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Here are the panels for tonight’s game:
Ireland: Michael Murphy (Donegal, c), Aidan Walsh (Cork, vc), Paddy O’ Rourke (Meath), Colm Begley (Laois), Colm Boyle (Mayo), Ciaran Byrne (Louth), Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone), Paul Conroy (Galway), Paul Flynn (Dublin), Finian Hanley (Galway), Lee Keegan (Mayo), Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin), Paddy McBrearty (Donegal), Jack McCaffrey (Dublin), Neil McGee (Donegal), Chrissy McKaigue (Derry), Kevin McLoughlin (Mayo), Conor McManus (Monaghan), Ross Munnelly (Laois), Aidan O’Shea (Mayo), Ciarán Sheehan (Cork), Michael Shields (Cork), Zach Tuohy (Carlton & Laois).
Australia: Tony Armstrong (Sydney Swans), Dominic Barry (Melbourne), Eddie Betts (Carlton), Aaron Davey (Melbourne), Alwyn Davey (Essendon), Shaun Edwards (GWS), Jarod Harbrow (Gold Coast), Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans), Cameron Ellis-Yolmen (Adelaide), Josh Hill (West Coast), Leroy Jetta (Essendon), Lewis Jetta (Sydney Swans), Nathan Lovett-Murray (Essendon), Ash McGrath (Brisbane), Jake Neade (Port Adelaide), Steven Motlop (Geelong), Sharrod Wellingham (West Coast), Daniel Wells (North Melbourne), Chris Yarran (Carlton), Mathew Stokes (Geelong), Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne).
In case, you’re confused about the rules or any other element of today’s game, you’ll find all you need to know about it here.
In case you missed it earlier on the site, here’s a look back at the most infamous meeting between the sides in recent years.
YouTube credit: smili72
Here’s the one crucial point to remember before we start…
A goal (in the net) is worth six points. An over (over the bar between the large posts) is worth three. A behind (between the small posts on either side of the goal) is worth one.
Ireland 3-0 Australia: Michael Murphy gives the Irish the lead, slotting it over the posts without any undue difficulty (1 mins).
Good start for Ireland…
Ireland 7-3 Australia: Ross Munnelly adds to Ireland’s lead on just his second cap.
It curls away from the central post at the last minute , so Ireland have to settle for a behind.
Australia then finally get off the mark, before Murphy registers his second over of the game (5 mins).
Ireland have undoubtedly looked the better of the two teams early on.
They’re not allowing their opponents to settle on the ball at all.
Ireland 7-4 Australia: Australia register their first behind of the evening.
It’s the first score of the game in almost five minutes (9 mins).
Ireland 13-4 Australia: Ross Munnelly extends Ireland’s advantage with a free that the goalkeeper gets his fingertips to, but can’t stop going over.
Munnelly then sets up Colm Begley to widen the gap between the teams even further (13 mins).
Ireland 16-4 Australia: Munnelly is on target again with another free.
Ireland are well on top and Munnelly, in particular, is having a fantastic game (14 mins).
Ireland 17-4 Australia: Conor McManus does well to strug off a tackler but his attempt drifts away from the central posts for a behind (17 mins). That’s his first-ever point in International Rules.
That’s the end of the first quarter. Only one team has shown up so far.
(The Australia team perform a War Cry in front of the Ireland team before the start of the game – INPHO/Donall Farmer)
Ireland 18-5 Australia: Steven Motlop gets the first score of the half, registering a behind, before Jack McCaffrey does likwise (20 mins).
The Aussies have adopted a man-to-man marking defence in an attempt to change things in the second half.
Slightly wasteful from Jack McCaffrey, who bursts forward with pace, before hitting his attempt wide, when he surely would have been better off passing.
Ireland are still dominant despite those Australian changes at the break.
Ireland register another wide. The hosts could even be further ahead had their finishing been better.
At the moment, Ireland are winning far more kick-outs than their opponents and Australia are being pinned back into their own half as a result.
As I type, Lewis Jetta concedes possession during a rare promising attack for the visitors which encapsulates their ineptitude in attack.
Ireland 24-9 Australia: Colm Begley is played through but carries the ball slightly too far, wasting a good goal chance in the process.
Australia then register an over, before Aidan O’Shea slots over a free to get their first over of the half.
Shortly thereafter, Lyndsay Thomas hits Australia’s first over of the quarter, before Ciaran Byrne restores Ireland’s advantage (30 mins).
Ireland 28-9 Australia: Sean Cavanagh slots a free between the posts for his second over of the game (34 mins).
The sheert dominance of the Irish is surprising, especially as many people considered Australia favourites for this encounter.
And that’s the end of the second quarter…
Ireland have a 19-point lead at the break, with the score at 28-9.
Tadgh Kennelly tells Newstalk the Australians “aren’t doing the basics well”.
He adds that Buddy Franklin is the only Australia player “showing a bit of intensity”.
