Ireland v Australia

[I like to watch]

I haven't confirmed this, but some Twatters on Twitter noted that Folau didn't make any tackles. Might have even been tackle attempts. If that's the case, it says something about work rate -- unless he was just real unlucky with where attack flowed.

Where was the attack?
I can't recall them breaking the line,so who is he supposed to tackle?
I only watched it the once,but it seemed to me the Irish either trucked it up,or kicked it.

 

[Groucho]

I haven't confirmed this, but some Twatters on Twitter noted that Folau didn't make any tackles. Might have even been tackle attempts. If that's the case, it says something about work rate -- unless he was just real unlucky with where attack flowed.

Well, he is the fullback.

 

[the plastic paddy]

Hell of a test match which I am looking forward to seeing again. Didn't think much of Jackson although the TMO making him look stupid in front of everybody can't have helped. Certainly can't understand how anybody thinks he favoured Ireland. Anyway, the game was played at a furious pace which might hurt Aussie next weekend but I can't see England winning. The Garces factor could be of interest in this game. He is not a free for all merchant like Poite but he can be a little eccentric at times. I think Aussie will beat England and the press fallout should be a joy to behold, Gwan Aussie!!!!!

 

[Joe Blow]

Yes, it was a hell of a match. Watched the replay today. Another one we could have so easily won but our bench was not able to take us home.
It's a game of inches and we could oh so easily be undefeated at this point on the tour.
Beale was atrocious and really stymied the good work that had been put in by the starting 15. Poor option taking and running sideways hindered our attack which had been excellent up until when he entered the game.
Jones was OK. He needs to get a little bit angry and use that size and strength to good effect. He was repeatedly taken out off the ball early in the test and he didn't respond. If he starts next week he needs to be slapped around a little before the kickoff.
McCalman is just getting better and better. To'omua is head and shoulders above Lealifano at 12 and should be starting there unless injured from here on in.
We just are lacking in the tight 5 at the moment. Carter and Simmons are coming on well but we need just a bit more from them and our bench props and locks. Fainga'a can hold his head high but Moore and TPN in the 23 will help a lot.
It's not all doom and gloom. Great game of rugby!

 

[Joe Blow]

and just to add to that.....I don't understand the criticism of Bernard Foley. He was in everything in the first half and orchestrated our backline magnificently. He's a great player and is becoming one of the worlds premier 10s.
I am an unabashed QC (Quade Cooper) supporter but Foley impresses me more and more with each test.

 

[fatprop]

I thought we did pretty well, the defence was much improved and our attack is starting to come together

 

[the plastic paddy]

Don't understand why Beale is anywhere near the set up. He should have been told to feck off long since if he cannot behave himself. Simon Zebo lost the run of himself a bit last year but, credit to the two of them, Schmidt and Penney got him back on the straight and narrow.

 

[MungoMan]

Well, he is the fullback.

Yes. Other players' missed tackle stats would need to be higher for Izzy to trouble the scorer in respect of tackles made.

 

[fatprop]

Don't understand why Beale is anywhere near the set up. He should have been told to feck off long since if he cannot behave himself. Simon Zebo lost the run of himself a bit last year but, credit to the two of them, Schmidt and Penney got him back on the straight and narrow.

The bench wasn't balanced with both Cooper & Beale.

Tomane or Horne would have made more sense, but Beale's line running was decent at times, even if the timing was off

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

The first try was completely unrelated to defence? So any pitching wedge into the corner is going to result in a try if they have a winger hitting the gas and there's nothing we can do about it?

I think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was caught napping on that play.

Wasn't that sleights side

 

[fatprop]

The first try was completely unrelated to defence? So any pitching wedge into the corner is going to result in a try if they have a winger hitting the gas and there's nothing we can do about it?

I think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was caught napping on that play.

I think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was defending where he was told (behind a tight defensive line as 2nd 15, lining up behind To'omua) and the Irish out thought us playing with more width, quicker, than we thought they would

 

[BarneySF]

Don't understand why Beale is anywhere near the set up. He should have been told to feck off long since if he cannot behave himself. Simon Zebo lost the run of himself a bit last year but, credit to the two of them, Schmidt and Penney got him back on the straight and narrow.

'Straight and narrow' - Beale should be told to only run in that direction.

 

[Joe Blow]

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) had a quiet game and may be our best bench option moving towards the RWC when not required at 13.
Any news on TK?

 

[I like to watch]

The bench wasn't balanced with both Cooper & Beale.

Tomane or Horne would have made more sense, but Beale's line running was decent at times, even if the timing was off

If your timing is off,how can your line running be decent?
Running lines is all about timing isn't it?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Wasn't that sleights side

No. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was the starting right winger and was defending (or supposed to be) that side at the time of the try. Whether it was AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s fault he was out of position or the defensive pattern being implemented by the coaches, is anybody's guess. I have noted on here a couple of times that I don't understand the logic behind the wingers swapping sides on numerous occasions during a test match. That would clearly be part of the game plan but I cannot see how it would do anything but disrupt the defensive patterns of the team.

 

[fatprop]

If your timing is off,how can your line running be decent?
Running lines is all about timing isn't it?

They are both are parts of a whole.

We need more backs and forwards in motion, making themselves available, the forward pass from To'omua was one of the those where I thought he was the dummy line to open the hole

 

[Scrubber2050]

Congrats to Ireland - defence was amazing.

Some thoughts:

Quade definitely needs to replace Foley.

Those selecting Jones at 6 must feel a little let down with his performance. On this tour neither McMahon or Jones (who were given a great opportunity) nailed down the spot. Fardy remains the stand-out.

Slipper and to a lesser degree Keps were outstanding (except for Slip's penalty for tackling in the air). Mccalman was also very good. The rest including Hooper were just OK.

