Ireland v Australia, 26 November

   
IRELAND v AUSTRALIA
26 November 2016
KO: 17:30
Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Live on [tbc]

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant Referees: JP Doyle (England), Craig Maxwell-Keys (England)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

A. Head to Head

32 Played 32
10 Won 21
1 Drawn 1
21 Lost 10
453 Points 657

B. Recent Form

22 November 2014
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
26 – 23 to Ireland

16 November 2013
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
15 – 32 to Australia

17 September 2011
Eden Park, Auckland
15 – 6 to Ireland

26 June 2010
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
22 – 15 to Australia

15 November 2009
Croke Park, Dublin
20 – 20 draw

14 June 2008
Colonial Stadium, Melbourne
18 – 12 to Australia

19 November 2006
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
21 – 6 to Ireland

C. Teams

IRELAND

Kearney; Trimble, Payne, Ringrose, Earls; Jackson, Murray; McGrath, Best, Furlong; Henderson, Toner; Stander, O'Brien, Heaslip.

Replacements: Cronin, Healy, Bealham, Dillane, Van der Flier, Marmion, Carbery, Zebo.

AUSTRALIA

Folau, Haylett-Petty, Kuridrani, Hodge, Speight, Foley, Genia; Sio, Moore (capt), Kepu; Arnold, Simmons; Mumm, Hooper, Pocock.

Replacements: Latu, Slipper, Alaalatoa, Douglas, Timani, McMahon, Phipps, Cooper, Naivalu (one to be omitted).

Another f**king game???

We're f**king knackered!

Sexton and Henshaw confirmed out. Rory Scannell and Olding called in. 2 interesting selections there.

This is a must win game for Ireland. Would be very disappointed if we lose at home to Australia.

Joes was joking about Sexton's skinny legs..................... but, in all seriousness - this IS the game he's decided to play and maybe it is about time the strength and conditioning people did try to put more meat on him in that department. The game is approaching a place where the intensity of that game at the weekend is becoming more and more the norm (even at club level). The body profile has to adapt to handle it.

profitius wrote:Sexton and Henshaw confirmed out. Rory Scannell and Olding called in. 2 interesting selections there.

Surprised that Marshall didn't get the call. I would have him over Olding.

Poor Aussies are on test 4 of 5 with England last!

Somehow they snuck out of Edinburgh and Paris with wins. Ireland have played NZ well and Australia have been on form so should be a good match. Hopefully the Irish can beat them.

I rate Jackson highly and he will be fine at 10. I think if he tries to start Ringrose-Payne, the Irish will struggle. Marshall would have made more sense at 12 than Olding but there we go.

Munchkin wrote:

profitius wrote:Sexton and Henshaw confirmed out. Rory Scannell and Olding called in. 2 interesting selections there.

Surprised that Marshall didn't get the call. I would have him over Olding.

Sounds like Kearney and Stander are doubts as well. The fact that Joe called up Scannell doesn't look good for Kearney. Marshall is seen as a 13 by Joe so with Henshaw out Olding makes sense as we have options at 13.

It looks like we'll see the following back line

Bench:Ringrose/Earls

15 Payne/Kearney
14 Trimble
13 Ringrose/Payne
12 Olding
11 Zebo
10 Jackson

Aus did rest some key players against France so they will be rested for Ireland.

As expected with a six match tour, the Wallabies made sweeping changes in their team for this match. Only four players retain their starting roles: Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight, Will Genia, and David Pocock, who will captain the side.

Luke Morahan, Tolu Latu, Allan Ala’alatoa and Sefanaia Naivalu will start in a test match for the first time, as will Kyle Godwin, who will play in his first test.

This may seem to disparage France, who beat them last time they met, but it is an opportunity to use alternative players as part of succession planning. It also allows key players like Sekope Kepu, Michael Hooper and Israel Folau to have a week off.


Therefore I expect Aus to be strong this weekend and Ireland will have to raise themselves again if they are to achieve a victory. Another cracking game to look forward to.

Is Marshall not already there?

