ALL GOOD THINGS come to an end, and so too did Ireland’s extremely impressive 12-match winning run over the past 15 months.
Ireland emerged from defeat in Cardiff in April 2017 intent on bouncing back and duly ended England’s 18-game winning streak a week later. And so began a run of form that romped through the USA, Japan, November and a Grand Slam before finally coming unstuck with a try-less 18-9 defeat in Brisbane.
Clearly, Joe Schmidt’s selection for this first of three Tests contained a few experimental elements. Joey Carbery, John Ryan and Rob Herring were among rare Test starters, while 20-year-old Jordan Larmour was thrust into action early due to a failed HIA for Keith Earls. On that note, according to Schmidt the Munster man was ‘massively frustrated’ at being ruled a suspected concussion, “he feels fine”.
However much rotation Schmidt has in mind for the middle Test of the series — Johnny Sexton, Garry Ringrose and Dan Leavy are likely inbound — the Kiwi says it won’t be massively influenced by yesterday’s outcome at the Suncorp Stadium. 15 months after he last tasted defeat and 15 months out from the World Cup, Schmidt’s priority is Japan and he is acutely aware of the dwindling time at his disposal to prepare for a tournament that has the habit of defining tenures.
“I don’t think we can afford to change some of the plans that we’ve got because we now have 11 Test matches between now and the lead-in to the World Cup,” said Schmidt.
“And, as much as I’m incredibly frustrated by the four-year cycle that everyone talks about, we’ve had a pretty good run since the last World Cup.
We’ve capped 33 players, so we’ve probably capped the guys that we’re interested in, but we now need to give them opportunity. Because we can’t be caught with guys who haven’t had that experience and haven’t been in that white-hot atmosphere that playing a big team – that whole furnace that occurred tonight – with that time and space taken away, how physical it was.”
Furnace was an incredibly apt description of the heat Ireland were ultimately unable to withstand from David Pocock and Michael Hooper’s pack on the ground.
This Ireland pack don’t get bullied around the park, but early collisions were shaded gold and breakdown kept them on the back foot as Wallaby line-speed made for a stunted attack from the tourists.
Standing in for the veteran skipper, Rob Herring was at the coalface. And in hindsight he could see the writing on the wall:
“They came out firing with a good defensive line, some good hits and I guess we just coughed up the ball a few times, which was what they were trying to do with that defensive pressure.
“We struggled to get our way into the game from there, we did hang on for a bit, but I felt like Australia were always in the ascendancy.”
And yet, another point in the series comes down for decision in Melbourne next Saturday. A chance to return to winning ways, avoid the back-to-back defeats that last befell them on tour in 2016.
And, who knows, perhaps embark on another streak leading into a November Test with the All Blacks – another match which will be a key indicator for this side as they approach Japan 2019.
“There is a fair bit of disappointment in the changing-room,” adds Herring.
Joe came in and said we have some good things to work on now. That’s the beauty of it, it’s a three-Test series and we’ve just got to get better now.
“We’ve to improve on what we let ourselves down on in this game and move on.
“We need to convert pressure into points, we had a couple of good opportunities in their ’22 and just coughed the ball up for one reason or another. I think that’s the key thing for us, converting those opportunities.
“We have to be confident, we’ve been building for a long time.”
All the more reason to stay the course.
Seems harsh regardless of 13. His eyes were on the ball.
@Martin Quinn: I’ve never understood why the jumping player has no duty of care for himself. Also, I believe the term tackler is not accurate as there was no tackle or player in possession.
@Martin Quinn: he is not the tackler, he was going for a high ball which does not constitute a tackle.
Issue here is consistency. Last week that double tackle on the French went unpunished given the lack of intent. Result, double facial fracture for the player. This week, where’s the intent? Possible interference too, clearly accidental. Obviously landing is horrific and we’re all for player welfare but the result is far less severe than what came before. The cancer on the game, Neil Francis aside, is that each week a different referee comes out with his own interpretation and it ruins the game.
did have eyes for ball which is frustrating for french player but still red
It’s a red. Unfortunate yes. But he took him out in the air and he landed on his head.
