Ireland v Australia - Live Match thread.

by Gibson Sat 17 Sep 2011, 3:12 am

First topic message reminder :

After 4 years of waiting, team building and anguish. This game has finally come. A key game to decide who takes control of their own destiny, in this Rugby World Cup Pool and beyond.

Australia and Ireland have History in this comp. A long and close one. History says, Australia beat Ireland every time in this Cup. Albeit twice by 1 point.
Can Ireland beat a team, who I personally believe are the best team in the World right now? I doubt it. They are 2 years ahead of us in their squad development.
But, this Irish team has not performed for an age. Is this the game when Ireland wake up and show Kidney's winning hand? Have we been holding back for this one? I hope so.
Otherwise, Australia will run rough-shod over us and around us.

We are due a huge performance. And it helps our psyche that we are underdogs. A term I normally despise and refuse to accept, but it's true in this case.

For your delectation and to refresh the memory banks:

1987
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftwqtYBpASs.

1991
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvhHy6MFfi4

2003
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPOqXJbkPVs

Update:.
Pocock is out. Ioane is out. The odds have been altered drastically.
O' Brien is up against a rookie. Ben McCalman. A man even less experienced than him at 7. This is the winning and losing of this game in my opinion. The breakdown. An area Oz excel at. They bullied NZ there. Pocock did McCaw there. Not usual.

Can Ireland compete with the Oz backrow, with Ferris, O' Brien and Heaslip on our side? Can we stop and suppress the opportunities for Genia to do his thing and negate their brilliant back line? That possibility has now been increased, with the loss of the brilliant Pocock. How much so, we don't know yet. But, this will buy Ireland extra time and space to do their voodoo. If, in fact, they have it in them to do so. After a mediocre showing in 5 games leading up to it.

For Ireland: Kearney is back. Healy is Back. Sean O Brien is back. Key players, who were part of a side that demolished an English team chasing the SLAM.
It was the last time Ireland played to their full potential. All games since and before have been mediocre - over the last 2 years.

Aussie are a far superior, technical and cohesive side. No doubt about it. But with the loss to injury, of two key players, the pendulum has swung. It's game on.

Lineups.

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/matches/match=10935/index.html

Aussie update:
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team=38/news/newsid=2051878.html

Irish update:
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/matches/match=10935/index.html

Aussie, Irish and all other rugby-mad fans. It would be grand if we could have virtual-pints, mutual-respect, banter and craic on here. Before, during and after the game. Win lose or draw.

Enjoy the game. guinness

by Gibson Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:25 am

SOB has seen nothing because he's playing 7. Im sayin feicall!

by Cari Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:25 am

I picked Oz to win on my Sportsguru, and if my track record on there is anything to go by, Oz will lose! Laugh

by **rodders** Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:25 am

D'arcy is playing well as is O'Callaghan.

We've played too much of that 1st half in our own half and we need to improve in the 2nd half.

Australia looked rattled the couple of times we did take the game too them and were falling off tackles.

At this stage though, unless we can retain the ball better then you'd fancy Australia but I'm hopeful we can up our game in the 2nd half but the next score will be crucial.

by Cari Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:26 am

Gibbo - Jenno, Jenno, where for art thou, Jenno... Very Happy

IRISH VIEWERS - is (David) Wally doing RTE coverage?

by WillyGilly Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:27 am

Thomond wrote:I don't know if we can keep this up for 80 minutes. We have had little attacking ball,SOB has seen nothing. Sexton besides the missed kicks(which simply aren't good enough) is doing well,his drop goal was technically horrible but so was the one that won us the GS. I'm happy but concerned about how long we can keep it up. Also around 35 minutes, why didn't Reddan flake the ball off the ref and get a scrum?!

Agreed. That's why I went for the Aussies by 5. I love the way we're playing, we're doing it right. But I can't see it lasting the 80.

by nathan Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:27 am

Gatts wrote:
Gibson wrote:Forget ROG. We need Sexton to keep us motoring.

and miss your goals?

pretty much everyone in this tournament are missing there kicks!! ROG might not make a difference!

by **rodders** Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:27 am

Gibson wrote:SOB has seen nothing because he's playing 7. Im sayin feicall!

SOB has played well and but in some crucial tackles. We're not seeing the trademark carries because we don't have the ball!!

Heaslip has been quiet again.

by Thomond Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:27 am

Highlight of the half was Ferris carrying Genia 10 metres back! More of it in the second 1F! A performance is what we wanted and we got it in the 1st half,need to maintain it in the 2nd half. No Gibbo.

by maestegmafia Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:29 am

It's half time and effectively nil nil with a psychological advantage to Ireland. Thats better for them than pre kick off.