Love Phipp's agression and enthusiasm. passing can be improved. Matt T was good.

Speight had a few good moments but still is not at the level he can be.

Beale was poor. Israel is not showing the form he did. He seems to really have come back to being an average (and not an outstanding) test player.

Anyway, time to re-group for the POMS

 

[It is what it is]

If your timing is off,how can your line running be decent?
Running lines is all about timing isn't it?

Maybe he's referring to the great straight inside line he ran when he over ran the pass on his first touch.
I thought it showed good intent from Beale and is way better than his cross field stuff.
Decent line, poor timing.

 

[chasmac]

Jesus you really all are a bunch of miserable pricks.

I thought we didn't play too bad at all - aside from stupid handling errors in the Irish 22 - we did pretty well and the signs are promising.

I disagree that our attack looks better with Quade on the field. He, for me, is the Australian attacking psyche manifest, and I don't think that is a good thing. Too often he'll go for the miracle long ball (the wrong option when we have an overlap) or look to offloads / flick passes. These are the spices of a good attack, not the main course.

I still have too many memories of the World Cup and other times he's let us down. He's not bad. He's actually pretty good. On his day, he's amazing. But he's not the messiah everyone thinks he is. I would say he's still distinctly 2nd in the pecking order for the flyhalf, and for a good reason, but that is all very susceptible to change.

Foley, I thought, did pretty well. He had a hand in a lot of our better attacking moments, and can you all please stop whinging about his defence? It's not that bad. I would go as far as saying it's markedly better than any other first choice 10 we have (this doesn't include Lealifano or To'omua, as they are chosen as centres). His kicking wasn't amazing, but as others have pointed out, its a team sport and thus he can not bear the blame for the loss. Everyone has a bad day with the boot every now and then, and if several other plays missed tackles to let in tries, knocked balls on at crucial times, gave away penalties. Apportioning blame in that regard is not constructive.

To'omua played well and showed some good physicality, and was extremely reliable in clearing the ball.

Tevita Kuridrani - holy moly what a revelation he's been. This time last year I was a huge sceptic. I thought he had concrete slabs for hands but he's really proved me wrong. The only quarrel I have with his game is that he's not the best lateral defender. That being said, he smokes people when they run it straight at him and he's the penetrating runner the Australian back line revolves around. Hope he's fine for next week.

Phipps continues to show why he'll be the 1st choice 9 going into the WC. Who would have thought? Speight also looked promising, and showed a bit of the class that we've all come to expect of him.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) didn't look amazing, but the experience and level headedness he brings to the team is something we probably all under appreciate. If i'm not mistaken, he has more caps then the rest of the starting back line combined?

Izzy was Izzy. I'm more and more confused as to my opinion of him. He's a penetrative runner, but I'm starting to think he's more suited to wing then fullback. His decision making is subpar, his defence positioning is likewise, and he's certainly not the best kicker in the team. I wouldn't mind seeing AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) / Cooper / Beale start there, with Izzy on the wing.

Now to the important stuff, the forwards:

Kepu and Slipper are the best props we have, followed by daylight. A good performance from both of them, and the front row is looking dependable even with Fainga'a (our 63rd choice hooker) starting. He's really impressed me, as I haven't always been a fan.

Rob Simmons and Sam Carter are slowly winning me over. Emphasis on slowly, and thats probably only because the other options are a bunch of numptys. I would take Etzebeth / Retallick / O'Connel / Lawes / Douglas / anyone over these guys, but they're improving, and that can only be seen as a positive.

Jones had me cringing at the start of the game with his honker of a pass and two turnovers through poor body height. Thought he was destined for a shocker, but I didn't notice him a huge amount for the remainder of the rest of the game, and given his known work rate, that only bodes well for him. McCalman was huge, and is starting to chip away at my Palu / Higgers man love. Hooper, as always, was an energiser bunny. How was he not nominated for IRB World Rugby player of the year?

As for replacements: Quade had a decent impact. That offload had be salivating, but I feel like he's still a work in progress as he returns from injury. Genia was a bit meh. The replacement props were reliable, as were Shatz and Skelton, who had some good moments with the ball.

Beale, on the other hand, was quite average. Fielded two good bombs, but too lateral in attack. He needs to play a lot wider to be effective, at about 3rd or 4th receiver, where he can look to put himself into space. He runs extremely good support lines, but he's susceptible to trying to do too much.

------

In summary, not a terrible performance. We were beaten by the Paddy's, who are on the up and up and playing with a confidence and belief they haven't had for a while. Combined with that, they have some terrific players (Sexton, O'Connell, their hooker was particularly good tonight, as were their 15 and 13).

Contrastingly, we're 4 games into a new coaches tenure, with a squad he didn't pick, after an exceptionally tumultuous period, learning new patterns and playing philosophies, with a handful of injuries.

I personally thought tonight was a terrific game to watch, and the outlook really isn't that bad. You lot need to find a bit of positivity and drop the petty provincialism. It's really getting out of hand. I literally can't take half of you seriously, and it's making me tired of coming back to this site (a place I was first attracted to because of how informed everyone was).

Let's hope the boys get fired up for next week, as it should be another cracker of a game. Carn Australia.

Agree with all of these assessments.
I thought the comments on Foley were particularly appropriate.

 

[mxyzptlk]

Where was the attack?
I can't recall them breaking the line,so who is he supposed to tackle?
I only watched it the once,but it seemed to me the Irish either trucked it up,or kicked it.

Isn't that the point? Didn't the Irish keep the ball away from him? Wasn't that part of the game plan -- to not get their best runner involved in the game? Or are you saying Ireland just didn't bother to attack?

Part 2: When a player is being iced out of the action, when do they go looking for work?