Ireland v Wallabies - Sunday 1 Dec, 2:10 AEDT

[stillmissit]

I hope the boys can switch on and stay on for 80 against Ireland. They looked like they didn't know where the switch was against Scotland, plenty of walking around and prior to one try one player had his back to the opposition, a schoolboy error.

A new defence coach for next year?

 

[stillmissit]

Sounds like Prendergast will start at 10 for Ireland:

Prendergast set to retain Ireland's 10 shirt against the Wallabies

Jack Crowley looks likely to be part of the Irish bench.

www.the42.ie

Seems like a good talent but he's very young and pretty raw, so it's definitely a selection we should be looking to put pressure on.

I watched his play, if he is raw I don't know how you define Lolesio.

 

[LeCheese]

So expect:

13 - Sua'ali'i

What about the $5m DISASTER I was promised by NewsCorp

 

[Ignoto]

Would have loved Isaac Lucas to have stayed in Aus Rugby. He probably is the player we have sorely missed at fly half.

I think Lucas wouldn't be up for International Rugby, he doesn't have the elusiveness that D-Mac has to make up for being such a small guy.

To'omua being busted all the time coupled with Carter Gordon leaving and Harrison's injuries have been bigger blows if you ask me.

 

[Wilson]

I watched his play, if he is raw I don't know how you define Lolesio.

Raw is a question of experience and has little to do with talent - he has played 22 games (only 2 of them tests) of professional rugby, averaging about a half per game. Lolesio has more minutes of test match rugby than Prendergast has in his whole career.

Last week he gave away a yellow card for an entirely unnecessary high shot after the media had been full of speculation that he lacked the physicality for test rugby. Whether or not that was the reason for the tackle the talk has since moved to speculating that it is and that won't lesson the pressure on him. I'm not suggesting he shouldn't be there or is a bad selection, only that his selection presents a seam for us to pick at, as any 21 year old fresh talent does - Sua'ali'i for us for example.

 

[Jets]

I think Lucas wouldn't be up for International Rugby, he doesn't have the elusiveness that D-Mac has to make up for being such a small guy.

To'omua being busted all the time coupled with Carter Gordon leaving and Harrison's injuries have been bigger blows if you ask me.

I think we will find out next year when he qualifies for Japan.

 

[stillmissit]

Raw is a question of experience and has little to do with talent - he has played 22 games (only 2 of them tests) of professional rugby, averaging about a half per game. Lolesio has more minutes of test match rugby than Prendergast has in his whole career.

Last week he gave away a yellow card for an entirely unnecessary high shot after the media had been full of speculation that he lacked the physicality for test rugby. Whether or not that was the reason for the tackle the talk has since moved to speculating that it is and that won't lesson the pressure on him. I'm not suggesting he shouldn't be there or is a bad selection, only that his selection presents a seam for us to pick at, as any 21 year old fresh talent does - Sua'ali'i for us for example.

Good luck with that. You don't get picked for the #2 rugby nation in the world if your ability to play is raw and inexperienced. I watched him and we would crawl over broken glass for a raw and inexperienced player like him.
Maybe the Irish are not like some of us here who are concerned about young players not being old enough to play the game?

 

[Jets]

I think Lucas wouldn't be up for International Rugby, he doesn't have the elusiveness that D-Mac has to make up for being such a small guy.

To'omua being busted all the time coupled with Carter Gordon leaving and Harrison's injuries have been bigger blows if you ask me.

With no Gordan I am hopeful that Harrison has a long run with no injuries. I feel that he will be the guy for the next RWC if he can string some games together.

I'm hopeful Noah plays more like he did at the start of the tour, rather than last week. No one played well last week and he's not the guy who's going to lift his team to a win.

Also, lets hope the team have a better preparation than they did for Scotland.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Good luck with that. You don't get picked for the #2 rugby nation in the world if your ability to play is raw and inexperienced. I watched him and we would crawl over broken glass for a raw and inexperienced player like him.
Maybe the Irish are not like some of us here who are concerned about young players not being old enough to play the game?

Our raw and inexperienced 10s would probably like to crawl over broken glass to slot into the Irish system and play behind the Irish pack too

 

[Brumby Runner]

Might have had something to do with his versatility, but I don't think under 20s means much once they've got years of pro rugby under their belt. Lots of players haven't even settled into a consistent position yet

That was a wild year for u20s flyhalves though - 10 Will Harrison, 12 Noah Lolesio, 15 Isaac Lucas and 23/Squad Ben Donaldson. Kind of wish we could've spread them out over a few more years

Think that particular U20s side was a step up on our usual standards and many of the players have kicked on at Super Rugby and test level, including, Bell, Nasser, van Nek, Frost, McReight, Wilson, Lolesio and Donaldson (probably a couple more that I've forgotten were in that squad). I wonder if what Lucas has done in the meantime would be on par with those players? Of course, it may well turn out in time that he becomes a permanent fixture in the Japan national team and we all look at him as another Hansen/Tuipoluto example of losing talented players we shouldn't have.

