Had we sufficient match practice our try-count would have been far higher, writes LIAM TOLAND
ON THE 79th minute the yellow seas opened and in ran Brian O’Driscoll for his 37th Irish international try. The plaudits will certainly go to the great centre but the Irish front row stood very strong in the five-metre scrum that supplied the ball. This will please them as 17 minutes earlier the score stood at 6-10 in Australia’s favour, but very worryingly the Irish scrum was mince-meated on their own 22. Australia attacked the short side and Luke Fitzgerald got injured. Then Australia forced a penalty at the very next scrum; 6-13. Jaysus!
Watching from up high I wondered was it time for a catalyst to enter the fray. Maybe a change at half back could ignite the fires. But then Cian Healy provided a Rocky Elsom moment and Tommy Bowe crossed – 13-all. Brilliant!
Coming into this weekend, Ireland would have analysed their potential opportunities for the autumn series. I assume it was built around two wins and two big performances that would make for a real challenge on the closing weekend against the Springboks. With Australia on their eighth match, any result would be welcomed. That Ireland finished strongly in their first game back is hugely encouraging and particularly in the manner the scrum stood up when it really counted.
But for many minutes before, Ireland struggled to figure out what they wanted. Too often one man bravely carried into contact allowing Australian openside “jackal” David Pocock and number eight Wycliff Palu a chance to swallow up any threat. Referee Jonathan Kaplan had a strange take on the breakdown with his “release first then go back” instructions. Thee Wallabies were ferocious tacklers, not unlike the Springboks, so we have to look at key aspects of our play that will allow us to maintain quick off-the-deck ball.
We opened with great enthusiasm with an off-the-top lineout from Paul O’Connell but with the Australians very fast off their line, Ronan O’Gara’s flat pass to O’Driscoll had to be spot on. The pass didn’t go to hand and Drew Mitchell touched down from 50 metres. No harm done as the ambition was there but early indicators were that the Wallaby midfield were going to ignore O’Gara to sweat on the Irish captain. This gave the Irish 10 and 12 a great opportunity to attack the aggressive defence. Combined with the blind side wingers this could have proved fruitful.
Last Friday I mentioned the importance of Bowe’s involvement in the Irish back line. This was in some way to assist O’Gara and Paddy Wallace in midfield. On the two occasions he got on the ball he scored. Mind you the TMO allowed only one! When Kaplan went upstairs for the second “try” I wondered why Bowe wasn’t brought into the game more often as time and again the very offensive Australian defence comfortably watched the shovelling of good possession out to O’Driscoll and then they smashed. Was this good use of the possession advantage?
Take our policy off turnover ball. Regularly the Wallaby lineout gave the Irish chances. Australia got their first lineout after six minutes. It was in the best attacking off-the-top position on the field; the Irish 10 metre line. But hooker Stephen Moore threw it to number one in the lineout and a crap fight ensued. Most of their line-outs were shortened because they were very worried about the Irish threat. Brilliantly Ireland forced several steals. What advantage was gained?
Unfortunately too often both O’Gara and Paddy Wallace shovelled latterly to O’Driscoll. What was he supposed to do with it? It took Wallace 71 minutes to run full belt at the Australian defence.
In the next two matches I would love to see more activity around our 10 channel where, when the opportunity arrives the outhalf takes the ball on his terms, very flat, and attacks the space or, engages the blind side wingers and loose forwards. This will fix the opposition defence and create space out wide. Along with this I really hope we get out of the brave charge into the no-man’s land of the triple team tackle. The Springboks will love that! Yesterday we had the lion’s share of possession and we need to maximise this advantage. A little after the Bowe try Jamie Heaslip provided a super off-the-top ball from a short lineout. The attack went wide down the left hand side. A very quick ball arrived back into the middle where Healy pummelled his way forward. O’Gara received from Tomás O’Leary 30 metres out from the Wallaby line and instead of attacking the large space he elected to kick. The fact that the kick went out on the full was immaterial. Why didn’t he attack the space created by a super lineout win and a rumble by Healy?
It is also very interesting to see how Australia approached the fixture and used the ball. All aspects of their play were measured, clever and very calm. The Wallabies had a very distinctive game plan where Robbie Deans prepared his men to withstand the opening barrage from Ireland. Inside centre Quade Cooper played most of the match at 10 and must have kicked 99.99 per cent of the ball that came his way. Only when the odds were stacked very much in their favour did they venture into the counter; very controlled.
Overall a good result for Ireland and obviously a performance with room for improvement. Australia provided plenty of chances and had we sufficient match practice we would have taken far more than two. Interestingly with five minutes remaining Ireland elected to go for the corner, spurning three points and a potential chance of a win, but the draw was well earned. I wonder did Fiji assistant coach Mike Brewer sitting two rows away from me spot opportunities that Australia failed to expose?
liamtoland@yahoo.com
