Thank you for your company.
You can read Gerry Thornley’s match report here.
Sam Prendergast will have benefitted from that outing, getting a full appreciation of the difference between starting a match against a Tier 1 nation, and having been analysed by a coach of Joe Schmidt’s calibre. He had some fine moments and others that he’d dearly like again and will have a greater appreciation of how difficult it can be when the team is struggling for rhythm. Jack Crowley had some lovely touches upon his introduction.
Ireland captain and man of the match Caelan Doris
TALKING POINT AND TURNING POINT
From John O’Sullivan at the Aviva Stadium
There is a temptation to alight on one statistic, 21 turnovers, that perhaps encapsulates what might charitably be described as the fitful nature of Ireland’s performance. Forget about the aesthetics, the substance won’t pass muster in what will be for many an uncomfortable review, the one saving grace that Andy Farrell’s side won the match.
The home side scored three tries to one and their post-interval resurrection, facilitated by the energy and dynamism provided by the bench, especially the impact of Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Peter O’Mahony and try scorer Gus McCarthy but once again Ireland’s performance was pockmarked by a very sloppy first half display and a general error-rate that was far too high.
There was partial redemption in an improved second half effort without being wholly convincing. It’s important to acknowledge that the home side found a way to win. That was a primary difference in holding the New Zealand and Australia matches up to the light.
Australia’s head coach Joe Schmidt came with a plan but even he might not have envisaged how successful his team would be in squeezing Ireland in a couple of areas. Teams understand that getting after Ireland’s lineout and breakdown emasculates the Irish attack.
In relation to that turnover tally, Australian openside flanker Fraser McReight had a superb game, notching four on his own at crucial times, and forcing the Irish ball carrier to concede penalties for not releasing. Aussie outhalf Noah Lolesio kicked 14 points, four penalties and a conversion as ill-discipline once again insinuated its way into the Irish display.
Ireland’s handling was riddled with dropped balls and poor passes, but they were often a byproduct of questionable decision making in trying to force the issue, a lateral orientation in listing like an unmoored ship in heavy seas.
Opposing teams know that getting after Ireland’s lineout removes an important tenet of their attacking set-up and Australia managed to get four turnovers in that regard. System issues, that catchall for call, throw, lift, movement and speed will come under a forensic glare. Hooker Rónan Kelleher was more sinned against than sinning, his teammates letting him down at times.
Not to get off the ground, to deliver balls that bounce on the turf rather than into the scrumhalf’s hands was part of a malaise of general inaccuracy. And yet two of Ireland’s three tries came from the lineout, illustrating its importance as a launchpad, when properly calibrated.
In picking out a turning point, it’s hard to look past a moment of aerial artistry and athleticism from Ireland fullback Hugo Keenan when he won the pivotal high ball in the build-up to captain, Caelan Doris try, twisting acrobatically to secure the ball at the second attempt and he tumbled towards earth. It was selflessly brave.
The sequence continued with penalty, lineout win (Beirne), slick move off the top, with Lowe and Henshaw setting up the perfect ruck position from which Doris powered over the line. It enabled the home side to clamber back into the contest, providing momentum on the pitch and scoreboard.
Johnny Watterson’s Player Ratings are in. You can read them here.
Ireland captain Caelan Doris is the official man of the match. Australian openside flanker Fraser McReight must have run him close.
We will have Gerry Thornley’s match report, Johnny Watterson’s players ratings and all the reaction here shortly. I’ll put up the links in the blog.
Ireland win for the fourth successive time against Australia. Bench made a difference, Casey and Crowley gave the team a little more zip and direction. The second half performance was better but it was far from accomplished. The fact that they won is the most important thing in the immediate aftermath. BUT it wasn’t good.
Ireland will point to the fact that they outscored the visitors three tries to one van der Flier, Doris, and Gus McCarthy.
Fulltime: Ireland 22 Australia 19
80 mins: Knock on Australia. Ireland win.
