray
21. Ronan O'Gara
22. Andrew Trimble


Australia:
15. Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs)
14. James O’Connor (Western Force)
13. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
11. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Radike Samo (Queensland Reds)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
6. Rocky Elsom (Brumbies)
5. James Horwill (Queensland Reds, captain)
4. Dan Vickerman (NSW Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)

Reserves:
16. Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs)
17. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
18. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
19. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
20. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
21. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
22. Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs)

COME ON IRELAND!!

littlejohn's thread about how we can beat the Wallabies:

Would like to hear other people's views on what ireland need to do to have a chance of beating Australia this Saturday. Here are some of my naive thoughts on what needs to happen:

1. Ireland to play with same agression when they played England earlier this year. While ireland have not really performed since then, I'm quietly confident they'll be fired up for this game!

2. Steal some of Italy's tactics for the game. Italy did really well in the first half vs Oz by kicking very well timed up and unders (generally aimed at AAC), and they were very well organised in defence, which resulted in frustration creeping in for the Wallabies. If they had a decent 10 this might have been a lot closer!

3. Start with ROG - His tactical kicking and ability to vary it is in my opinion a better fit for this kind of game. We can always bring Sexton on later if we need to change tactics. I think he's also marginally better at kicking penalty and conversions.

4. Whereever Cooper is standing in defence run at him (ideally using O'Brien/Ferris) - Pretty obvious one this, although he does often stand deep covering full back off lineouts, etc.

5. Play Australia at their own game - Australia have been very good at putting pressure on rucks, but Ireland will need to do the same when Australia have the ball, slowing it down where possible to stop Genia getting into gear.

6. Leverage Bowe and Kearney's height - Cross field kicks (timed well) could reap rewards for us. Rog is excellent at this.

All in all I accept this will be a tall order, but Ireland play the underdog tag better than anyone! I'm praying it won't be yet another herioc defeat. Bring on Saturday!

[Pal Joey]

See... One Aussie comment amongst nearly 300 and there's no blip on the conversational radar!

It's all, Munster, Limerick, Sherry, Strauss and Arnett. I feel like a small cork on a huge ocean!

Love it!

[rodders]

I think sherry has a greater potential than strauss, who has had a poor start to the season and isn't Irish.

Ah come on no need for the "west brit" dig! Sure bestie is a protestant !

[Standulstermen]

Has anyone outside of Murray been fast tracked into the team though? Cant really think of any youngsters that have. Even Jones has been about for a few injury interrupted years

[WillyGilly]

Agree on Sherry and Annett. Don't want to see Strauss succeed. I can't support the Project Player Scheme.

Annett needs to show more if he's to be considered. Certainly a bright prospect though. Agreed on Strauss as well. The whole residency rule needs looked at. The idea the Manu and Alessana Tulilagi can end up on opposite sides of the rugby pitch is a bit of a farce.

[valjester]

The situation with Cronin is very simple. If he does well he's another part of the sterling efforts Leinster have made to lead Irish rugby into a brave new world. If he doesn't... well, he's from Limerick.

What a stupid post. He has played any games for Leinster yet. He has 55 caps for Connacht and 2 for munster. It's pretty obvious he learned his rugby at connacht.

I would say he probably learnt his rugby at his school and AIL club before connacht came along and helped him improve. Cronin had a lot of potential before going to connacht and was very good for them until he got his move to leinster after which he seemed to stop trying as much. He will improve again at leinster but it won't make him a leinster man or change where he learnt his rugby which was in limerick.

[rodders]

See... One Aussie comment amongst nearly 300 and there's no blip on the conversational radar!

It's all, Munster, Limerick, Sherry, Strauss and Arnett. I feel like a small cork on a huge ocean!

Love it!

Sorry Linebreaker we'll get back to the Australia game soon. We just need a few hundred more posts of provincial bickering and criticising Declan Kidney first!

[Pal Joey]

See... One Aussie comment amongst nearly 300 and there's no blip on the conversational radar!

It's all, Munster, Limerick, Sherry, Strauss and Arnett. I feel like a small cork on a huge ocean!

Love it!

Sorry Linebreaker we'll get back to the Australia game soon. We just need a few hundred more posts of provincial bickering and criticising Declan Kidney first!

Fair enough mate... I can see your point.

I'll be going to sleep soon; however, I expect to see at least 500-600 more in the next 7 hours or so.

I think I've discovered perpetual motion on here! You put the Welsh to shame you do.

[valjester]

Val, interesting to see if Sherry and Strauss make the 6 Nations extended training squad. That must be a realistic expectation.

