Ireland v Australia 22 Nov 2014: Dog v Cat: Ali V Foreman: Beauty v Beast, Xavier v Wolfman

First topic message reminder :

Have they ever met?
Sure they have.  And they're meeting each other now every second of every day in the lead up to the weekend's encounter - Schmidt even dreaming tactics whilst asleep at night, as there are not nearly enough hours in an atomic-clock week for him.  A meeting of brainwaves as one tries to look into the other's head and plan victory or defeat.

Schmidt doesn't rate the number 3.  Neither does Cheika.  But Cheika will still want the number back out of a sense of pride  He got no time for Ranking nonsense but he'll take it as his pound of flesh anyway given that the rules of the game forbid real flesh being taken.

Schmidt is the scientist; birdlike, almost timid, edgy and nervous when tension grows.  Cheika is the brick wall that needs no door to make a space for itself in a fight.  He has a nice smile, especially when he's happy, and that's usually when his fingers are around someone's neck and squeezing

Schmidt is considered pedantic, perfecting and getting on for being an infuriating perfectionist.  That can often be a problem as the word has noting to do with achieving perfection and everything to do with simply never being satisfied.  Perfectionism can often cloud the path to an easier fulfilling life.  Schmidt is driven but I don't think he'll ever find peace.

Cheika seems more like a company CEO.  Goals adopted, timeframes given, pie charts done, costs analysed, work done, work done, work redone with shouts and screams to make people listen and goals achieved.  Next project.  First project forgotten, yesterday's news.  Little genuine emotion for the victory or the initial goal that rapidly sinks into his history and falls into his junkbox.  
Schmidt wants to win - yes - but he wants to play chess.  Cheika just wants results.

And of course both coached Leinster.  One began the journey but had a temperament that wasn't conducive to a long partnership with the players.  Schmidt continued the journey and honed it but also had a temperament that didn't seem to want the relationship to last long.
This will be a brief encounter for both men - just the way they like it.  Brief encounter but the makings of a very long day for both sets of fans.

Blimey!! What a start. Long way back for Aus now..

Under Schmidt, Ireland are a team too smart to let go of this lead. Their players are among the best in the NH at keeping hold of the ball. So I'm sorry but for me it's goodnight Australia!

Lucky Aus try though.

Wish we had a decent 10

We needed that.

Wow... this is too much!

Not really lucky Saint, Ireland misswd a few tackles that should of been made. Perhaps it will do well for Ireland so they don't get carried away

The Saint wrote:Lucky Aus try though.

And Irelands second try wasn't.

A lot of fortune involved in both surely.

Surely forward, yeah?

I know it may not have been a try, but I don't want to see players talking to the ref like that

LondonTiger wrote:

The Saint wrote:Lucky Aus try though.

And Irelands second try wasn't.

A lot of fortune involved in both surely.

An element of luck in that one too yeah, but surely you'd agree that they were both a bit different. I haven't seen an interception like that in years.

Craziest TMO decision I've seen in a long time. Even the ref looked bemused. Why didn't he overrule?

I hope that in the post match discussion Ireland will be able to discuss that forward pass (should they wish to) free of ridiculous accusations by fans of other teams. It was a courtesy Wales were not afforded in 2013.

nathan wrote:I know it may not have been a try, but I don't want to see players talking to the ref like that

What was said that you didn't like? I didn't hear anything.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:I know it may not have been a try, but I don't want to see players talking to the ref like that

What was said that you didn't like? I didn't hear anything.

POC always does it, that's why he so convincing. Nothing too bad there.

Nothing bad or anything, just prefer the captain to communicate with the ref and not have 2-3 players shouting

We don't look very dangerous going forward, we need more inventive play.

Some super passes there.

Well that was very good from Aus... Probably wrong of me to doubt their ability so soon!

Wow. Pure class from Australia

The Loaded Dog wrote:Some super passes there.

There's been a lot of talk about Speight, but he's had a pretty quiet series. Though when he was touched the ball he's always looked very good, and he was heavily involved in that try.

crazy game...defence has gone out the window. Oz loving their broken play. Forward pass for the first. Very similar start to last years NZ Ireland game. The rest of this match is going to be fun!

Australia do look good running with the ball.

We're getting torn apart out wide here.

Before some get to shall we say overly focused on a possible forward pass, not Long after during a bit of Ariel ping pong sexton threw a blatant forward pass, stationary so momentum can't be used. It's all swings and roundabouts

Rory_Gallagher wrote:We're getting torn apart out wide here.

You could see Australia winning comfortably unless Ireland stop this momentum. It's entertaining so far though.

Great half of rugby and Australia look very dangerous every time they get hold of the ball.

Australia half backs totally outplayed Ireland's.