79 mins: Australia have a scrum feed five metres outside their 22 in the centre of the pitch. Van der Flier penalised for hands in the ensuing ruck.
Australia 22 Ireland 19
77 mins: For once a Suaalii pass goes astray and Ringrose gobbles it up. Promising Ireland passage of play comes a cropper with another handling error.
Ireland 22 Australia 19
75 mins: Good pressure in defence from Henshaw, Crowley and McCarthy pre-empts a loose pass and a subsequent handling error from Wallaby fullback Tom Wright. Crowley overcooks his kick through and the visitors will have a lineout just inside their own half.
Ireland 22 Australia 19
72 mins: TRY IRELAND. Henderson wins the throw at the tail. And McCarthy is at the back of the maul that motors over the Aussie line. Two Tests, two tries forthe young hooker. Probably wondering what the fuss is about. That’s a brilliant conversion from Crowley.
Ireland 22 Australia 19
72 mins: Lovely little grubber kick through from Crowley forces Wright to take the ball into touch five metres from the line. TMO reviews and it’s still an Ireland throw.
70 mins: Ireland have a double penalty, turn down the shot at goal and instead go to the corner. Maul goes forward, McCarthy breaks off but is held up over the line. Aussie goal-line drop out.
Ireland 15 Australia 19
68 mins: Australia have seven turnovers and McReight have four of them, superb from the Aussie openside flanker. Going into the final 10-minutes, Ireland will have a lineout 30 metres from the Australia line.
Ireland 15 Australia 19
66 mins: Craig Casey and Jack Crowley are on at halfback, perhaps a little later than anticipated and then within 60 seconds, Cian Healy is on to become Ireland’s most capped player, his 134th. Gus McCarthy is on too.
64 mins: Ireland’s attack is now lateral without committing tacklers and this allows Australia to drift onto the eventual recipient. Ireland lose a fourth lineout.
Ireland 15 Australia 19
62 mins: Tate McDermott on for Gordon at scrumhalf. Another Irish ball carrier isolated, this time Doris and McReight once again forces the penalty turnover. Lolesio takes on the kick from two metres inside the Irish half and has plenty to spare as he thumps it over the crossbar.
Ireland 15 Australia 19
59 mins: Ireland have lost their shape in attack, moving it wide without committing defenders, too many rucks on the back foot, stepping back into heavy Aussie traffic and having to throw in to many players to secure ball at the breakdown. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto on for Williams.
Ireland 15 Australia 16
56 mins: Billy Pollard is on at hooker for Australia.
55 mins: Garry Ringrose is on for Aki.
Ireland 15 Australia 16
53 mins: Peter O’Mahony, Iain Henderson and Tom O’Toole on for James Ryan, Joe McCarthy and Bealham. Ireland concede two penalties in a row. That’s reverting to the shortcomings of the first half. From the second Lolesio kicks a third penalty, 11 points from the boot of the Australia outhalf.
Ireland 15 Australia 16
51 mins: Great tackle from Henshaw, smart work for Aki to get turnover. Australia. Isaac Kailea on for Slipper.
48 mins: TRY IRELAND. Beirne wins the lineout, lovely slick move off the top, Gibson-Park to Lowe to Henshaw and from the ruck the Irish scrumhalf hits Doris who crashes over under the posts for his eighth international try. Prendergast converts. Ireland are ahead. So much better. More energy, more dynamism.
Ireland 15 Australia 13
48 mins: Wonderfully athletic catch at the second time of asking as Ireland go back on the attack. The home side win a penalty and kick for the corner.
Ireland 8 Australia 13
44 mins: Gorgeous cross-kick from Prendergast sets Lowe free, but after a couple of rucks, Henshaw’s pass to Lowe gives the winger no chance with no space and the ball is knocked on. Australia’s Allan Alaalatoa is on for Tupou.