Another great pic from before the start of the game…
(INPHO/Donall Farmer)
Ross Munnelly and Jack McCaffrey have been among the standout players so far for Ireland.
They got a bit sloppy in the second quarter, after an outstanding first period, so it’s been far from a flawless performance — the Australians have just been so poor that they can afford to be somewhat lax every now and then.
Ireland 32-9 Australia: The visitors were out on the pitch a good three minutes before the start of the second half.
Yet Ciaran Byrne gets his second score of the night, hitting a behind from a free
Paul Flynn then gets a well-taken over. Another great start to the the half for Ireland (39 mins).
Ireland 32 -12 Australia: Steven Motlop stems the Irish onslaught temporarily at least.
That’s just Australia’s third over of the game (41 mins).
Sean Cavanagh has arguably Ireland’s best goal chance of the game, but the Australian goalkeeper makes a great save.
At this early stage, it already looks as if Ireland have the game well won.
Ireland 32 -14 Australia: Finally the Australians show some urgency to narrow the gap in the score.
They register two consecutive behinds, but need to be more consistently efficient in attack if they are to even put a respectable veneer in the scoreline.
Ireland 39-14 Australia: Zach Tuohy bursts through the midfield.
He has options left and right, but backs himself, and it pays off, as he slots the ball into the top corner coolly.
Ciarán Sheehan adds to Australia’s misery by adding a behind (49 mins).
Ireland 39-26: Australia: Substitute Jake Neade capitalises after Ireland fail to clear their lines to give Australia a much-needed six points.
Lewis Jetta and Buddy Franlkin then add an over each — much better from the Australians who are finally playing with a bit of confidence (54 mins).
Australia have taken 12 points in the last five minutes. Is the comeback on?
That’s the end of the third quarter as Ireland lead Australia 39-27.
Australia have come to life, and it’s Ireland who are reeling now.
(Jarrod Harbrow of Australia with Ciaran Byrne of Ireland - INPHO/Donall Farmer)
Ireland 39-28 Australia: Lance Franklin scores a behind, as Australia continue to improve.
Meanwhile, Aidan Walsh has suffered a bad injury and is stretchered off the field (57 mins).
Ireland 40-31 Australia: Incredible miss from the Australia player wh0 hits the bar from about five yards out. Pure comedy!
Mathew Stokes, however, gets an over to bring Australia closer still to Ireland’s lead.
Michael Murphy then gets a behind — Ireland’s first score of the quarter (61 mins).
It’s as if Ireland almost decided to park the bus and go all-out defence after Tuohy got that goal.
They have been almost as poor as the Australians had previously been for the last few minutes.
Ireland 43-32 Australia: Ciaran Sheehan gets a well-taken score to give Ireland an 11-point lead.
Better from Ireland! (67 mins)
Ireland 49-32 Australia: The ball falls fortuitously to Kevin McLoughlin and he makes no mistake, finding the top corner.
Game over (69 mins).
Ireland will be slightly disappointed that they haven’t won this game by more given how dominant they were early on.
Australia still have a chance to win the overall series next week due to their lack of ruthlessness.
Ireland 54-35 Australia: Leroy Jetta hits an over for Australia, before Paul Conroy gets a behind.
Colm Boyle then adds another over for Ireland with a calmly taken free to put further daylight between the sides (72 mins).
Ireland 57-35 Australia: Conor McManus gets another score (though the Australians are claiming it was wide).
Ireland have kicked seven of the last eight scores, as the hosts finish as strongly as they started (74 mins).
So that’s that. Ireland overcome Australia with a score that’s probably a fair reflection on how the match panned out.
The visitors rallied in the third quarter, after Ireland dominated the first half. Nevertheless, Paul Earley’s side stepped it up late on to secure an emphatic victory.
Only the most optimistic of Australia fans will give them a chance at Croke Park next week.
Sean Cavanagh tells Newstalk it took a while for Australia to “settle down”.
Cavanagh admits Australia “controlled the game” in the third quarter.
He says it took Australia a while to “get used to the ball” and calls them a “proud bunch”.
He also predicts next week’s game will be a lot tougher and explains that their war cry was “a great novelty”.
Hopefully Ringrose’s omission isn’t down to injury.
Shame that Craig Evans has been given this game. It’s deserving of a competent referee.
@teuO6nLS: Yes it is odd given Henshaw played the whole 6 nations and has a poor injury record, you’d think he’d rest up and Ringrose would start. Also is Osborne a better 12 or 13?
@Andrew Slazenger: 12 I think
Love this selection, strong but not full strength and then a really powerful bench. Porter finally gets a break! The first for so long; Excited by Milne prob getting 30/35 mins in a big game
Leinster will have to go full strength for the rest of the season, Cullen got his team selection‘s totally wrong last season and ended up trophy less. They need to learn from what Munster did last season.
@Liam23: I reckon they’ll still try to get away without sending the first teamers to SA. Winning this game would make that less risky
@Liam23: Get beaten in the last 16 of the Champions Cup?
