Well, well, well. Ireland have well and truly thrown the cat among the pigeons. What a game. What a performance. What a result.
I don’t know what was more pleasing, seeing Ireland finally hit the form they so clearly have on paper, or seeing Quade Cooper’s odious little face at the final whistle.
Ireland showed two things in this game. That Australia still have the most impotent front row in world rugby’s top-tier and they themselves have one of the most physical and dynamic back rows in the game – and that’s without David Wallace!! Granted, Ireland’s lives were made easier with the absence of David Pocock, but even so, Ferris, Heaslip and O’Brien were out of this world. In fact, the entire pack was out of this world, they were masterful.
All teams should learn lessons from the boys in green on how to deal with Australia in this world cup. DOMINATE UP FRONT. Australia operate on a different plain when their backs can get ball going forward. But neutralise their ability to play on the front foot and you’ll have them firmly by the balls. The backs will always be dangerous in broken play and on the counter-attack, but if you’ve worked hard enough on your defence you can cope with them.
So, well done Ireland, you’ve turned the world cup on its head and made me look like a lemon. I salute you.
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