I'd like Niyi to be given a run. Ireland need to help their forwards now by giving something extra in the backs to perhaps make use of and gain more ground from the forward efforts. It can be a cruel game for a forward when you're banging away all day, as we did for most of Saturday, and just knowing that little is going to pop up from the backs to relieve the pressure a little.

rodders wrote:15 Payne/Kearney
14 Trimble
13 Ringrose/Payne
12 Olding
11 Zebo
10 Jackson

I think we should keep Payne at 13 for this one and bring TOH in at fullback.
Foley is a slippery wee devil and he will be looking to exploit any opportunities. Payne brings a lot of stability to the midfield.
Olding and Ringrose seems a bit scary to me.

I see Liam Toland calling for Carberry to start against Oz. Like the Madigan/Gopperth saga it seems these guys get better with every minute they spend on the bench. If Sexton is now out for a while it will be interesting to see Carberry get a decent run in blue and whether Leo trusts him to kick. If so then Toland's wish might come true in the 6N but hard to see it happening on Saturday.

The Great Aukster wrote:I see Liam Toland calling for Carberry to start against Oz. Like the Madigan/Gopperth saga it seems these guys get better with every minute they spend on the bench. If Sexton is now out for a while it will be interesting to see Carberry get a decent run in blue and whether Leo trusts him to kick. If so then Toland's wish might come true in the 6N but hard to see it happening on Saturday.

This seems crazy to me. This is not the days where we need to rush in a young lad because the alternative to ROG is Paddy Wallace. We have a great young player in Jackson, who has proven himself well capable to handle international rugby on the SA tour. It all smacks of flavour of the month. Carberry is a great prospect and If he played 20mins on saturday i'd have no issue, but Jackson is currently a better player than him and a young player and a better kicker and so i see no advantage to starting Carberry.

Id be happy with either Carbery or Jackson. I think Jackson would be the safer option though and probably much more in tune with Ireland's back moves and structures. If it was up to me id pick Jackson.

Munchkin wrote:

profitius wrote:Sexton and Henshaw confirmed out. Rory Scannell and Olding called in. 2 interesting selections there.

Surprised that Marshall didn't get the call. I would have him over Olding.

Scannell deserves the call and has been the form 12 in Ireland this year. He has matured a lot over the past few seasons for Munster and his decision making is possibly better than either Olding or Marshall, who can both try too hard to impress at times.

He won't play against Australia but I would like to see him break into the Ireland team this season.

I know he's not a favourite name in these parts recently...but seriously, is not Nucifora proving that despite all the protests and complaints about his ways, we do seem to be seriously moving into a much more productive period of player development.  Nobody can pretend we're as worried as we might have been in other years when we lose 'central' players.  It's even a bit like Leinster in the grand old days when they dominated - Leinster fans actually looked forward to seeing the new kids do their thing.  Ireland is hopefully getting a bit like that now.  There are quite a number of players we're all a little bit excited about seeing break into the senior side or show us more having already managed it.

Of course to keep that mood going, we'll need a win against Australia.  But I'm enjoying the ride with still some reservations about the backline - it's time we started really working seriously on a special backline to share the pitch with our dogged forwards.

SecretFly wrote:I know he's not a favourite name in these parts recently...but seriously, is not Nucifora proving that despite all the protests and complaints about his ways, we do seem to be seriously moving into a much more productive period of player development.  Nobody can pretend we're as worried as we might have been in other years when we lose 'central' players.  It's even a bit like Leinster in the grand old days when they dominated - Leinster fans actually looked forward to seeing the new kids do their thing.  Ireland is hopefully getting a bit like that now.  There are quite a number of players we're all a little bit excited about seeing break into the senior side or show us more having already managed it.

Of course to keep that mood going, we'll need a win against Australia.  But I'm enjoying the ride with still some reservations about the backline - it's time we started really working seriously on a special backline to share the pitch with our dogged forwards.

I think we have most of the personnel we need in the backline; TOH will overtake RK soon enough (though 1 more quality FB would be nice), we have 5-6 excellent centre options and I think Zebo is playing excellently. The other wing spot is my only medium term concern as while Trimble and Earls have been great servants for Ireland, I don't see them at the next RWC, and would like to see Niyi/Healy get a run at the position. I don't think Gilroy is the answer there either.

