Preview - Australia v Ireland
Irish eager to lose 'nearly men' tag
Ireland make a slight detour on their return home from the two-Test tour of New Zealand, stopping to take in the sights and sounds of Perth – and to take on a Wallaby side that looks ready to reclaim its place in the upper echelons of world rugby.
It's a dubious reward for a long season of good work, but credit goes to the Irish for not shirking from the challenge – they sniff a rare victory over Australia and will not go gentle into that short off-season break.
Indeed, the Australians should ready themselves for a battle royal – Ireland are smarting at their failure to register a first victory over New Zealand following two narrow defeats against the All Blacks and would dearly love to return home with at least one scalp.
The fact that Ireland regard two close encounters with perhaps the greatest side of the modern era as a failure tells its own tale. Previous Ireland sides would have accentuated the positives of putting the wind up the ABs in New Zealand – but not this current crop of Irishmen.
And all this just one year after Ireland's finest few were beaten, bowed, bruised, humiliated and – in one well-documented case – literally broken whilst on Lions duty in the land of the long white clouds.
One could argue that this apparent contraction has more to do with the donkeys who lead the Lions than the progress of the Irish side, but there is surely no doubt that Eddie O'Sullivan is in the process of molding a side that is capable of finishing top of the pile come next year's Rugby World Cup.
But if Ireland wish to trade in their well-worn tag of 'dark horse' for a badge reading 'credible contender' they need to do just one thing – win in the southern hemisphere on the eve of the RWC. It worked for England in 2003, and victory over Australia on Saturday would allow the nearly men of Ireland to start to really believe.
Easier said than done.
It's almost incredulous that this is the Australian side who suffered seven consecutive defeats last year, including a whitewash in the Tri-Nations and losses to England and France – a run punctuated by a 30-14 victory over an off-colour Ireland in Dublin in November.
Yes, the World Health Organisation is currently investigating Andy Robinson for transporting headless chickens around the globe, but Australia's two-Test victory over England is not to be sniffed at. An aggregate 77-21 win over any of the major Test sides is a good result, let alone the reigning world champions.
But it was the manner in which they put the English to the sword that impressed – their willingness to attack with ball in hand and the new-found ability of the Australian pack to hold its ground.
The panache is back, as is that cloyless appetite for success and that overwhelming confidence that seems to exude from any gathering of Australian males, be they found in a pub or on a playing field.
New Australia coach John Connolly has helped the Wallabies turn over a new leaf, and the players are relishing what could well be yet another golden era for the gold-jerseyed brigade.
"It is a very good environment in the team at the moment, and I think that is what you are seeing out on the paddock as well," said Wallaby fly-half Stephen Larkham, who was in fine nick during last week's 43-18 victory over England in Melbourne last weekend.
"Everyone is enjoying themselves, throwing the ball around and trying to read it on the run, and we have got some really talented footballers who can do that across the park.
"What we have been trying to work on in the last couple of weeks, particularly against England, is implement our new philosophy in attack, and that doesn't necessary involve attacking one channel.
"We want to try and mix our game up as much as possible and read it on the run, which is what has been so successful for us so far."
O'Sullivan is a fan for Australia's adventurous approach. He admits that his template for backline play is Wallaby-shaped, and Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll has talked up the Australian backline as the best in the world.
The Wallaby camp returned the favour, pinpointing O'Driscoll and his midfield partner Gordon D'Arcy as potential game-breakers.
"I have always said that you can't put in what God left out, and God gave both those kids plenty," said Wallabies attacking coach Scott Johnson.
But the mutual appreciation society will be disbanded on Saturday morning; Ireland will have no qualms about crashing Australia's party, and Australia will be intent on breaking Ireland's burgeoning resolve.
It just seems a pity that both sides can't win.
Players to watch:
For Australia: The Wallabies blood yet another fresh-faced front-rower in the outsized shape of Guy Shepherdson. The 24-year-old Brumbies prop is only in his third year of top-flight rugby and makes his debut as a replacement to the injured Rodney Blake, leapfrogging Al Baxter who must contend himself with a pew on the bench. Ireland's gnarled props will be licking their lips at the prospect of locking horns with such inexperienced foe, but Shepherdson – at 186cm and 117kg – will be no push-over in Perth.
For Ireland: Munster fly-half Ronan O'Gara was blamed for the defensive lapses that ultimately cost Ireland the second Test against New Zealand. No, he's not the world's best defender – even his own coach admitted his playmaker's encounter with the AB pivot Luke McAlister was like a bike meeting a truck. But O'Gara remains one of the world rugby's leading tactician and will relish being behind a tight-five that should (that awful word) have the nudge on the opposition.
Head-to-Head: Stirling Mortlock (Australia) v Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland): Who could tire of watching BOD in action? In this publication's opinion, the Ireland captain remains the most complete footballer in existence. But the world's premier No.13 meets a man on fire on Saturday. Mortlock stands out even in a backline thronged with unearthly talent – strong, fast, determined, dextrous, unyielding. These two men could be twins. Expect a bone-jarring encounter.
Predications: Ireland have beaten Australia seven times in 24 internationals but only once in their last 15 meetings. An eighth victory looms if Ireland's forwards managed to stem Stephen Larkham's supply of ball. We have to back Ireland, if only for fear of what yet another near-miss could do to the Irish psyche. Ireland by four points.
Totalbet.com predication: Australia by 10 points.
Recent Results:
2005: Australia won 30-14 in Dublin
2003: Australia won 17-16 in Melbourne (RWC)
2003: Australia 45-16 in Perth
2002: Ireland won 18-9 in Dublin
1999: Australia won 23-3 in Dublin (RWC)
1999: Australia won 32-26 in Perth
1999: Australia won 46-10 in Brisbane
1996: Australia won 22-12 in Dublin
1994: Australia won 32-18 in Sydney
1994: Australia won 33-13 in Brisbane
1992: Australia won 42-17 in Dublin
1991: Australia won 19-18 in Dublin (RWC)
The teams:
Australia: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Mat Rogers, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 Rocky Elsom, 7 George Smith, 6 Mark Chisholm, 5 Dan Vickerman (vice-captain), 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Wycliff Palu, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Clyde Rathbone, 22 Cameron Shepherd.
Ireland: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 David Wallace, 6 Neil Best, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Rory Best, 17 Bryan Young, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 19 Keith Gleeson, 20 Isaac Boss, 21 Jeremy Staunton, 22 Geordan Murphy.
Date: Saturday, June 24
Kick-off: 18.00 (10.00 GMT)
Venue: Subiaco Oval, Perth
Conditions: Clear, dry, moderate easterly winds – max 19°C, min 7°C
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Steve Walsh, Bryce Lawrence (both New Zealand)
Television match official: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
Assessor: Dick Byres (Australia)
By Andy Jackson