This game is Ireland's to lose...!

Come on Ireland do us NH fans proud and beat a SH team. Make it 2 - 1 to the NH

by Gibson Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:29 am

No Johnny get them going. 1st score is vital

by **Notch** Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:29 am

Can't concede a try in the next 20. Too far a road back.

by **rodders** Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:29 am

Ferris looked eerily like the incredible hulk when he picked up Genia.

by B91212 Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:30 am

I know both teams have to keep within the rules but what is it about this ref? In the 2 games I've seen he constantly seems to stop the games flowing and is always the center of attention, not to mention the obvious mistakes such as the Reddin Horwill thing.

Good half for Ireland, hope they push on the second half but Beale looks very dangerous. They are doing a good job of disrupting Genia, which in turn stops Cooper getting decent ball.

by Cari Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:31 am

aaaargh! Thank god for the bum pass. Ireland can't afford to let their backs get any ball!

by Gibson Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:31 am

WTF is this ref at!

by **rodders** Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:31 am

Feck bad start to the 2nd half. Got out of jail there!

by **Notch** Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:32 am

We need to mind Reddan a hell of a lot better than we are.

by WillyGilly Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:32 am

Beale is playing brilliantly. Need to stop him quickly.

by Cari Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:33 am

Oh no...Healy's got a bad thumb. I hope he doesn't have to be subbed. The Irish scrum is essential to them.

by **rodders** Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:33 am

Ireland have been sloppy at the breakdown and Reddan is being disrupted a bit. We need to get to that breakdown quicker.

by Cari Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:34 am

The crowd really don't like Cooper do they? Very Happy

by Gibson Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:34 am

Gowan Seanny!

by **rodders** Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:34 am

Thats more like it!!!

by WillyGilly Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:35 am

Here I say did anyone forsee a draw? We all focussed on one side winning anyone predict neither?

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:35 am

All gone a bit flat, too much kicking, both sides seem scared of each other.

by EnglishReign Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:36 am

It will open up soon, I reckon.

by Gibson Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:36 am

We can win this. Must keep at them.

by B91212 Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:36 am

The NZ commentator just called Heaslip Rodney Heaslip! One way to notice him though, he seems miles off the top of his game at the moment.

by Cari Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:36 am

Erm...I don;t think anyone did Willy. everyone seems to have gone for an Oz win (if you go by Sportsguru stats anyway).

D'Arcy's got thigh trouble apparently....who's his replacement?

by eirebilly Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:37 am

No they dont Cari, there is alot of booing when Cooper has the ball

by Gibson Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:37 am

BOD to break em.

by Cari Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:37 am

B91212 wrote:The NZ commentator just called Heaslip Rodney Heaslip!

by Gibson Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:38 am

by Cari Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:38 am

Billy - every time Cooper gets his mitts on it the crowd are booing like mad.

Gwaaaaan you greenies!!!!

by EnglishReign Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:39 am

Some beautiful offloading from Ireland.

by Cowshot Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:39 am

Soft penalty from no5 gold! What WAS he thinking???

A consequence of Irish pressure, I'd say.

by eirebilly Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:39 am

Great play by Ireland. Really numbing this Aussie attack. Keep it up for 80mins pllleeeeaaassssee.

Sexton you beauty 9-6 Ireland

by Gibson Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:40 am

Oz are flagging. Wooooooooooooo

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

by WillyGilly Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:40 am

Sexton going for goal again...

... please

... Yes

by Cari Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:40 am

YAAAAY YOU BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Sexytoes! Yahoo

by Portnoy Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:40 am

Should be a yellow. Cynical offside.

Bryce-Lawrence is all at sea with the set scrum. Hopeless.

Good pen though.

by Cari Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:40 am

ROG is coming on now!? D'Arcy off Sexton into centre.

by eirebilly Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:41 am

Immediate impact from ROG

by WillyGilly Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:41 am

ROG at 10?

by Gibson Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:41 am

Sexton 12 ROG 10. Oh yes.

by Gatts Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:41 am

ROG!!!

by Guest Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:41 am

Ouch ROG on for D'Arcy.

D'Arcy was having his best game in ages as well. Re-shuffle for the Irish backs, hope this doesn't affect them.

by Gatts Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:42 am

Its the Catt/Wilko combo

by Cowshot Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:42 am

Aussie throw in not straight...

Aussier pack creaking...

The Irish have them rattled!

by Cari Sat 17 Sep 2011, 10:42 am

Oz lineout's struggling a bit as well as their scrum. Shove it up 'em Ireland!!!

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