42 mins: We’re back underway. Brilliant re-start take by Henshaw over Suaalii, Ireland get some go forward ball, through Mack Hansen and Bundee Aki, before James Slipper is penalised. Prendergast takes on the kick from the Aussie 10-metre line and drills it between the posts.
Ireland 8 Australia 13
Ireland are throwing in two or three mistakes in quick succession and there is a lack of composure and accuracy when they are looking to be creative. There are trace elements of Ireland’s substandard display against New Zealand that have resurfaced this evening. Teams know that going after Ireland’s lineout and breakdown can destabilise Ireland’s attacking patterns.
Three lineouts lost, 16 handling errors and a 40-minutes that was as poor as Ireland have produced in recent memory. Ireland’s defence for Jorgensen’s try was panicked, a number of questionable decisions, too many numbers on the short-side defending no one from a ruck, and then two players bite in and in fairness to Australia good hands got them the space for Jorgensen.
40(+1) mins: Ireland get one final opportunity to attack but Prendergast’s pass to Lowe carries a bit too much zip and Australia nick the ball back. That’s half-time. It’s been a poor effort from Ireland, too many mistakes, basic ones, and it’s that consistent inaccuracy that’s cost them any chance to build momentum or control the ebb and flow of the match. Australia have defended with discipline and taken the chances that Ireland presented them with, Noah Lolesio converting Max Jorgensen’s try, and tagging on the conversion and two penalties.
Ireland’s response was a try from van der Flier.
HALFTIME: Ireland 5 Australia 13
37 mins: TMO CHECK. A review on Bealham’s collision with Jorgensen. A penalty is given against the Ireland tighthead prop. Slightly harsh but it was clumsy and late. The Wallabies wanted a red card because Bealham slid through and took Jorgensen’s legs as he kicked the ball. Australia kick down the line but it’s their turn to make a handling error and then they compound it by conceding a scrum penalty.
Ireland 5 Australia 13
35 mins: Ireland miss a lift on Beirne having kicked a penalty into the Aussie 22; it sums up the performance to date in the first half. Frustratingly inconsistent and sloppy. As if to reinforce that, McCarthy’s delivery from the lineout bounces in front of Gibson-Park, another self-inflicted error.
Ireland 5 Australia 13
33 mins: Prendergast puts up a huge Garryowen and Keenan re-gathers superbly but the Irish fullback knocks-on as he tries to place the ball.
Ireland 5 Australia 13
31 mins: Ireland on the attack again but Doris’ pass to Henshaw is intercepted by Tupou and although Prendergast does brilliantly to get back and reclaim possession, he is then penalised for not releasing at the ensuing ruck. Lolesio kicks the penalty.
Ireland 5 Australia 13
28 mins: Superb link up play Henshaw putting Kelleher through a gap and racing into the Aussie 22, the hooker finds McCarthy in support but Tom Wright wins a brilliant turnover. It saves a try. That’s much brighter from Ireland, and it’ll give them some confidence. Commentator’s curse, Lowe drops a pass, Ireland’s eighth handling error. Australia break out, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight leading the charge but Henshaw beats Kellaway in a footrace and Ireland get the gooal-line drop out.
Ireland 5 Australia 10
25 mins: Kellaway with a tackle on Lowe that was days late but the Aussie wing gets away with it. Ireland win a free-kick from a scrum, Lowe runs over Lolesio in the midfield, but when the Irish wing is next involved out on the wing, he throws the ball into touch after hooker Rónan Kelleher comes in anticipating a switch.
Ireland 5 Australia 10
22 mins: TRY IRELAND - Beirne wins the lineout, van der Flier gets the ball away, Caelan Doris powers up impressively and takes several tacklers with him. The ball is recycled and van der Flier is on hand to force his way over the line for his 13th international try. Prendergast misses the straightforward conversion.
Ireland 5 Australia 10
20 mins: The upshot is an Irish penalty. Sam Prendergast takes it quickly but is called back and then the Irish outhalf kicks the ball to the corner. Tadhg Beirne wins the lineout. Ireland inch forward before Taniela Tupou is penalised for collapsing the maul. Prendergast goes to the corner again.