I think sherry has a greater potential than strauss, who has had a poor start to the season and isn't Irish. Sherry's throwing looks excellent and he seems to have a bit of pace, good hands and a good work rate. Sherry and annett would be the two Irish hookers that I'd see with the greatest potential, sherry probably has a better chance of making it due to his size.

Project player or not, you can't base someone's potential on 2 games. He was one of the best hookers in Europe last year, why not take that into account?

Sherry's throwing is superb and his work around the pitch is excellent, strauss has at times gone to pieces in the lineout for leinster and back in south africa. But I think that the main thing that will hold strauss back is his size. He just doesn't look big enough for international rugby. There is a reason south africa never looked at him and he left because he knew he wouldn't get capped. I don't agree with the project player thing and I wouldn't like to see him play for that reason but even more so because I think we have better players coming through at hooker and I don't want to see us turning into england where foreign players are blocking better english youngsters.

Agree on Sherry and Annett. Don't want to see Strauss succeed. I can't support the Project Player Scheme.

Annett needs to show more if he's to be considered. Certainly a bright prospect though. Agreed on Strauss as well. The whole residency rule needs looked at. The idea the Manu and Alessana Tulilagi can end up on opposite sides of the rugby pitch is a bit of a farce.

I have no problem with some like manusamoa, he moved to england when he was 11 so he has been brought up there. I think the residency should be lenghtened or else the rule should be changed so that you did to qualify as a citizen before you can play. I would have no problem with people such as boss, court or players like warick who moved here married an Irish woman has a child born here and intentions of staying in the country after they finish playing rugby. Or players who come here when they are young and qualify on residency like manu in england and others.

edit MrsP; yeah sorry about not making that clear, both boss and court qualify through heritage. And I've no real problem with that. Tuohy and McCarthy also qualify in this way.

[MrsP]

Boss and Court are both eligible because of Irish Grannies though are they not?

They don't qualify on residency?

[Mickado]

Boss and Court are both eligible because of Irish Grannies though are they not?

They don't qualify on residency?

Correct. But you knew that.

[D24tress]

strauss is from the donaghmede strauss'

northside i know but its still ireland.

Linebreaker would it make it more interesting if we maybe gave you ozzies a bit of stick
sure we beat you in the last international rules, although you did beat us in football down in the library,
oh the only reason you are any good is because you have a kiwi coach and a man who learned everything in ireland in charge of the forwards.

ned kelly was irish so you dont even have that.

home and away and neighbours are crap

yis cant even beat the english in cricket(we can)

ha take that

[greybeard]

I would have no problem with people such as boss, court or players like warick who moved here married an Irish woman has a child born here

I can just see it now... "The IRFU have agreed contracts with a number of high quality project players subject to them impregnating local ladies as part of the latest IRFU drive to inject (ahem) fresh talent into the IRFUs long term plans, codenamed Hump A Wallaby."

[Mickado]

strauss is from the donaghmede strauss'

northside i know but its still ireland.

Linebreaker would it make it more interesting if we maybe gave you ozzies a bit of stick
sure we beat you in the last international rules, although you did beat us in football down in the library,
oh the only reason you are any good is because you have a kiwi coach and a man who learned everything in ireland in charge of the forwards.

ned kelly was irish so you dont even have that.

home and away and neighbours are crap

yis cant even beat the english in cricket(we can)

ha take that

Banter is banter, but you can't blame the Aussie for Take That.

[WillyGilly]

What's wrong with Take That?

[Feagh McHugh]

Not many aussies commenting on this topic - What are your views? Are you all assuming this is a fairly easy win?

I think the reason we are keeping a low profile here is simply because the team dynamic is relatively settled. Not really much chopping and changing going on except for Digby's thumb injury. I must say for the first time in over a decade our team looks very capable across the board.

I would never assume an easy win against Ireland. The fact that the warm-ups and the 1st match were not the Ireland we saw play against England at LR will always make us stop and think before saying 'easy win'. That is the big question mark for us as well as you guys. I'm hoping our lads have covered all bases, execute their plan properly. It's imperative we get out of the blocks relatively quickly (same for Ireland) and keep on going for the full 82 minutes.

If you comb through the pages and pages of this thread and the match day/discussion one; a couple of things are so clearly evident.

Firstly, there are many more Irish posters on this site than Aussies - which makes it so interesting to participate in (or just browse through) from afar as I do.

Secondly; how can we ever compete with you regular fanatical rugby followers? Your knowledge is off the scales, chock-full of details, facts and heart felt opinion. Then throw in some provincial banter/ribbing... it is absolutely beyond us to compete with that! You Irish are also the best writers on here by a mile!

