Ireland v Australia - Live Match thread.

[Gibson]

First topic message reminder :

After 4 years of waiting, team building and anguish. This game has finally come. A key game to decide who takes control of their own destiny, in this Rugby World Cup Pool and beyond.

Australia and Ireland have History in this comp. A long and close one. History says, Australia beat Ireland every time in this Cup. Albeit twice by 1 point.
Can Ireland beat a team, who I personally believe are the best team in the World right now? I doubt it. They are 2 years ahead of us in their squad development.
But, this Irish team has not performed for an age. Is this the game when Ireland wake up and show Kidney's winning hand? Have we been holding back for this one? I hope so.
Otherwise, Australia will run rough-shod over us and around us.

We are due a huge performance. And it helps our psyche that we are underdogs. A term I normally despise and refuse to accept, but it's true in this case.

For your delectation and to refresh the memory banks:

1987
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftwqtYBpASs.

1991
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvhHy6MFfi4

2003
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPOqXJbkPVs


Update:.
Pocock is out. Ioane is out. The odds have been altered drastically.
O' Brien is up against a rookie. Ben McCalman. A man even less experienced than him at 7. This is the winning and losing of this game in my opinion. The breakdown. An area Oz excel at. They bullied NZ there. Pocock did McCaw there. Not usual.

Can Ireland compete with the Oz backrow, with Ferris, O' Brien and Heaslip on our side? Can we stop and suppress the opportunities for Genia to do his thing and negate their brilliant back line? That possibility has now been increased, with the loss of the brilliant Pocock. How much so, we don't know yet. But, this will buy Ireland extra time and space to do their voodoo. If, in fact, they have it in them to do so. After a mediocre showing in 5 games leading up to it.

For Ireland: Kearney is back. Healy is Back. Sean O Brien is back. Key players, who were part of a side that demolished an English team chasing the SLAM.
It was the last time Ireland played to their full potential. All games since and before have been mediocre - over the last 2 years.

Aussie are a far superior, technical and cohesive side. No doubt about it. But with the loss to injury, of two key players, the pendulum has swung. It's game on.

Lineups.

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/matches/match=10935/index.html

Aussie update:
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team=38/news/newsid=2051878.html

Irish update:
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/matches/match=10935/index.html

Aussie, Irish and all other rugby-mad fans. It would be grand if we could have virtual-pints, mutual-respect, banter and craic on here. Before, during and after the game. Win lose or draw.

Enjoy the game.

[Cowshot]

Rory Best MOTM for the whole pack?

Congratulations Ireland on a superb win.

[Notch]

MURRAY!! No! Penalty! Turnover! Ferris! Scrum! Penalty again! Genia...

YYYYYEESSSSSSSS!!!

[rodders]

Yes it is Gibbo!!!!The best ever!!!!!! This is awesome!!!!

[flyhalffactory]

FANTASTIC BOYS ................. BLOODY PROUD!!!

[Gibson]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

[B91212]

Great game, great result. From an Englishman who got up at 2.30 to watch the game

[WillyGilly]

Yes. Just yes.

We believed.

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

[Biltong]

what a performance by Ireland, did what Wales couldn't last weekend, this is blydi amazing, just amazing. What a game, just WHAT a game!!!

Just a shame Bryce Lawrence tried to be the star of the Show, what a needle.

[Notch]

The World Cup is ALIVE! We've woken it up lads! We've set it on fire. The first upset!!

[rodders]

Declan Kidney you genious!!!!!

[Cymroglan]

Excellent win Ireland ---Well Done.

[Portnoy]

FANTASTIC RESULT!

WELL DONE IRELAND

[maestegmafia]

Well done ireland...!

I hope all you Irish fans go nuts celebrating this one...

A great win...

[nathan]

Awh shame that try wasn't allowed man. Would've been deserved.

You've made it Ireland, you've stuffed them. Sent my Sportsguru picks out the window, but it's worth it!!!

lol, it wasnt a stuffing!!!

but well done ireland, well deserved!!

[iso]

I'd love to have a team that could close out a game like that.

Well done Ireland

[TheGreyGhost]

Well fantastic stuff. Well done Ireland. Completely Brilliant.

[Dave.]

Great, just great.

[Gibson]

OMG. Lads I think Im going to happilly pass out here.

WE BELIEVED!

Oz with not even a LBP. Oh man.

Are WE ALL happy?

[EnglishReign]

Well done you Irish, thoroughly deserved. Great to see you doing what we all know you can.

[Guest]

ah man, so blydi happy for Ireland!! just such a great win, congratulations all round. I thought Best was superb. Again.

What a team performance. Loved it!


Breaker if you're about - sorry mate.

[Cari]

What a great match - it's up there with the Wales/SA game. So glad Ireland won. The locals are happy, and the competition is still wide open...god bless the world cup!!!