TMO (Eric Gauzin) Check
Australian flanker Valetini sticks a forearm in the face of Mack Hansen from the re-start.
17 mins: TRY AUSTRALIA - Keenan tidies up in defence but it’s not long until Australia are on the attack again, Suaalii wins a high ball that bounces. Sam Prendergast saves a try with a fine tackle on Kellaway but when Australia work the ball back to the far touchline, Max Jorgensen gets over in the corner. Lolesio kicks a superb conversion.
Ireland 0 Australia 10
14 mins: An Ireland strike play breaks down with a loose pass from Lowe but Gibson-Park shows his smarts with a well judged kick into the Aussie 22. It’s been low quality fare from both sides. The home side get Keenan on the ball again out wide but Bealham is isolated and concedes the penalty. No one there to clear out.
Ireland 0 Australia 3
12 mins: Australia clears their lines from the scrum, and then win the Irish throw.
Ireland 0 Australia 3
10 mins: Ireland get a penalty but after kicking the penalty to touch, Bealham knocks on for the second time in the game.
Ireland 0 Australia 3
9 mins: Lolesio kicks penalty.
Ireland 0 Australia 3
8 mins: Joe McCarthy head clash on Valetini. Reviewed. “Low level of danger, passive, according to referee Andrea Piardi. Penalty only.
Ireland 0 Australia 0
6 mins: James Ryan wins a lineout but Rob Valenti picks off his intended dunk pass to Jamison Gibson-Park, Finlay Bealham then knocks on after a great high ball take from James Lowe.
Ireland 0 Australia 0
4 mins: Ireland get a free-kick, move the ball wide, Hugo Keenan races through a gap but loses the ball in contact as Australian wing Andrew Kellaway strips him in contact two metres from the line.
Ireland 0 Australia 0
3 mins: Another re-set.
2 mins: 100 seconds of Ireland possession ends with a knock-on by Australian outhalf Noah Lolesio. Forst scrum of the game and it’s re-set.
Ireland have won the last three matches and five of the last six between the countries. Who’ll win today?
Cian Healy gets a moment to share with his two sons, Beau and Russell before the teams line up for the anthems.
Teams are emerging.
Same outcome would be good.
A final check on today’s teams.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris. Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.
Australia: Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou; Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt). Replacements: Billy Pollard, Isaac Kailea, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Tane Edmed, Harry Potter.
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
It’s Andy Farrell’s final match in charge before he goes off on his Lions’ sabbatical, as he leads rugby’s most famous touring side to Australia next summer. He will want to sign off on a positive note before he hands off the reins to assistant coach Simon Easterby for next year’s Six Nations Championship and the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal.
Rob Kearney is another to suggest that Ireland will win.
For those of you wondering what a broadcaster’s look like. Wonder no longer. Nick Mullins. Great pro.
Johnny Watterson offered his thoughts on the Sam Prendergast v Jack Crowley debate here
Australia fullback Tom Wright was asked about Schmidt’s influence.
“If I try to pinpoint one.......I’ll try to give you a broader answer. I really feel that the team performance has grown, which has allowed individuals to showcase what they can bring to a team sport.
“I think we’ve seen some of the best football, if I just think of our nine and 10 combination for the most part of this year, the two of them have seen a lot of consistency in their performances off the back of confidence shown in them by all the coaching staff, obviously led by Joe.
“But I feel the discipline he’s brought to the team in the way that we want to play the game, the way that we prepare for games, we’re starting to see a lot of the fruits of that. Guys coming into the Test season, in and around that 10 to 15 test mark, going through a 15 Test season and now creeping into the 30 Test (mark), starting to become that more mature player.
“Even for myself in particular in that instance. (Players are) starting to really find their feet under the desk. We’ve had a number of debutants throughout the season. That could have gone one or two ways.
