Comments on: Australia v Ireland, 24 June 2006, Match Preview (updated)

By: Paul W

Paul W — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 20:36:12 +0000

Who’d have picked a prop to run 50 metres to score under the post? Good win.

By: Paul W

Paul W — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 02:12:05 +0000

Good points Patrick. I will be watching tonight's game closely to see how the Irish perform against Australia, not least of all because as a NZers, it will help me calibrate the All Blacks performance. I think that League players, despite their PR, struggle with the structure of Union, a point best made by Spiro Zavos a while ago in relation to Sailor and Gasnier (incidentally, Ewan McKenzie fisked Zavos's argument a week or so later though I can't find the link).

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 21:08:34 +0000

I think this quote from Muggleton in today's Oz is spot on re Rogers: The first game (at 12, against England in Sydney) he was a little unsure about what he was doing, when he should go, when he should stay and he got caught in two minds. Obviously he has had another game there and he handled it much better and I'm pretty sure he'll handle it well in the third game. "There's a difference between blokes who don't read defence well and blokes who can't tackle. Mat Rogers can tackle and what he had to do was learn the intricacies of number 12 compared to number 10 (five-eighth). Besides, if Ireland throw blokes through that area, that's fine because it puts George Smith right on the ball and I'm quite happy about that.

By: Paul W

Paul W — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 01:28:40 +0000

Great summary although there’s a few points I disagree with. Rogers is a weak point in Australia’s defence which is why the Hurricanes ran at him, regardless of where he was playing, in the Super 14 games. I thought Ireland performed well against the All Blacks but conditions restricted the game somewhat and on a dry and fast paddock, perhaps Australia can move them around more.

Australia has, however, struggled to win against a dominant pack (which I suspect is why Connelly is now coach) and I agree taht Ireland has a great forward pack. I think this game will be won in the set pieces with few line breaks by either team – if Australia win, Connelly will be able to claim he’s making progress.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 01:21:05 +0000

Ooops – so although I’d like to see the Wallabies score the four tries you seem to expect, I expect a big defence and not much possession in the other team’s 22, and I’d rather a low-scoring win than see us concede a lot of points.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 01:18:12 +0000

Being smashed, perhaps, but if he is he’ll slow then down enough for Smith, Gregan and Elsom to return the favour.

I think the danger is not so much them stepping, although O’Driscoll didn’t even need to step Ma Nonu in the first step, he just shifted his weight and spun Nonu around like a top, but them running switches off each other, and their outer backs running in to take the close ball and the switch. That is the hardest thing for an inside centre to defend, imho, and they have all the skills to do it.
I think he’ll be right, but it will be a real test.

I think they will both defend tremendously – as I said, both teams will look it kick it downfield. The scrum will certainly be fine when Paul and Baxter come on, but I guess for the lineout I am partly just hoping that what looks very good on paper will be, and that the real problem last week was Freier!

By: derrida derider

derrida derider — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:41:48 +0000

A good summary, but from what I’ve seen I’ve both teams I’d expect it to be a fairly high scoring match. I’d make it 33-26 to the Irish because I reckon our set pieces are still not quite up to scratch.

But Rogers should be fine in defence – his tackling technique from his league background will stop him being run over, he’s quick enough not to be run around, and he’s small and nimble enough not to be easily stepped. If I had a worry with him it’s the prospect of him being smashed by those big centres when he’s running with the ball.