SecretFly wrote:I know he's not a favourite name in these parts recently...but seriously, is not Nucifora proving that despite all the protests and complaints about his ways, we do seem to be seriously moving into a much more productive period of player development.  Nobody can pretend we're as worried as we might have been in other years when we lose 'central' players.  It's even a bit like Leinster in the grand old days when they dominated - Leinster fans actually looked forward to seeing the new kids do their thing.  Ireland is hopefully getting a bit like that now.  There are quite a number of players we're all a little bit excited about seeing break into the senior side or show us more having already managed it.

Of course to keep that mood going, we'll need a win against Australia.  But I'm enjoying the ride with still some reservations about the backline - it's time we started really working seriously on a special backline to share the pitch with our dogged forwards.

Has he been here long enough to be taking credit for that? We've had class under age and JRWC squads for a number of years now.
I'd love the back line to show more out and out pace, TOH would be an option. Zebo has a turn of pace.

Who played in the Canadian game and the last NZ game? SOB, Ringrose. Did Furlong (possibly the best performer of the tests so far, for a relative young TH) play decent minutes in both also? Not sure if they get to play against Oz if they did.

How do Ireland compete against the Oz backrow. I'd love a backrow of VDF, Leavy and POM for the game to compete with Hooper and Pocock. Or will Heaslip keep he marathon run of minutes going? Maybe one of the more mobile second rows to hit the rucks also?

What are peoples thoughts? How does Scmidt attack this game? Cheika has been eyeing us up from a long way out, what will he target?

SecretFly wrote:I know he's not a favourite name in these parts recently...but seriously, is not Nucifora proving that despite all the protests and complaints about his ways, we do seem to be seriously moving into a much more productive period of player development.  Nobody can pretend we're as worried as we might have been in other years when we lose 'central' players.  It's even a bit like Leinster in the grand old days when they dominated - Leinster fans actually looked forward to seeing the new kids do their thing.  Ireland is hopefully getting a bit like that now.  There are quite a number of players we're all a little bit excited about seeing break into the senior side or show us more having already managed it.

Of course to keep that mood going, we'll need a win against Australia.  But I'm enjoying the ride with still some reservations about the backline - it's time we started really working seriously on a special backline to share the pitch with our dogged forwards.

The Ireland squad wouldn't be as strong if Nucifora didn't put his foot down and stop the provinces signing who they like. So yes despite the protests he is doing a good job. The provinces might be weakened in the short term but there is a trickle down effect in Ireland being successful esppecially since the national side generate most of the money in Irish rugby.

I can't see Aussie winning this one. If Ireland play like they have the last couple of weeks then I don't think a tired Aussie side will cope. Hopefully it's a cracker though

profitius wrote:

SecretFly wrote:I know he's not a favourite name in these parts recently...but seriously, is not Nucifora proving that despite all the protests and complaints about his ways, we do seem to be seriously moving into a much more productive period of player development.  Nobody can pretend we're as worried as we might have been in other years when we lose 'central' players.  It's even a bit like Leinster in the grand old days when they dominated - Leinster fans actually looked forward to seeing the new kids do their thing.  Ireland is hopefully getting a bit like that now.  There are quite a number of players we're all a little bit excited about seeing break into the senior side or show us more having already managed it.

Of course to keep that mood going, we'll need a win against Australia.  But I'm enjoying the ride with still some reservations about the backline - it's time we started really working seriously on a special backline to share the pitch with our dogged forwards.

The Ireland squad wouldn't be as strong if Nucifora didn't put his foot down and stop the provinces signing who they like. So yes despite the protests he is doing a good job. The provinces might be weakened in the short term but there is a trickle down effect in Ireland being successful esppecially since the national side generate most of the money in Irish rugby.

Hmmm... that can work in reverse. What happens if Nucifora's meddling has a really negative impact on the Provinces? The same Provinces that provide the IRFU with the players.

I wish Nucifora would just go.