 

[stillmissit]

Our raw and inexperienced 10s would probably like to crawl over broken glass to slot into the Irish system and play behind the Irish pack too

Very true but in the first 2 games the pack wasn't the issue and I suspect they won't be the issue this weekend. There would have been some quiet rockets sent up a few of them. Then the D ah! the bloody D I think that is where the Irish will make the most of a poor system. Still feeling confident not sure why....

 

[stillmissit]

Think that particular U20s side was a step up on our usual standards and many of the players have kicked on at Super Rugby and test level, including, Bell, Nasser, van Nek, Frost, McReight, Wilson, Lolesio and Donaldson (probably a couple more that I've forgotten were in that squad). I wonder if what Lucas has done in the meantime would be on par with those players? Of course, it may well turn out in time that he becomes a permanent fixture in the Japan national team and we all look at him as another Hansen/Tuipoluto example of losing talented players we shouldn't have.

Not sure Lucas will be one of those BR but Harrison could well be.

 

[upthereds#!]

So expect:

1 - Bell
2 - BPA
3 - Tupou
4 - Frost
5 - Williams
6 - Valetini
7 - McReight
8 - Wilson
9 - Gordon
10 - Lolesio
11 - Jorgensen
12 - Ikitau
13 - Sua'ali'i
14 - Kellaway
15 - Wright
16 - Pollard
17 - Kailea
18 - AAA
19 - LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
20 - Gleeson
21 - McDermott
22 - Edmed
23 - Potter

In some training photos, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and tupou were running against Bell and Ala'alatoa. So thinking Tupou may come off the bench?

 

[Wilson]

Good luck with that. You don't get picked for the #2 rugby nation in the world if your ability to play is raw and inexperienced. I watched him and we would crawl over broken glass for a raw and inexperienced player like him.
Maybe the Irish are not like some of us here who are concerned about young players not being old enough to play the game?

You get that there is a difference between ability and experience right? And that players take time at every level to find their feet and fit into a team. Certainly Ireland are one of the better sides at bringing them on, but there are always growing pains, particularly at 10.

Prendergast is effectively their third string option there right now, someone they see as a real talent but needs time in the saddle to effectively boss the team around. It's absolutely a risk for them to start him on his 3rd test, one that may or may not pay off. That presents a real opportunity for us to rattle him and make him work for it, in a way that isn't generally there against a more experienced operator, regardless of how talented they are.

Maybe their systems are strong enough to ease him in and maybe he has enough talent to see him through, but in the same way I'd expect other teams to explore Sua'ali'i's decision making and positioning in defence (and they have been), I'd hope that we harras and harry (Wilson) him. Make him work harder and decide faster than he has had to in his URC games and present him with pictures he's never seen before.

 

[Wilson]

Think that particular U20s side was a step up on our usual standards and many of the players have kicked on at Super Rugby and test level, including, Bell, Nasser, van Nek, Frost, McReight, Wilson, Lolesio and Donaldson (probably a couple more that I've forgotten were in that squad). I wonder if what Lucas has done in the meantime would be on par with those players? Of course, it may well turn out in time that he becomes a permanent fixture in the Japan national team and we all look at him as another Hansen/Tuipoluto example of losing talented players we shouldn't have.

It is just a bit insane the quality of that side - Lachlan Lonergan, Harry Wilson, McReight, Tizzano and Nawaqanitawase as well in terms of test caps, and guys like Trevor Hosea, Joey Walton and Will Harris as experienced pros.

I think Kye Oates is the only member of that world cup squad to not have played professionally yet (Michael Wood just scrapes through with 15 minutes of super rugby to his name).

As much as I think Lucas has the talent to make us wish we still had him, I'm not sure he'll be looked at in quite the same way as those others - the circumstance of his departure are very different to Hansen and Tuipuloto - he was always highly valued here and it was fundamentally his decision to go.

Maybe if the crop of 10ish players at the time (and coming through behind with Carter Gordon a year or two younger) was weaker more would've been done to keep him, but that would've been an exceptional move and would've come with its own set of consequences.

 

[Dctarget]

Should mean that the recent successful u18s/u20s will be helping out soon in a couple years.

 

[wamberal99]

What about the $5m DISASTER I was promised by NewsCorp

Newscorpse is an entertainment vehicle, not a proper news organisation.

 

[JRugby2]

Would have loved Isaac Lucas to have stayed in Aus Rugby. He probably is the player we have sorely missed at fly half.

I've watched a few of his games in Japan - I think his stock is benefiting from the level he is playing at. Very much a big fish/ small pond type of scenario.

Looks very comfortable in a fast pace game that is played at a level of intensity that feels a lot lower than super. I would guess that if he had chosen to stay in Australia or if we was to ever return, he'd be no better than our current options.

 

[Brumby Runner]

In some training photos, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and tupou were running against Bell and Ala'alatoa. So thinking Tupou may come off the bench?

Perhaps more likely that he misses altogether again if he's not fit to start.

 

[Derpus]

I was promised an understrength Ireland