THE LEGACY of Ireland's defeat by Western Samoa last Tuesday night week found expression in the deep disappointment of the supporters and the remedial action taken in its aftermath by the selectors.
All judgements of the individuals and the team as a unit must be relative to the strength of the opposition. But there were few redeeming features in the performance and no mitigating circumstances. People were entitled to expect better from Ireland's team of professional players and that is not to devalue the merit of the Samoans' display.
This afternoon a new challenge will be presented to Ireland's much altered side at Lansdowne Road. It comes from a nation correctly now deemed to be among the strongest in the game, Australia, in a match sponsored by Irish Permanent PLC.
Eight changes in personnel and a positional alteration were the Ireland management's concessions to the defeat last week when they reconstructed the side. Circumstances decreed that a ninth change had to be made when the captain Niall Hogan had to withdraw because of an ankle injury. That brings a new captain to the bridge, hooker Keith Wood. His leadership qualities, no less than his considerable ability as a player, will be put to a severe test today.
Ireland do not go into the match burdened by the mantle of favouritism - quite the contrary. The manager Pat Whelan is adamant that the lessons they received last week have been absorbed. The theory must, however, be accompanied by practical demonstration. The judgement on that is at hand.
The Ireland management revealed courage and realism in making eight alterations. They should bring the necessary remedial properties to bear in rectifying some of the major faults of omission as well as commission that were so apparent against Western Samoa. Ireland also go into the match after almost a week of preparation on the practice ground. Let us hope that bears fruit and is reflected in a vast improvement in the team's performance. Nothing less will do and even more may be necessary to end what has become a very long run of success by Australia against Ireland.
The most recent meeting was the second Test of Ireland's tour in 1994. That match in Sydney over two years ago was won by Australia, who were rather flattered to emerge with a 32-18 margin. Both sides today have only four survivors from that match, a rather big turnover in personnel in the space of 30 months, which is indicative of team building. The indications are that Australia may be further along the road of reconstruction than Ireland.
The Irish players on duty today who played in the Sydney Test are centre Jonathan Bell, hooker Keith Wood, second row Gabriel Fulcher and flanker David Corkery. All four made their international debuts on the 1994 tour. Australia retain full back Matthew Burke, centre Daniel Herbert, second row John Eales and flanker David Wilson. Herbert and Wilson scored two of the three tries Australia got that afternoon. Jason Little and Tim Horan were not available for that match, but play today with Little on the wing. At one time that pair formed the best centre combination in the game. They were both in the team that won the World Cup in 1991 and, with Eales, represent the survivors from that famous occasion.
The current team is some way below the vintage of that great side, as was revealed in the Tri Nations series last summer, but the Wallabies are formidable nonetheless and did defeat South Africa in one match in that championship. So does this Ireland side have the capacity to record what would be a famous victory today? I believe it does.
The Australians go into the match on the back of a 100 per cent record from their eight games on their tour to date, including a 10 points win over Scotland a fortnight ago. The Wallabies have beaten Connacht and, what may be more relevant in the context of the match today, Ulster, as 13 of the team that played at Ravenhill, play again this afternoon. The exceptions are Little and loose head prop Dan Crowley, who joined the tour on Tuesday as replacement for Richard Harry.
Ulster, who led at the interval and then conceded two tries in quick succession early in the second half, fought back well and at times made the Wallabies look vulnerable but did not have the required strength in the tight five. There is no doubt that the line out ability of second row Warwick Waugh and Eales is crucial to Australia and they use much of the ball this pair win to drive forward in a concerted maul. So Ireland must counter that pair and also be able to contain Australia in the mauls. If they do not, then the defence will be breached as the Ulster defence was with that strategy.
So line out possession will be important. Here, hopes rest primarily on Jeremy Davidson and Fulcher and Ireland must contain Australia in the mauls. Indeed there were times at Ravenhill when Ulster managed to drive at the Wallabies and when they did, the Australians did not always manage to stop the advance. Wood's throwing in must be accurate and Ireland must make the first tackles count.
Wood could prove an inspirational leader and, if he can repeat the kind of performance he gave against South Africa A, then he will surely lift those around him and cause Australia a lot of problems. When he made his debut against Australia in 1994, the then Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer described him as "potentially a world class player". He can give substance to that accolade today. This looks a much better Ireland pack than the one that played against Western Samoa although I regret the absence of Paddy Johns.
It is imperative that, from the kick off, the Irish forwards play with more urgency and effect than they did last week and sustain the effort. The Australians expect Ireland to start full of fire and passion - let us hope they are not disappointed.
If Australia do not now have the flair in the back division that was so notable a feature of their play a few years ago - no Michael Lynagh, or Nick Farr Jones or David Campese and the Little Horan midfield combination broken - they have some very accomplished backs and will avail of opportunity and take advantage of poor tackling. Their scrumhalf George Gregan is a durable player who will capitalise on any chance created by his forwards.
So a tight defensive back screen from Corkery, Anthony Foley and Denis McBride will be necessary. The performance of the back row defensively and as a platform for attack is of the utmost importance. They must close down Gregan and his partner David Knox. I think, too that the Ireland front row of Nick Popplewell, Wood and Paul Wallace may be able to expose a suspected Australian deficiency in this area.
The inclusion of Mark McCall in the centre brings to the scene a player of quality in very good form and he may be the man to prompt his partner Jonathan Bell to give the kind of performance that has deserted him for some time. This Irish back line does have attacking capacity but must tackle, too, with effect and efficiency. The wings, James Topping and new cap Dominic Crotty, have the pace to avail of any chances that come their way.
The half back combination of Stephen McIvor and Paul Burke carry a big responsibility. Burke is a fine footballer and McIvor brave and accomplished but he must not try to take too much on himself and be patient for the opportune time to break. Burke must vary his game and his tactical kicking needs to be well placed and his place kicking accurate. Jim Staples returns to bring great experience at full back and should get the opportunity to bring his attacking capacity into play.
This is a match of crucial importance to Ireland and some future international careers will be on the line. Australia go in as favourites and may justify that rating, but with Wood as the inspirational font, Ireland - if they keep their concentration - look to have the capacity to defy the odds.
Both teams completed their preparations yesterday with closed sessions, part of the modern philosophy and psychology in the changing landscape of international rugby, now as much a commercial enterprise as a sporting pursuit. Wood has called for the Irish crowd to get behind the team. I do not doubt they will, but he and his colleagues must give the ever loyal supporters something tangible to cheer.
