Focused Irish to tie Wallabies down

The new era Aviva fervour continues almost without interruption, though this time we’re not just discussing Joe Schmidt’s Ireland but also Ewen McKenzie’s Australia.

Two visionary coaches whose teams like to play inventive, attacking rugby and who like to identify opposition weaknesses, they and their staffs will have been working overtime analysing two somewhat mercurial outfits. This should be good, but it could also be anything.

As befitting the most unpredictable match-up of the November window, punters had pushed Australia into narrow favourites but by yesterday it was a 50-50 game.

‘The drought generation’
The forecast, for continuing dry weather, may mean the scrum won’t be as influential. It should also increase the chances of an Australian win, not because Ireland cannot play on a dry track, but because the Wallabies (the “drought generation”, as Matt Williams calls them) cannot play in the wet.

Nor can presume Irish scrum supremacy akin to the World Cup meeting at Eden Park, much less the seismic dominance which disfigured the Lions’ third Test win in Sydney.

That said, the Wallabies’ scrum remains their Achilles’ heel, and if a discernible edge is to be had in the set-pieces, it will come from an Irish scrum with the Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross frontrow starting their 22nd Test together.

While Devin Toner adds to Ireland’s line-out and restart game, both offensively and defensively, it’s harder to see them gain huge currency here.

This contest is liable to be more about the breakdown. As his rival number seven Seán O’Brien admits, Michael Hooper is as adept as any openside at judging when to poach and when to back off, extracting maximum reward for limited punishment, and the brilliant Liam Gill is on the bench.

Defending
Of course, two attacking teams means some defending too. Encouragingly, last week, Ireland’s breakdown work – less choking, more first man chopping and next one or two in to contest the ball – was good, less so their accuracy in possession.

Hence, for all the reasons you might believe Ireland can win, there are plenty of caveats. Australia have hit a groove, and are both more match-hardened and at a more advanced stage (nine games to one) under their new regime.

And as has been abundantly evident this November like all others in recent memory, coming off Super Rugby and Tri Nations/Rugby Championship the south’s big three are more acquainted with the kind of high tempo game Schmidt’s teams also seek and which his selection is seemingly aiming for this evening.

If given quick ball and the Will Genia/Quade Cooper axis starts wielding its magic on the gain line, then Israel Folau et al could start cutting Ireland’s defence to shreds.

Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/442907/Extraordinary-Joe-Launchbury-looking-like-a-Martin-Johnson-replica

Focused Irish to tie Wallabies down