Australia v Ireland - 4 July 2026

[Leonormous Boozer]

https://www.world.rugby/beta/en/match/bb26ee04-38a6-41ae-9247-eca420a8dda1 - link should include local time. "Your Time" is IST.

 

[big ginger 8]

Looks like a full deck to choose from, not expecting too much change.

Biggest chance for a 'surprise' in the starting team is seeing if they have Beorne at 6 or put him in the row with Prendergast starting.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Good game this. I fancy Ireland to sneak it but should be a tight game.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Something about summer rugby that makes me struggle to get into it - the All Ireland championships being rescheduled so that semis and the hurling final clash with these weeks doesn't help.

I think 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 are all.in play for Ireland this month. We often **** the bed in the first game of a tour but the lads have been in Sydney for a week now and we've had Australia's number lately so 50/50 game I reckon.

 

[Demfad]

Very dangerous looking Aussie backline. If Ireland can impose themselves on them and attack on transitiona (like against England and Scotland) we should win. If we let them play and defend like we did in Paris 2026 then we will lose. I expect Farrell to start a lot of the Leinster team who beat Bulls and use that cohesion and momentum. The Aussies are targetting this match so I'd go 50:50 also.
If we can sneak this one then we should be able to manage Japan while building up to Eden Park with a shot at 3/3.

 

[OllyM97]

Narrow Aussie win for me, think they need to win this more than Ireland. Wallabies by 3.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Golf has been booked for 11.50 this Saturday, will watch the first half hour with breakfast in the clubhouse but thatll be it.

Rare I'd miss an Ireland game but these tours without the three test series aspect just don't excite me. Worried it might kill the love of autumn tests too.

 

[Hmmmmmm]

 

[big ginger 8]

Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(46)
14. Rob Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(8)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(74)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(28)
11. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(15)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(15)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(51)

1. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(21)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(39)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(86)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(24)
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(80)
6. Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(11)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(79)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(59)

Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(48)
17. Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster)(8)
18. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(13)
19. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(70)
20. Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(11)
21. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(28
22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(12)
23. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(69).

Osborne at 11 the only real surprise. I get the idea in theory but in practice haven't been delighted by it.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Jaysus our props are too weak to sustain any level of performance currently. Need the young Connacht lads to have a big 12 months and if Clarkson could go up a level it'd be nice.

Hate hate hate Osborne at 11 - get rid of Aki, Osborne to 23 and have a proper wing.

 

[big ginger 8]

Jaysus our props are too weak to sustain any level of performance currently. Need the young Connacht lads to have a big 12 months and if Clarkson could go up a level it'd be nice.

Hate hate hate Osborne at 11 - get rid of Aki, Osborne to 23 and have a proper wing.

TOT was very good at the end of the 6N and we are still missing our first 3 looseheads in fairness.

 

[big ginger 8]

Didn't realise the match is free to air.

Something right with it anyway.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Farrell confirming that the decision that his youngest son would represent Ireland over England if the opportunity arose was made 3 years ago is class.

I think Farrell is very corporate savvy and knows speaking negatively about the RFU harms future Lions and Sarroes roles but I think he proper hates them between his own treatment and lack of support for Owen at the end of his career.

Anyway - Prendo masterclass, Ireland by 8, me to shoot a 77.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Errrrrrr, why is my boy Beirne on the bench?

 

[big ginger 8]

Errrrrrr, why is my boy Beirne on the bench?

Hasn't played in a while due to injury.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Hasn't played in a while due to injury.

Acceptable.

 

[Groundhog]

Hope we can cap off a terrible 24 hours of sport for the Aussies. Not filled with confidence though

 

[big ginger 8]

Baloucoune out so Jimmy goes marching down the wing.

 

[Demfad]

I think Tom Wright maybe out for Australia.
50/50 for me.

Edit: he’s on sub bench, my bad

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Angry James Lowe noises

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Aus look far more energetic. Very lethargic from us.

 

[Demfad]

The defence showing the dog legged hybrid Leinster/ Ireland thing we saw against France.

 

[big ginger 8]

Lovely move.

That’s a lot of 22 penalties without a warning,

 

[Demfad]

Sam missed a very kickable conversion kick under less than moderate pressure again. Disappointing.

 

[Brown Bottle]

I thought Sam Prendergast had fallen out of favour.

 

[big ginger 8]

Our defence is very disjointed.

 

[Demfad]

The defence showing the dog legged hybrid Leinster/ Ireland thing we saw against France.

Shambles. Tempting lads to fly out and sending lads through the hole. Costly over carry by Keenan for the initial penalty.

 

[ChicagoKid]

Club and international rugby are two different sports.

Speed. Power. Intensity. Skills.

Insane game so far.

 

[Demfad]

FFS. Not taking much to work Prendergast out alas.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

ireland gotta retire the loopdy loop