Also, because rugby is basically an east coast thing in Australia - without the same degree of intense rivalry between states (unlike in the NRL) compared to your provincial rivalries... we don't really have any fires to stir. At the moment there is a genuine consensus that the mix is fair and spot on with a Qld majority... plus a few proven players from NSW and the other states. We just sit back like you and hope our team can play to their max - and like you; if they don't, then the blame/backlash/call for heads is so much less vocally intense than in Ireland. We just get angry more internally and simmer inside. Maybe we are more laid back before a big match... but we don't try to analyse as much. The simple approach.

My my you are charming, and very liberal with your praise.

I like the Aussies approach to sport and their winners mentality, having said that the Irish camp have secretly enlisted roadstone to develop high strength doses of cement for Saturday to help harden them the phook up!

Expect to have nightmares about POC Heaslip, Fes Healy and SOB.

[D24tress]

strauss is from the donaghmede strauss'

northside i know but its still ireland.

Linebreaker would it make it more interesting if we maybe gave you ozzies a bit of stick
sure we beat you in the last international rules, although you did beat us in football down in the library,
oh the only reason you are any good is because you have a kiwi coach and a man who learned everything in ireland in charge of the forwards.

ned kelly was irish so you dont even have that.

home and away and neighbours are crap

yis cant even beat the english in cricket(we can)

ha take that

Banter is banter, but you can't blame the Aussie for Take That.

i've got more

hate to live in oz cause most of the nobs and idiots from ireland have gone over there

[Pal Joey]

strauss is from the donaghmede strauss'

northside i know but its still ireland.

Linebreaker would it make it more interesting if we maybe gave you ozzies a bit of stick
sure we beat you in the last international rules, although you did beat us in football down in the library,
oh the only reason you are any good is because you have a kiwi coach and a man who learned everything in ireland in charge of the forwards.

ned kelly was irish so you dont even have that.

home and away and neighbours are crap

yis cant even beat the english in cricket(we can)

ha take that

Yes, we can blame the 1.2 million Irish-Aussies for our complete lack of sporting success.

How far do you want to go back? 9 months or 5 weeks?

[rodders]

I would have no problem with people such as boss, court or players like warick who moved here married an Irish woman has a child born here

I can just see it now... "The IRFU have agreed contracts with a number of high quality project players subject to them impregnating local ladies as part of the latest IRFU drive to inject (ahem) fresh talent into the IRFUs long term plans, codenamed Hump A Wallaby."

Ha ha this is unbelieveable!

So the in order to qualify for Ireland a foreign player needs to knock a few members of the indigenous female population up!

You's better hide your daughters down in D4 when Strauss gets wind of this!

[Pal Joey]

btw D24, Did you hear they found Ned's skull the other day?

It was tucked away in some corner of the goal. They DNA matched it with one of his living descendants.

It was still arguing apparently.

[BlueMuff]

Varley being called up is great news for Sherry. Sherry has great potential and I would argue that he will go further than securing the bench slot. I can see him starting all our HC matches if hes fit.

Disaster for Flannery after all the effort but he will not return to rugby unfortunately.

[MrsP]

We don't have goals in rugby!

Oh...you meant jail!

Have to say I've had a great titter at this thread!

[Pal Joey]

Gaol, jail... my typo. You know perfectly well what I meant!

Keep ya bloomers on Mrs P!

[D24tress]

i thought australia was just a big gaol

[Pal Joey]

Oh, look who's back...

Yes, that was the original goal... one big gaol.

[Pal Joey]

So what does everyone think the score will be?

Too close to call... or a blow out either way?

Not all at once please!

[D24tress]

the gaul of the brits huh

How will we punish the paddies

i know send there pale red headed faces down to this scorching place full of snakes and spiders.

They didnt think they would come back to beat them in everything, so now the paddies have to go down there again this time to beat them in rugby


believe!!!!!

oh eric bana is alright but russell crowe is a nob

[Pal Joey]

It's cool here now. Rusty is a Kiwi - didn't you know?

I'm sure MrsP will excuse your French too!

I've gone Wallabies by 16. Is that enough or do you think or maybe I'm being too conservative?

[rodders]

Isn't Russell Crowe a kiwi?

Ireland 24- 16 Australia

[Pal Joey]

Gibbo would be proud, rodders. That's the spirit!

[Sin é]

I would have no problem with people such as boss, court or players like warick who moved here married an Irish woman has a child born here

I can just see it now... "The IRFU have agreed contracts with a number of high quality project players subject to them impregnating local ladies as part of the latest IRFU drive to inject (ahem) fresh talent into the IRFUs long term plans, codenamed Hump A Wallaby."