Good times could be back for the Provinces (well, for Munster & Leinster anyway). IRFU seem to have relaxed a bit with regard to signing new players and I saw somewhere that Leinster are in for Israel Dagg. Munster & Leinster have done their pain though.

Sin é wrote:Good times could be back for the Provinces (well, for Munster & Leinster anyway). IRFU seem to have relaxed a bit with regard to signing new players and I saw somewhere that Leinster are in for Israel Dagg. Munster & Leinster have done their pain though.

Well Leinster are just replacing Kirchner and Fitz.

Australia are still on for the grand slam tour and have rested a few players against France, so it will require an equal effort to the NZ games i would think. It will be interesting to see if Ireland can manage to string a few consistent games together instead of raising their game for one match and then returning to normal.

Any news on the injury front? Will Zebo and Kearney be available?

In many ways this is our most important game of the November series. We really should be beating Australia at home every time. If we lose 2 from 2 in November will not be nearly as sweet.

As Golden says.... the mentality and readiness must be to play a game as hard as one against the ABs - from the beginning to the very end - even if the Australians don't seem as tough a challenge for parts of the game.

The blueprint should be always on, always pushing, always seeking out plays that will get us close to their tryline quickly.  And when there, we should look to be ruthless and not walk away with 3 points as the prize of some high tempo, high energy, aggressive periods of play.  If we're up there - don't waste the energy that got us there.  Keep going for their line.

Because in a sense, Australia can probably play the wounded duck much better than the ABs can.  If they look off the pace, we might be lulled into a trap and allow the tempo to come off what we do.  That's the danger when Australia have the notion of having their periods of counter-striking.

So whats the plan for this? Should Herr Schmidt make sweeping changes, play as much of the same team as possible or somewhere in the middle?

profitius wrote:So whats the plan for this? Should Herr Schmidt make sweeping changes, play as much of the same team as possible or somewhere in the middle?

I think we will see somthing like the below. With injuries we already have a few major changes so the rest of the team should remain stable. This match is a who is top 3 team in the world shoot out and Aus cannot be taken lightly.

15 - TOH (even if kearney is fit really hope TOH gets a shot here)
14 - Zebo/Trimble
13 - Payne (with so much chopping and changing Joe will keep Payne here)
12 - Marshall/Ringrose (I think he will pick marshall (I wouldnt) and ringrose will bench again)
11 - Earls/Trimble (dependent on Zebo injury)
10 - Jackson
9 - Murray
8 - Heaslip
7 - SOB
6 - POM (VDF is the hardest one to leave out, but I can see Joe keeping SOB at 7 and moving POM into starting lineup for this one.)
5 - Toner
4 - Dillane/Henderson (Ryan has played well but I would leave him out of this match 23 unless Dillane injury isnt revovered)
3 - Furlong
2 - Best
1 - McGrath (Jaysus we have a mighty front row these days...)

POM has been sent back to Munster so he won't be playing. Scannell has been kept on though so he could be in line for his debut though its unlikely.


I'd like to see Kearney dropped. He hasn't done anything wrong but we need to see more from the backline. I wouldn't mind seeing Payne moved back there or O'Hallloran to start.


Here is the 42.ie's "possible Ireland team".
15. Kearney
14. Trimble
13. Payne
12. Olding
11. Zebo
10. Jackson
9. Murray
1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Toner
6. Stander
7. SOB
8 Heasip

16. Cronin
17. Healy
18. Bealham
19. Henderson/Dillane
20. VDF
21. Carbery
22. Marmion
23. Ringrose

profitius wrote:POM has been sent back to Munster so he won't be playing. Scannell has been kept on though so he could be in line for his debut though its unlikely.


I'd like to see Kearney dropped. He hasn't done anything wrong but we need to see more from the backline. I wouldn't mind seeing Payne moved back there or O'Hallloran to start.


Here is the 42.ie's "possible Ireland team".
15. Kearney
14. Trimble
13. Payne
12. Olding
11. Zebo
10. Jackson
9. Murray
1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Toner
6. Stander
7. SOB
8 Heasip

16. Cronin
17. Healy
18. Bealham
19. Henderson/Dillane
20. VDF
21. Carbery
22. Marmion
23. Ringrose

Stander must be on the mend if POM was sent back.

