Preview: Australia v Ireland
JUNE SPOTLIGHT: Australia coach Michael Cheika says he is looking forward to the return of David Pocock to spur the Wallabies to victory over Six Nations champions Ireland in Brisbane on Saturday.
The influential Pocock – playing his first international since taking a rugby sabbatical last year – will play in the unfamiliar position of blindside flank, with skipper Michael Hooper preferred at openside.
The second-ranked Irish are on the crest of a wave, having won their last 12 internationals and this year’s Six Nations tournament, but have not won in Australia since 1979.
While Cheika, who coached Irish province Leinster to their first-ever European Cup in 2009, rates this as the best Irish side of all time, he says the Wallabies can cause an upset.
“I believe we can win. I can see a good young generation coming through here in Australia,” Cheika said.
“It’s an opportunity to build a new look for the game here and make the Wallabies what they talk about the game in Australia, rather than some of the other stuff that’s going on,”
Cheika said Pocock’s leadership was invaluable but warned that breakdown turnovers would be at a premium against the well-organised Irish.
“We all talk about Poey’s [Pocock’s] on the groundwork but that’s going to be very hard against Ireland,” he said.
“They commit strongly to the attacking ruck, they’ve got a lot of numbers there and they’re very good at recycling,”
Cheika praised Ireland for their dramatic Six Nations win against France and said Pocock would be challenged by the visitors.
“It’s not going to be easy to work that type of magic that he normally does but he’s got a lot more facets to his game.”
“He can distribute the ball, he’s a good carrier, he’s a great defender and has got unbelievable work ethic which is really important.”
Hooper, who is also a premier ball scavenger, said Ireland’s attacking ruck was notoriously tough to crack but he backed Pocock to make his mark.
“As far as his on-field stuff, it speaks for itself in how he can change a game and get a turnover to change momentum,” Hooper told reporters on Friday.
“And then the experience on the field allows the game managers and myself to lean on someone for a good voice there to get the team on the right path.”
Hooper said the Wallabies were aiming to attack Ireland through their star-studded backs – Will Genia, Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau.
“We’d be silly not to run the ball with some of the strike power we’ve got,” Hooper said.
“We’ve got a really fit team, forwards who want to work and can get over the advantage line with a mobile back row,”
The Wallabies were forced into a late change Friday, with prop Tom Robertson replacing reserve forward Allan Alaalatoa, who injured an ankle in Thursday’s training.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said Israel Folau’s aerial supremacy could pose a problem as the much-changed Six Nations champions open their three-Test tour against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.
The Irish are masters at probing for weaknesses through their pinpoint kicking, but in fullback Folau the Wallabies have arguably the best player under the high ball in international rugby.
Schmidt has left his first-choice fly-half Johnny Sexton on the reserves bench and instead has preferred to give his understudy Joey Carbery a rare international start in Brisbane.
“We have seen enough of Israel Folau, a number of our lads have played against him a few times,” Schmidt said on Friday.
“And it’s funny, it’s one of the things that people perceive we are good at but I don’t think there is anyone in world rugby that is as good Israel Folau in the air.
“How do you combat it? I think you’ve just got to go up and do the best you can.”
A stand-out performance would be timely for Folau, who has come under fire for airing his views that gay people are destined for hell.
Schmidt defended his decision to start Carbery ahead of Sexton for the first of three internationals in Australia, where the Irish haven’t won since 1979.
“Some of those guys have had some reasonably tough weeks and it was an opportunity, really,” Schmidt said.
“We decided that it (bringing in Carbery) was an opportunity that would probably be more difficult to engineer later in the tour. It was trying to get a balance.”
Schmidt has made made six changes to the team that won the Grand Slam at Twickenham in March, with 32-year-old Sexton one of a number of frontline Leinster players who are confined to the bench after successful recent European and PRO14 campaigns.
“Johnny (Sexton) runs a really solid game. People are deferential to Johnny because he has been in the seat for a long time,” Schmidt said, looking ahead to next year’s World Cup in Japan.
“But if he has been in the seat for a long time and no one else gets to sit in it, then we just leave ourselves a little bit exposed if he’s not in the seat.”
Schmidt has surrounded Carbery with experienced backs including Robbie Henshaw and Bundee in the centres, Keith Earls on the wing and Rob Kearney at fullback.
With Sexton on the bench, Peter O’Mahony captains the side.
Players to watch:
For Australia: David Pocock regarded as one of the world’s best flanks is always a handful for any opposition. Pete Samu with his strong ball carries and leg drives can make a remarkable impact from the bench. Kurtley Beale and Samu Kerevi in the midfield can cause havoc. Beale brings in loads of experience while Kerevi’s abrasive runs can produce valuable points. Will Genia’s experience will be vital when it comes to decisions making.
For Ireland: A lot rest on the shoulders of young flyhalf Joey Carbery, however, No.10 has the skills to dictate play and having a world class scrumhalf Conor Murray on your side makes things a little easier. Wing Jacob Stockdale’s agility will cause trouble while the more experience Keith Earls always finds a way to exploit the space out wide. No.8 Christiaan Stander, who has been in sublime form throughout the Six Nations campaign, adds the extra advantage in defence and attack.
Head to head: The battle at fullback between Israel Folau and Rob Kearney will be interesting. Both tend to attack from their own 22 and have shown great skills when it comes to the highball. At 12 the intriguing battle between Kurtley Beale and Bundee Aki will be one to keep a close eye on. While two world-class scurmhalves Will Genia and Conor Murray will provide us with an intense battle with their contrasting styles Genia tends to attack with speed while Murray opts for tactical box kicks. The loose trio battle is also something to behold as No.8 Christiaan Stander, Jordi Murphy, and captain Peter O’Mahony go up against No.8 Caleb Timu, captain Michael Hooper and David Pocock.
Recent results:
2016: Ireland won 27-24, Dublin
2014: Ireland won 26-23, Dublin
2013: Australia won 32-15, Dublin
2011: Ireland won 15-6, Auckland (RWC)
2010: Australia won 22-15, Brisbane
2009: The sides drew 20-20, Dublin
2008: Australia won 18-12, Melbourne
2006: Ireland won 21-6, Dublin
2006: Australia won 37-15, Perth
2005: Australia won 30-14, Dublin
Prediction: This is a challenging one to call. Ireland head into the match in great form having won the Grand Slam, however, they are missing regular captain Rory Best. Meanwhile, Wallabies have everything to prove. They will definitely try to disrupt the breakdown and use their star-studded backline to instigate the attack. Nonetheless, and purely based on current form the Grand Slam Champions Ireland will win it by six points.
Teams:
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Marika Koroibete, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Dane Haylett-Petty, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Caleb Timu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 David Pocock, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Lukhan Tui, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Nick Phipps, 23 Reece Hodge.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Christiaan Stander, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 5 Iain Henderson, 4 James Ryan, 3 John Ryan, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Johnny Sexton, 23 Jordan Larmour.
Date: Saturday, June 9
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 20.05 (11.05 UK and Ireland time; 10.05 GMT)
Expected weather: It will be partly cloudy with a high of 23°C at kick-off and a low 11°C. It will be clear with no rain expected.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Agence France-Presse & @rugby365com