Ha ha this is unbelieveable!

So the in order to qualify for Ireland a foreign player needs to knock a few members of the indigenous female population up!

You's better hide your daughters down in D4 when Strauss gets wind of this!

Hope he isn't married already

The marriage thing would work - if a player married a girl with an Irish passport, they too are eligible for Irish citizenship which is a bit more than just residency.

They could also make the residency thing the same as citizenship - being resident in the country for five years.

[MrsP]

Is that the penalty count Rodders?

[MMC]

I've gone Wallabies by 16. Is that enough or do you think or maybe I'm being too conservative?

Pah!

I think we'll see the best Ireland performance since March 2011 but ultimately the Aussie's will have a little bit too much in the end.

Ireland could win though, I'm going to go for blind optimism and say Ireland by 3.

[Boyne]

I will have nothing bad said about Home and Away, thank you very much. Some of those young ladies have helped me though some very difficult times and they dont even know it.

Australia 19 Ireland 21

[Mickado]

The residency thing becomes a sticky wicket when you throw citizenship in there, for Ireland anyway. Considering some of our players don’t hold an Irish passport or citizenship as it is. I agree the residency rule should be extended to 5 years though.

[MrsP]

Have we ever had someone play for Ireland who became eligible by residency?

[Boyne]

Have we ever had someone play for Ireland who became eligible by residency?

I blame the weather.

[Mickado]

Have we ever had someone play for Ireland who became eligible by residency?

I don't think so. Everyone was by the granny/parent rule or just by birth as far as i know. This "project player" thing is a fairly new developement and hasn't produced anyone for the national team.

[Pal Joey]

I hope you well and truly beat Italy. You must!

If Oz stumble and fall - then Ireland would be the NH team I'd want to see go all the way!

[Boyne]

I hope you well and truly beat Italy. You must!

If Oz stumble and fall - then Ireland would be the NH team I'd want to see go all the way!

Don't believe a word of it lads. Hes been sniffing round the Welsh and Scottish threads saying the same all day.

[Feagh McHugh]

Ireland 22 - Australia 8

Rocky Elsom gets sent off after 15 minutes for persistent pestering of Ferris for his autograph.
All down hill from there Im afraid for you linebreaker.

[WillyGilly]

Aussies by 5.

[rodders]

If Oz stumble and fall - then Ireland would be the NH team I'd want to see go all the way!

Hey me too! Cheers!

[rodders]

Have we ever had someone play for Ireland who became eligible by residency?

I think once Quade Cooper gets his first double tackle from Ferris and O'Brien he'll be wishing he had an Irish passport.

[Pal Joey]

Boyne... I've had a few Welsh have a go at me for saying the opposite.

Scotland were abysmal today I thought. I'm hoping they can rock England's wagon a little but it doesn't look too promising at all after that performance. Maybe the indoors venue will help.

[MrsP]

I always said that Linebreaker was a great fella.

[Pal Joey]

A tin of lovely home-made biscuits coming your way MrsP...

[mrsuperclear]

Same as 2003, Aussies by 1 with ROG missing the drop goal this time

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Beating a defender means getting past an opposition player or an opp. player not being able to make a tackle on you. For any number of reasons the move might break down, such as no support, passing it to someone else and they drop the ball, knock it on etc.

Yes but you could be running sideways or backwards when you beat the defender.

You can also be effective in attack without beating defenders. For instance you may just be adept at finding gaps and running into space or you could be taking the contact and taking defenders out of the game.

Metres gained stats are deceptive too because the back 3 will likely pick up a lot of metres but they are likely to be behind the gainline.

Tackling stats can be as much a reflection as to the oposition a tactics and level of possession as anything else.

Well, if stats are so misinformative, why do they bother producing them. Why do you hear the players saying occasionally my stats are 'good' or something like that.

Sean O'Brien was selected as the best player in Europe and his stats also seemed to be the best set of stats as well. Is that just a coincidence?

Do you honestly believe Leamy was the 7th best forward in the HCup that year.
I, for one, do not.

[Mickado]

During his 2009 zenith, there was one and only one player that made Rocky Elsom look like a human being.

Step forward Mister Stephen (there's only 1 F in Ferris) Ferris.

[Boyne]

A tin of lovely home-made biscuits coming your way MrsP...

Lets hope they arent the home made "biscuits" my mate from Biron Bay makes when he comes over!!

Hold on. Actually, lets hope they are!

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