It’s quite an open group but he’s really brought us really, really close together, in particular on the northern tour. We’ve had a lot of fun in our time here. I think he was absolutely the right man for the job. We’re really pleased with how the first eight months of his tenure has gone.”
TEAM NEWS
Late change for Australia: Replacement loosehead Angus Bell (illness) is out, Issac Kailea comes onto the bench
It’s an auspicious afternoon for loosehead props with Cian Healy’s landmark achievement but also the continuing record run of Australia’s number one, James Slipper with his record-extending international cap number 143.
The Wallaby great said: “It’s always nice to start but just to be a part of the team is always special. When you get to that time in your career, every game is really special to be able to wear that jersey. You just don’t know how many you’ve got in you. We know we’re up for a big game, it’s the 150th anniversary for the Irish boys. What better occasion to do it than the Aviva Stadium.
“Yeah, the old fella (Healy, 37), he’s still going, which is really good to see,” said the 35-year-old Slipper. “He’s (Healy) a good character, been around for a very long time and well respected across the world. It’s a mighty effort to take over as the most capped Irish player, and I’m sure it’s going to be a really special night for him and his family.”
Joe Schmidt sits down to chat all things rugby.
For those of a certain vintage, Australia’s Mark Ella was a superstar, one of the best 10s ever to play the game. Denis Walsh had a chat and you can read his interview here
Here’s a reading list ahead of the game. Gerry Thornley predicts that Ireland are going to win as do the bookmakers who have the home side as 14-point favourites. You can read his preview here
Hello and welcome to the Irish Times blog for Ireland’s final Autumn Nations series game against Australia, a fixture agreed to celebrate the IRFU’s 150th anniversary. For those of you who there in the RDS last night, it’s Saturday. Your vision isn’t failing you either, those are specially commissioned Ireland jerseys for the game, seriously retro chic.
There is another cause for celebration and that will come at some point in the afternoon or early evening when Cian Healy is summoned from the Irish bench. Once he sets foot on the pitch, he will become Ireland’s most capped player of all-time, making his 134th appearance, taking him one clear of Brian O’Driscoll with whom he shared the record. O’Driscoll has a few others, so he won’t mind too much, especially handing over the record to someone from the Parish, Clontarf.
Ireland’s start to the series was a disappointing defeat to New Zealand but since then they have beaten Argentina and Fiji. Australia were hunting a Grand Slam with wins over England and Wales, but Scotland put paid to that notion at Murrayfield last weekend.
And there’s the small matter of Joe Schmidt’s return to a city in which spent 10 years and still has a house. The performance graph is definitely trending upwards since he took over as Australia head coach.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris. Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.
Australia: Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou; Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt). Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Tane Edmed, Harry Potter.
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
I spoke to Joe Schmidt during the week and asked him to tell him his favourite Cian Healy story. He smiled and obliged.
“One of my favourites stories will be seeing him (Healy) run out on Saturday. I was watching, when Drico (Brian O’Driscoll) was applauding him. Cian is the sort of guy……I remember in a pre-season he was doing the gym the same as everyone else and he got massive (in size) so fast.
“He is an exceptional physical specimen, a bit like Andrew Porter, both those guys you have to lock them out of the gym as best you can, otherwise they will just become behemoths. One of the things with Cian is that he is so agile. He was so dynamic as a young man when I first got to Leinster.
“Probably a memorable moment, we were playing Clermont in a European semi-final (2012) to make the final against Ulster and it was in Bordeaux, in France. Clermont were at the height of their powers. We played a set play with Isaac Boss going around the back, the pass from Richardt Strauss going to Rob Kearney; there’s Cian on his shoulder trying to overtake him.” Healy scored the try.
“He is that sort of athlete. He was lethal close to the line. The opposition couldn’t stop him, and we couldn’t get the ball off him. He would just grab it, roll his sleeves up and do the work. There are a few others, but I’ll leave those. He can put them in his book.
