IT WAS A very upsetting game at the weekend and certainly not what most of us expected.
All the word coming from the camp, from the interviews given and Joe Schmidt’s press briefings, gave the impression of a lot of energy and enthusiasm in the camp. Ireland were flat, however, and it made for a very sad performance.
Australia out-analysed us and it was clear from the tries they got in the first-half. They must have spotted a defensive gap in that second channel from the touchline [on Tommy Bowe's wing]. They knew that Brian O’Driscoll would shoot up to make the tackle, forcing Bowe to make a decision on which of the two players he would cover.
Quade Cooper draws O’Driscoll in, creating a three-on-one. Credit: Rugby Highlights
Ireland was supposed to have the stronger scrum and perhaps they expected that to happen. Australia, on the other hand, tightened up their scrum and worked their asses off. Devin Toner and Paul O’Connell looked a solid second-row choice and there were pretensions of targeting the Australian lineout but, right from the off, we lost our first throw. Both setpieces were under pressure all evening.
Sean O’Brien had no linebreaks of note but he made an outrageous amount of carries. We can’t be relying on the guy, who is supposed to be protecting the ruck, to make so many carries.
Jonathan Sexton did not have a great game but managed to steer us to within three points of the Aussies. They were not bothered with that scoreline at half-time as they knew they were scuppering our game.
All the things that were supposed to be our strengths were turned on their head. This is not the first time this has happened with the Wallabies; in 2005 at Lansdowne Road [Ireland lost 30-14].
Australia clinically took us apart but that still does not explain why guys fell off tackles and didn’t play well. No-one played really terribly but the team, and set-up, was flat. Our kicking was aimless and Israel Folau was lording it up in the air.
The Irish video review session will not be pleasant viewing and a huge amount of responsibility has to be taken by the players for the performance. Joe Schmidt’s job will now be to build the squad up because they cannot feel sorry for themselves now that New Zealand are in town.
We don’t have that pool of players to make wholesale changes but, win or lose at the weekend, I think Schmidt would have made changes.
Realistically, we will not win against New Zealand so this weekend’s game will be all about the performance. You would like to see Ireland really make New Zealand work hard for their tries and to manufacture a few scores themselves.
*Shane Byrne’s publication, Club Rugby Magazine is available monthly in the Irish Independent. You can also follow Shane on Twitter @shanebyrneoffic
