A World Cup miscellany compiled by JOHN O'SULLIVAN

Aussie media criticism scathing: Wallabies were Paddy-whacked

THE AUSTRALIAN newspaper ran the banner headline "Wallaby Dream hits massive pothole" to describe Ireland's 15-6 victory over Australia at Eden Park. In summing up the setback Wayne Smith wrote: "It is a nightmare scenario for Robbie Deans and his players and throws up the alarming possibility that Australia could relive its 2007 World Cup experience when it entered the tournament ranked No2 in the world only to exit at the quarter-final stage when England provided the template for Ireland's victory tonight by destroying the Australian scrum."

Greg Growden of the Sydney Morning Herald was in no doubt it was the Wallabies who misfired and he responded to captain James Horwill's admission that they played some "dumb footy".

"It wasn't some dumb footy," he wrote, "it was completely dumb footy. For being so dumb, they should be forced to wear World Cup dunces hats for at least the next week. You had to admire Ireland's courage, endeavour and smart game plan, but it was more that the Wallabies were appalling.

"Their forward play was sub-standard, their attack abominable. Their scrum was overwhelmed, penalised regularly which enabled Ireland to keep adding to their score through goal-kicks. There was no punch in their backrow play. Numerous players weren't sighted. And the big moment was too much for them. They were rattled during a hideous evening which must rank as one of Australia's worst World Cup moments."

Former Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannon was scathing in his analysis in his comment piece in the Australian Daily Telegraph. Under the headline "Deans dummies devoid of patience", he wrote: "Where was the patience? The Wallabies played some really dumb rugby last night. The lack of big-game maturity, which we thought had developed, went missing again. The simple fact is the conditions were not conducive to them playing cheeky football.

"The Springboks got their wake-up call against Wales and turned it around yesterday. The Wallabies got their wake-up call but they won't be able to turn it around because they've put themselves in the path of the big dogs."

Jim Tucker pointed out that the Wallabies had been "Paddy-whacked", before alighting on the difficulty of finishing runner-up in the pool. "The ramifications are huge because it now pitches the Wallabies into the horror scenario of having to win a mini-Tri-Nations just to make the final on October 23rd."

The Courier Mail ran the headline "Ruthless Irish crash our cup party", with Darren Walton highlighting the defeat as only Australia's second ever at the pool stages of a World Cup tournament. In the New Zealand Herald, which ran the headline "Ireland tips World Cup upside down", Gregor Paul wrote: "Ireland have tipped the Rugby World Cup upside down and set themselves on course for the most memorable campaign. They have done all of New Zealand a massive favour by beating the Wallabies and not just for the pure joy that brings in itself.

"They have left Australia in grave danger now of having to meet South Africa in the quarter-finals."

Aussie ire: Bryce blamed

NEW ZEALAND referee Bryce Lawrence came in for some stick from Australian supporters on Twitter as they sought to come to terms with their defeat to Ireland. The biggest bone of contention was the way in which the referee interpreted the scrums; hardly surprising as it proved to be a lucrative source of points for the winners.

Former England and Bath prop Dave Flatman was another not to agree with Lawrence's rulings, observing on Twitter that "Ref guessing at scrum time for that penalty. Happy for Ireland but horrid, horrid refereeing."

A flavour of the Aussie supporters' reaction can be gleaned from the following tweet: "That ref was disgusting. Too much dazzle, dazzle boys and not enough straight up play. Well done, Ireland. Good wake up call for my Wallabies."

Another tweeter was more succinct. "I really hate Kiwi refs."

Baa Baa

IT COULD be described as playing the Baa-baas. Those entering rural Lumsden in North Otago are in for a surprise.
Four sheep there are spray-painted with the silver fern, the English rose, the Irish shamrock and Romanian colours,
while four more in a specially-fenced area close to the highway are caped in Argentine, Scottish, English and Romanian
flags.

It is the locals’ way of becoming part of RWC 2011 and providing some light relief for the many thousands of supporters passing through.