I don't think Payne will ever start a game at FB for Ireland again. He will bring through Ringrose as his replacement at 13 over the next couple of years and will be unlikely to travel to RWC. Kearney is a year younger and might just about make the nxt rwc, but TOH needs more game time as he is a better player than kearney in all but fielding (and isn't bad at that either).

Aus will be targeting the England game for revenge so I think Ireland could win this one. A definite step back if they lose 2/3 at home.

I'm betting on a draw. Maybe 18-18.

So they'll let themselves lose to Ireland (if losing happens) in order to be ready for the big fight against England?

Oh I hope so. It's such a bitch having to face real teams every week. It gets tiresome.

wolfball wrote:

TOH will overtake RK soon enough (though 1 more quality FB would be nice),

Ludik soon enough

The Great Aukster wrote:I see Liam Toland calling for Carberry to start against Oz. Like the Madigan/Gopperth saga it seems these guys get better with every minute they spend on the bench.

Never not funny.

Does Heaslip never need a break?

Always seems to do the full 80 minutes.

rapidsnowman wrote:Does Heaslip never need a break?

Always seems to do the full 80 minutes.

Heaslip the machine does not need breaks

rapidsnowman wrote:Does Heaslip never need a break?

Always seems to do the full 80 minutes.

Heaslip is in incredible form right now... he seems to have an upsurge in Lions years but he's really on fire this season he must be doing overtime in his oxygen tent

He has the blood of Christ flowing through his veins...

rodders wrote:

rapidsnowman wrote:Does Heaslip never need a break?

Always seems to do the full 80 minutes.

Heaslip is in incredible form right now... he seems to have an upsurge in Lions years but he's really on fire this season he must be doing overtime in his oxygen tent

When Ireland play bad people say Heaslip is playing bad when Ireland play well they say he is playing well. Heaslip IMO is fairly consistent nearly all of the time for Ireland. He is a bit like Best, in that respect.

Heaslip was never forgiven for his low slung jeans phase.... especially by one Sin E.

Sin E single-handedly destroyed Heaslip's reputation. And poor Jamie has been trying to struggle back into the public's affections ever since.

That's the power of a Sin E hatchet job!

Heaslip was never forgiven when he was the team events organiser and admitted he had never heard of Snow Patrol.
He was given some stick about that and sacked on the spot !

SecretFly wrote:Heaslip was never forgiven for his low slung jeans phase.... especially by one Sin E.

Sin E single-handedly destroyed Heaslip's reputation.  And poor Jamie has been trying to struggle back into the public's affections ever since.

That's the power of a Sin E hatchet job!

That's because Heaslip is the sine qua non of the team.

geoff999rugby wrote:Heaslip was never forgiven when he was the team events organiser and admitted he had never heard of Snow Patrol.
He was given some stick about that and sacked on the spot !

Snow Patrol?

Well I don't know much about WW11 secret military units either.

when is team announced?

SecretFly wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:Heaslip was never forgiven when he was the team events organiser and admitted he had never heard of Snow Patrol.
He was given some stick about that and sacked on the spot !

Snow Patrol?

Well I don't know much about WW11 secret military units either.

World war eleven? Are you from the future fly?

Some 606ers very much think so, carpet .................

SecretFly wrote:Some 606ers very much think so, carpet .................

It kinda makes sense now. Secretfly. Marty McFly.

The question I have is who on 606v2 is doc brown?

WALLABIES TEAM TO FACE IRELAND:

(15-1): Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani, Reece Hodge, Henry Speight, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Dean Mumm, Rob Simmons, Rory Arnold, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio.

Res: Tolu Latu, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Kane Douglas, Lopeti Timani, Sean McMahon, Nick Phipps, Quade Cooper, Sefanaia Naivalu (one to be omitted).


Read more at http://wwos.nine.com.au/2016/11/24/23/01/wallabies-go-big-to-take-down-ireland#dZPU4q6DShB4kbPg.99

Is it me or do Aus have a lock featuring at blind-side?