@James: You ok hun?
@Mistral: Fine, thanks for asking. And you?
Going to be a cracker this ….and probably the URC final…
@Stuart: Should be a great game. Two excellent teams. Think the Leinster bench just edges it… It’s a seriously impressive pack of forwards to come on in the 2nd half. Looking forward to it!
@Stuart: unless they meet in the semi final again it will be a leinster munster final.
@Stuart: the rumour mill still turning around Johan Grobbelaar moving to Munster?
@Mark Murphy: yes i see that big bench for Leinster . Think they will be looking for statement win, class all over the park.i do however think that bulls pack is incredibly tough in the grind and back 3 outstanding and the linking between backs and forwards has been really good this deason…Jake white is going for the win..no better test for the boys for m Pretoria or at least to measure their progress to date ..
@Thesaltyurchin: top in form quality hooker would be a good buy , bulls now have akker VDM so would be surprised to see them let another hooker go given the depth they are building to properly compete for trophies across the Champions cup and URC …but money and strategy change things I guess
@Stuart: Spot on. Bulls are coming for win no doubt. If they can get a relatively dry track they have the talent to do damage. Really looking forward to seeing Moodie at 13. Absolute dynamite on his day and it should be a massive clash between himself and Henshaw.
@chris mcdonnell: After Leinster, Bulls have 5 URF games in SA, including Munster. I think they are in the best place to finish in the top 2 – even more so than Leinster. This would guarantee home QF & SF and maybe even the final and makes a Leinster v Munster final hard to see unless one of them go to Pretoria and win a SF. If Leinster lose tonight and then send a shallow squad to play Sharks and Stormers, the URC becomes very difficult to win!
Not healthy for Irish rugby Healy is getting the start ahead of Milne. Best thing about this game there is no hiding for Cullen. High quality personnel isn’t going to cover up average coaching, which has been clear since Lancaster left. Bulls are a serious side, Leinster could be in trouble here
@Eoin H: given it’s the attack that has gone backwards it would seem Andrew Goodman, Ireland’s new attack coach, should carry at least some of the burden for the quality of coaching
@teuO6nLS: Goodman was with Samoa the whole pre season but yes should still be better. I have a big issue with Mcrbryde and how poor and inconsistent the Leinster scrum has been under his reign compared to Fogarty and I mean Leinster under Cullen before Lancaster speaks for itself
@Eoin H: yeah average coaching which has led to the team struggling in both comps.
Oh wait!
@Eoin H: Bit early to be on the sauce?
@Eoin H: Bulls 4/1 with Paddy Power if you fancy them.
@Eoin H: healy is a fantastic loosehead and way ahead of milne. Cullen has made personal mistakes at the end of the last 2 season but it’s not a coaching thing.
@Eoin H: Or… you could take the view that when he comes on after 50 mins, he will be packing down with 2/3rds of the Irish front row. I think that is far more beneficial.
Henshaw will have work cut out for him w Moodie, freakish talent. Should be some game
@Conor: really enjoy watching moodie play. Superb talent.
@Niall English: same as balacoune
@Gary Galligan: hahah Robert is this you?
@Conor: Same as Larmour with Le Roux..
@Dave Moran: if Arendse gets a sniff of a 1 v 1 with JL it’s goodnight Irene. Also great to see Conan start
Great to see Russell and Osborne getting a start in a big game – Turner the other back who deserves more big games
Which Big Joe will show up? The one that played vs France or the one that went missing during then anthems in Twickenham?
@mWhSNsK2: Along with POM.
@James: the same POM that had more than twice the amount of metres gained, twice the amount of carries and nearly twice the amount of tackles than the enforcer? Fair enough
@mWhSNsK2: he’s 22 Tony. I’d hazard a guess you weren’t the complete package in your respective field at that age. He’s learning
@Conor: if he’s completely anonymous in 2 consecutive international games, questions should be asked is he ready to consistently ready to play at that level
@mWhSNsK2: I think his game against France and some moments against wales give him the benefit of the doubt – for now. He’s got big competition coming (Ahern, edogbo and James Ryan with a point to prove. We need all of the above to compete on tours like SA
@mWhSNsK2: POM performed poorly and his Munster starting place is under pressure from Ahern too – valid questions being asked
@Tony Moloney:not sure why you choose to put down a 22 year old but hey. So according to ESPN pom carried for 1 meter more than Joe v England. Pom made 1 less tackle, pom also recored 1 turnover, Joe didn’t lose the ball. Their penalty count was the same but pom had one of his frequent yellow cards in that game. Not sure where you pulled you figures from but I’d say you use andrex to clean it.
@chris mcdonnell: that’s a turnover conceded by the way
Advantage Leinster considering the Bulls have travelled.
@Jofus Soap:
More talented team anyways.
Big weight on Harry’s shoulders tonight. We need Luke to have his best game,backline very raw