Ireland-Aussie duel, perfect for party time

A former ruler returns, another says goodbye, a real battle that will likely last for years, a Lions subplot and there’s the small matter of a 150th birthday party.

Ireland versus Australia in the final game of the Autumn Nations Series couldn’t be better prepared.

Andy Farrell says he wants to see the window’s “best” performance.

The outcome of the All Blacks clash was always going to have an impact on the perception of the series, but before Farrell begins his sabbatical from the British and Irish Lions he has one more chance to peak.

The team was uncharacteristically weak against New Zealand, had some luck against Los Pumas in a 22-19 win and even had a lot to do with one win in eight tries over Fiji.

But Farrell, who made seven changes for this game, will be relatively happy with the way they handled the hard-fought Islanders.

Previous similar games, against Fiji in 2022 and Samoa last year, when he also made several changes, have not worked out.

In this regard, his team has made progress.

While the 49-year-old insists it was business as usual ahead of his final game against Ireland until next November’s games, there is no doubt that he and the players will finish on a high note and a sign of the Lions’ summer want to put tour.

“It’s just that with the last game here we are facing a big game, but after that what will be will be. We will turn the tide when we get to it,” he said.

The return of Joe Schmidt, a three-time Six Nations winner with Ireland between 2013 and 2019, adds to the mix.

Whatever his final year as coach, Schmidt has taken Irish rugby to new levels during his tenure and he can count on a warm reception from the Aviva Stadium crowd.

“It will certainly bring some emotions for me,” said the New Zealander (below), who took up Irish citizenship in 2015.

He will have to use all his inside knowledge of Farrell and his players to achieve a result that would prevent Ireland from winning four in a row against Australia for the first time since the 1958-1968 series.

Whatever motivation he can pass on to his charges is urgently needed today because last Sunday in Scotland they looked tired.

The hosts were good, they’re getting better and will no doubt be more than optimistic about beating Ireland in the spring (when won’t they?), but the Aussies struggling for tries in the 27-13 defeat were hard to believe.

They missed eleven tackles before scoring the four points; That won’t have been nice in Schmidt’s infamous Monday morning criticism.

They will be without Leinster nemesis Will Skelton, who has returned to La Rochelle, as this game falls outside the official international window.

There is a boost as exciting center Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (below) returns to fitness after a wrist injury.

“We were pretty confident about the progress we’ve made, but sometimes when that’s not reflected in the results on the scoreboard, there’s always an element of frustration,” said Schmidt, who has been in charge since taking over at the start of the year achieved six wins and six defeats.

His squad has only played 738 matchday caps, compared to the hosts’ 1,111, and there are six changes to the starting XI: James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams and Fraser McReight come into the field, while Max Jorgensen is in the starting XI the wing.

The 59-year-old would love to win in Dublin but his brief is to ensure the Wallabies are competitive next summer. He knows that ultimately he will be judged by that, not by the victories over Wales and England, memorable as they were.

This is a team in transition for which performance and progress are more important than a result.

Although Farrell scored a huge success by keeping Sam Prendergast ahead of Jack Crowley in the second half, you could be forgiven for reading on some parts of the internet that the man has been banned from Munster, never to be seen again.

What has actually happened is that Farrell knows a Six Nations win is available to him at outside half and he wants to see an up-and-coming, exciting talent like Prendergast run for a week and face top-class opposition , before, say, throwing He came into the game against England on the opening day of the Championship with just 90 minutes of international rugby under his belt, including 70 against Fiji.

“The opportunity to play in a big game with a good team behind you,” explained Farrell.

“Jack has been playing very well for us for quite some time and has also played in a lot of big games. So we know what we’re capable of.”

Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw looked good last weekend so there was no decision to be made at centre, while Hugo Keenan returns at full-back in place of the injured Jamie Osborne.

Jamison Gibson-Park returns to the scrum at half-time, with Craig Casey securing a place in the squad with his excellent display last Saturday, while James Lowe is back on the wing.

Tadhg Beirne, whose best games appear to come from the second row, will be moved to the back row to make room for James Ryan and Joe McCarthy.

“The two guys in the second row haven’t done too badly either, so it’s probably more about the balance of the team,” said Farrell. “We know that Tadhg can play very well in both positions.”

Gus McCarthy is the replacement for Rónan Kelleher after his brilliant debut last weekend, while Peter O’Mahony takes over the back row.

In this game, Cian Healy will become the country’s most capped player.

The front-row striker will score 134 points when he comes off the bench, breaking the record set by Ireland’s all-time leading player, Brian O’Driscoll.

The hosts are 14-point favorites, but it is a challenge, especially against first-class teams, that has never been met so easily.

In the recent games against England and New Zealand and in the 13-10 win against Australia two years ago, Ireland made a lot of progress, even though on paper they were the better and more in-form team.

It’s almost as if the traditional reputation of the opponent gets stuck in the players’ minds and they show too much respect for the crest.

It would be a fitting farewell if players would forget all that and just play their own game.

The IRFU kicked off its anniversary celebrations with the women’s team’s victory over the Wallaroos in Belfast last September and the party is expected to continue today.

Verdict: Ireland

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki; James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (main actors).

Substitute: Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.

Australia: Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (lead actor)

Substitute: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Tane Edmed, Harry Potter.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (ITA)

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