If oz get to string passes against a side with more structure all hell can break loose. Ireland must shut down the inside ball and slow the Oz ball at the breakdowns. They'll lose if theyre chasing all day. Oz can be experts with the oily rag.

Great first half for the neutral. Superb stuff.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:Great half of rugby and Australia look very dangerous every time they get hold of the ball.

Australia half backs totally outplayed Ireland's.

I'm not sure it is as simple as that, there are a lot of mismatches in the midfield when we have the likes of POC out wide against some very classy Australian backs. I'm not sure why we have so many forwards in the outer channels.

Knackeredknees wrote:Before some get to shall we say overly focused on a possible forward pass, not Long after during a bit of Ariel ping pong sexton threw a blatant forward pass, stationary so momentum can't be used. It's all swings and roundabouts

Yes and a tiny knock too in the same play... but let's move on. Exciting game.

I think Ireland had their tactics spot on early in the half - going the aerial route and putting our players under pressure under the high ball. We looked very shaky indeed. I'm actually a little surprised how they've managed to claw things back.

Sexton levels it up at HT. 20-20. Very entertaining rugby.

Excellent start by Ireland and fantastic exciting play from OZ to come back.

The Wallabies are being smart here, get the ball wide and avoid the contact zones where the traffic is. Easier to win quick ruck ball out wide as their are less Irish forwards.

That's how you negate slow ball.

The Saint wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:Some super passes there.

There's been a lot of talk about Speight, but he's had a pretty quiet series. Though when he was touched the ball he's always looked very good, and he was heavily involved in that try.

Funny he's on debut today so I don't think he's been too quiet, big improvement over tomane though. Great rugby by Australia. Our defence isn't coping too well, henshaw and zebo look a green

Wonderful first half for a neutral. I don't know another side who uses garryowens as well as Ireland. Helps if you have two halfbacks with an accurate box kick.

Almost impossible to pick a winner. Genia and Cooper on the bench could be key.

toml wrote:

The Saint wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:Some super passes there.

There's been a lot of talk about Speight, but he's had a pretty quiet series. Though when he was touched the ball he's always looked very good, and he was heavily involved in that try.

Funny he's on debut today so I don't think he's been too quiet, big improvement over tomane though. Great rugby by Australia. Our defence isn't coping too well, henshaw and zebo look a green

Was going to mention that to Saint too, tom.

I think if Ireland don't tighten things up in the second half, Australia will take the cake in spectacular fashion.

If Ireland are smart we will drag Australia into an arm wrestle and sneak it, need to tighten up, choke and maul again

Thought I would mention, Robbie Henshaw looks very comfortable out there at 13. I don't think he has been the problem in defence and he is one of our biggest threats in attack. I think he has his position nailed for Ireland.

The Loaded Dog wrote:

toml wrote:

The Saint wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:Some super passes there.

There's been a lot of talk about Speight, but he's had a pretty quiet series. Though when he was touched the ball he's always looked very good, and he was heavily involved in that try.

Funny he's on debut today so I don't think he's been too quiet, big improvement over tomane though. Great rugby by Australia. Our defence isn't coping too well, henshaw and zebo look a green

Was going to mention that to Saint too, tom.

Haha, they do have similar hair though... Speight played against the baa-baa's though right?

George Carlin wrote:Wonderful first half for a neutral. I don't know another side who uses garryowens as well as Ireland. Helps if you have two halfbacks with an accurate box kick.

Almost impossible to pick a winner. Genia and Cooper on the bench could be key.

Ireland is playing reminiscent in the style SA did in 2009.

The Saint wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:

toml wrote:

The Saint wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:Some super passes there.

There's been a lot of talk about Speight, but he's had a pretty quiet series. Though when he was touched the ball he's always looked very good, and he was heavily involved in that try.

Funny he's on debut today so I don't think he's been too quiet, big improvement over tomane though. Great rugby by Australia. Our defence isn't coping too well, henshaw and zebo look a green

Was going to mention that to Saint too, tom.

Haha, they do have similar hair though... Speight played against the baa-baa's though right?

Yes. Correct mate.

I have to say, O'Mahony is having a huge game, he has saved our bacon many times in defence. As usual, he has his biggest games when he is getting involved in the hard graft work.

Decent start to the half, but still when Australia get the ball they are making 50 odd metres with ease.

We are getting ripped apart in the centre

We just look totally devoid of ideas in attack.. all we want to do is kick the ball against a great aerial team.

what on earth are the irish subs doing drills behind the oz goal line for? 8 or so in the goal area. Since when was that allowed?

Just cannot make up my mind about Zebo - very talented or extremely overrated in an otherwise very good Irish side. I'll just say that if Trimble was fit, I know whom I would choose.

Super tackle by zebo how many of them has he made this match?

Fair play to the Irish medical team.

Well played Ireland.

Unbelievable come on