[trebellbobaggins]

Wow.. Ireland beat the tri nations champs?

Maybe they can beat anyone.

[Portnoy]

I expect the Sydney Morning Herald will be all over Bryce-Lawrence.

But who the fook cares?

[rodders]

I knew our boys could do it!

Nothing achieved yet though! This is no time for dwarf throwing!

[WillyGilly]

Right I'm having heart palpitations.

Aww thats brilliant.

[TheGreyGhost]

what a performance by Ireland, did what Wales couldn't last weekend, this is blydi amazing, just amazing. What a game, just WHAT a game!!!

Just a shame Bryce Lawrence tried to be the star of the Show, what a needle.

Yep, Lawrence was a twang. But Ireland won anyway. THe look on Cooper's face was just priceless.

[Cari]

Gibbo - no, I'm not happy. I wanted to Tommy to go all the way, but as usual, he stops just when he gets to the good bit

[trebellbobaggins]

Huge congrats Ireland.

[rodders]

Wow.. Ireland beat the tri nations champs?

Maybe they can beat anyone.

Well apart from NZ and France...but hey lets worry about that tomorrow!

[Cymroglan]

They did not look like the Tri-nations champions of old or more to the point they were made to look ordinary by Ireland.

[Gibson]

No we need to beat Russia then Italy. No loss of focus now.

Gowan Girv De Swerve!

[RuggerRadge2611]

Nice to see our Celtic brethren giving the trial nations champs a bloody nose! Enjoy the win lads!

[Cari]

Ireland could meet Wales in the QFs...that would be class!!!

[Dave.]

Who needs tries anyway?

[fa0019]

Amazing.... truly outstanding performance.

The pack were immense. Ferris & O'Brien were rocks in both defence and ball carrying.

[rodders]

The front 5 were magnificant!!! Absolutely immense!

This is the greatest day in the history of Irish rugby!

We need to knuckle down and front up against Russia and Italy but this is a great day!

[englandglory4ever]

Great win for Ireland I'm really pleased. Nothing like seeing a few sullen mouthy over cocky aussies to brighten up a wet day.

[Guest]

shhhh Cari, we have to beat Samoa and Fiji first!

[trebellbobaggins]

NZ could be facing Aussie in the semis now!!

I bet they'd love that one.

[EnglishReign]

Michael Lynagh is gutted, he said before the match "is attack really the right way for the Irish to approach this Australia team?!" or words to that effect. Laughed off Irish chances, the arrogant so-and-so!

[WillyGilly]

Anyone else feel as if they've downed a 6 pack of red bull?

[Pal Joey]

Well done Ireland!!!

Your forwards completely smashed us and the defence was awesome! We just had no answer - and were shown a lesson Gibbo would be proud of.

Believing worked!

The Irish players were so much smarter; with and/or without Lawrence... but that's no excuse. The much better team won on the day.

A great example of teamwork... and sticking to a brilliant plan. Our guys had no clue how to counteract. No rhythm, no flow as they say. They'll have to pick themselves up and try something different next time.

...and best of luck for the next match - all Ireland fans!

[trebellbobaggins]

Lynagh is normally quite nice but I guess Aussies can get a bit smug when they think they are on top in sports.

[Cari]

ha Willy! I don't think I'm going to be able to get back to sleep later!

Awh man I was shaking towards the end, and when Tommy ran the left of the pitch....I was a mess!

My pal just text me, she's not even into rugby but saw the end and thought it was awesome.

[TheGreyGhost]

Just backing the celebration cart up for a second...I think today revealed the lack of depth in Australian rugby. A couple of the top players out, and they were edged in the scrum and lack cohesion in the back line.

[WillyGilly]

Well done Ireland!!!

Your forwards completely smashed us and the defence was awesome! We just had no answer - and were shown a lesson Gibbo would be proud of.

Believing worked!

The Irish players were so much smarter; with and/or without Lawrence... but that's no excuse. The much better team won on the day.

A great example of teamwork... and sticking to a brilliant plan. Our guys had no clue how to counteract. No rhythm, no flow as they say. They'll have to pick themselves up and try something different next time.

...and best of luck for the next match - all Ireland fans!

Takes a brave Aussie to come on here. Top lad.

[Cari]

Oh no! I just noticed there in the replay, Tommy was limping a little after that long run...I hope his dodgy knee's not playing up after that.

[Taylorman]

Cooper spraying the ball to no one out wide ended any slim hope oz had.
Great effort by ireland. Makes the knockouts interesting.
With usa and russia left ireland will top the pool.
Oz had 2 of their stars missing and it showed. They dont have the depth.
Irish forwards take a bow. Theyve created the template to beat oz with.
Well done.

[Artful_Dodger]

Absolutely colossal.

Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, O'Brien and Ferris all immense.

[Cymroglan]

That was a I ran out of petrol sort of limp

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