Ireland vs. Australia: 6 Things We Learned
Australia capitalised on a thrashing of Italy last week to register a 32-15 win over Ireland at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, where the hosts were made to look worryingly average at times.
Expectations had been high after Joe Schmidt's side triumphed over Samoa in convincing fashion last week, but this result was a big step back to the drawing board, as the Shamrock failed to get out of first gear.
All credit to the Wallabies, however, who were clinical in their outing and put away a majority of the chances afforded to them. They were efficient in attack, and Ireland wasn't able to respond.
With this stage of the season being all about self-improvement, read on for six lessons learned from the Dublin demolition, as both teams face big fixtures in the weeks ahead.
1. Irish Pack Gives Schmidt Cause for Encouragement
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While Joe Schmidt saw some weak points in his side on Saturday, the forwards were responsible for some promising aspects of the outing.
In the first half, after being awarded a penalty right in front of the Wallabies' posts, Ireland opted for a scrum, which evoked a huge reaction from the Aviva crowd.
Cian Healy, Rory Best and Mike Ross were impressive at the scrum and did well against their Australian counterparts, once more showing that those in gold and green are struggling with the new laws. James Slipper did help in forcing a 90-degree rotation in the second half; however, Ross came up short on that occasion.
In the end, the initial fire subsided, and Australia's pack impacted the game, but the positives from the Irish forwards in the first half shouldn't be forgotten.
In open play, Schmidt and his men have a lot to work on, but they at least have a strong foundation in the pack.
2. Hooper Is the Messiah and Also a Naughty Boy
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Michael Hooper has continued his development as a part of Ewen McKenzie's squad this autumn. He opened his account in the best possible manner against Ireland, scoring two tries—one on either side of halftime.
For months now, the 22-year-old has taken his international progress step by step and has never looked likely to lose his place at openside, producing consistent results all the while.
However, one less amicable side of the flanker is his tendency to overstep the mark, and Hooper was again shown a yellow card late in the first half this weekend for repeated infringements.
For some players, a lack of discipline means they want to win so much, the laws of the game can often become a secondary priority. Many managers would take the young starlet on their team regardless.
3. Paul O'Connell Is Making an Immediate Impact
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After being omitted from the starting lineup against Samoa last week, Paul O'Connell was one of those coming back into the Irish XV this week, and it didn't take long before he made his presence known.
More than anything, it was the small differences made by the Munster man that told.
His voice at the line-out and his work in straightening things up in the loose meant that Ireland were a lot more regimented than they might have been without his leading figure among them.
He picked up around the breakdown and pitched in with a lot of the defensive work. His comeback may not have produced the kind of performance he was after, but it held its share of positives all the same.
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4. Cooper's Boot Is Getting Back to Its Best
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Quade Cooper's return to the international setup under McKenzie has seen the once controversial kicker become a different kind of player.
Once seen as a tad rash and loud and perhaps having too much flair for his own good, the Wallabies' fly-half is showing shades of a much more reliable presence.
Against Ireland, the Queensland Red scored a try of his own and was accurate from the tee, recording a majority of Australia's points by himself.
However, points aside, Cooper's kicking for territory was also superb, and the likes of Fergus McFadden and Rob Kearney were put under consistent pressure thanks to the No. 10's probing.
Recently named as vice captain of the national team, Cooper is proving himself to be a more mature personality in his second run through the Australian team. He is showing that he's learned from past mistakes.
5. Israel Folau Is Breaking New Horizons
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As the top scorer for Australia in 2013, Israel Folau is in an elite category of attacker.
However, the utility's strength with ball in hand was proof that the Waratah star may be among the best in the world at his position. He is proving some of his critics wrong.
He was originally a winger, and doubts had been raised over Folau's worth at full-back. Considering he once again ran for over 100 metres at the Aviva Stadium, any such fears may be misplaced.
At times, the Irish defence were made to look infantile. He finished the match with seven defenders beaten and four offloads.
He may not have got on the scoreboard, but Folau is a consistent attacking force for McKenzie's rabble and can't be overlooked as one of the world's most promising talents for future years, too.
6. Matt Toomua Wins the Battle of the Centre Starlets
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Matt Toomua and Luke Marshall entered Saturday's fixture as two promising centres, and a lot was expected from both. By the time the full-time whistle had gone, only one remained as victor.
While Marshall finished the encounter as dejected as the rest of his team, Toomua can be overjoyed with his performance. He offered another calm and collected demonstration of his use in McKenzie's midfield.
The Brumbies playmaker managed to retain some of his use as a territory kicker for Australia, but he also injected his own touch of superb running influence, despite making just nine metres on this occasion.
That being said, it wasn't the direct running game that put him above Marshall this time around, but the catalytic nature with which he helped Cooper and partner Tevita Kuridrani in particular.
What's more, no player registered more tackles than Toomua's tally of 15, which is a respectable total considering the threat of Brian O'Driscoll was looming.
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