@David OfBrien: that is one of the things that bothers me, David. Barrett landed on his head, yes, but if he hadn’t would it have been a yellow? There has got to be an objective assessment of a tackle being or not being dangerous without consideration of the outcome. I say this because sometimes referees take the outcome into consideration and sometimes not. Then we end up having long discussions on whether it should have been a red, yellow or no card.
@David OfBrien: looks like he landed on the top of the shoulders to me but looks horrific all the same. Very lucky not to do more damage. You have to admire the bravery of players fielding the ball like that but could there be something more done to protect them?
@David OfBrien: Decisions shouldn’t be based on outcomes. Both jumped for the ball, the rules I think are a bit upfair as they sort of say that if you jump the highest, you have licence to do pretty much anything.
@Olive Barnes: 100% agree. Yes the outcome is bad, he clearly landed on head/neck, but as you say if he landed on his side that would have been a yellow. Referees should be officiating on the nature of the tackle and not the outcome.
@David OfBrien: they both went for the same ball. One player jumped the other stayed on his feet. The player who jumps puts himself into danger.
Completely different if he wasn’t watching the ball.
But in an accidental collision why should the player who’s least injured the penalised.
@Joe Kennedy: what’s on top of your shoulders Joe?haha ya I think it was a red. There was no intent to injure the player, but unfortunately the onus is on the player to make sure the opposition lands safely, and he didn’t. The issue here is that Fall didn’t jump for the ball. If he did, it would have been a fair contest and the contact with Barrett would have been higher on his body, so he wouldn’t have flipped like he did. I don’t know if there is anything that can be done to protect the players more in this case to be honest. Just a risk in the game.
@Olive Barnes: I agree. The tackle on Kearney was a clear spear tackle only Kearney got a shoulder down. Should have also been a red all day long.
Can’t hell but be cynical and wonder what the outcome would have been if the roles were reversed
Ref never seemed to consider the touch by 13 on Fall. It made him stumble slightly hence his timing for the challenge was all wrong. Bastereud should have brought that to the refs attention rather than the “eye on the ball” excuse. Probably still a red but the French must feel very hard done by. Can see a few scraps before this finishes.
Every 50/50 decision in this game has gone the way of new Zealand. Letter of
@s mc: Blame the ref not the players
@Andrew Goodman: Don’t see where he blamed the players. He made an observation. Kiwi fan feeling persecuted even when its an observation on them receiving the rub of the green!
Fall is pushed by NZ no.13 in under Barrett. (In the 2 seconds before this video) Surely this needs to be taken into account.
It is also clear that something needs to change about the rules…accidental stuff like this ruins a game. Don’t know what the answer is, but it is ruining games.
Jeez that’s awful harsh. I know player safety is at a premium now but how can you blame him for the way he ended up.
It was a red. But after last week they were robbed.
Seems to be one rule for nz and one for the rest. Also try after was forward.
@Shougeki: lies
Might seem harsh if you’re a French fan but it’s the right call by the ref. Players need to be protected in the air.
@Jim Demps: sorta agree , but this is leading to players jumping early and catching the ball in an unnatural position where they are already leaning backwards as they know that first in the air will get the refs call.
@Jg Igoe: perhaps but the rules are there for the players safety. If you get a chance go back and have a look at warburtons tackle against France in the wc that he got a red card for. At the time there were huge arguements whether it warranted a red or not. On viewing it with today’s eyes it’s a shocking tackle and the game is better off for having stamped it out.
@Jim Demps: agree on your general point but I do think the nudge from Lienert Brown means it should’ve been a yellow
Harsh red card.
After the mugging France got from the ref last week no one wanted to see this. But it was a fair call. Refs have to do what they can to protect players. That could have been a serious injury
France have a bit of pride and spirit now.. Something they have not had in a good few years
The rule should be red if intentional
Only way to stop this is players cannot jump to catch the ball. Tough I know but it’s all about player safety
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