Australia v Ireland - 4 July 2026

[Quel Carreleur]

Not really it’s offside in any place of the pitch you can’t disconnect from the maul like that

This.
It's not material, but it absolutely is a penalty

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

yeah if that happens in open play and he gets tackled a couple meters after the obstruction it's fine. but you can't score a try like that.

 

[big ginger 8]

Not really it’s offside in any place of the pitch you can’t disconnect from the maul like that

Doesn’t change what I actually said though? It’s a penalty but still feels harsh. Punishing a team for being dominant.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Doesn’t change what I actually said though? It’s a penalty but still feels harsh. Punishing a team for being dominant.

TBF when I quoted it, the post didn't have the end bit

I guess it's punishing for poor technique rather than dominant

 

[dirty harry]

Ireland getting mugged at the scrum and lineout

 

[Quel Carreleur]

5 points
5 minutes
5 metres

 

[big ginger 8]

3 long entries into the 22 with multiple penalties is the threshold for a warning apparently.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Don’t care for this competition but the games have been exciting

I think cause teams don’t seem to be too worried they are just letting it play

 

[dirty harry]

Not sure if Ireland deserve to win this... but good luck to them

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Great game both teams will have plenty positive and things to look at

Shame it’s not a series though 3 games of this would be great

 

[big ginger 8]

Not sure why we kicked it back to them, should have done a NZ.

Must be special hearing The Fields ring out like that in a stadium the other side of the world.

Skin of our teeth.

 

[Brown Bottle]

An NH win!

 

[Quel Carreleur]

2 excellent games so far today.
Let's hope the afternoon can follow suit.

NB: that's good rugby, not a good "competition"

 

[dirty harry]

Congrats Ireland, seemed like 2 rusty teams, Ireland took control of that 2nd half really well.

Aus are such a lesser side without Valetini

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Ireland now the early frontrunner to top the NH group and make the final.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Good game,

Seems a silly choice to for the kick at the end considering he'd missed a similar one minutes before, and didn't get close on this one, but I guess they were down a forward so a maul in Ireland's 22 was hardly a forgone conclusion for points

 

[Demfad]

In the context of the tournament it was must win for Ireland. Now Australia will need to beat France. If France get 10 points from their remaining matches Ireland would need to get at least two points from Auckland which would match them assuming 5 points against Japan.
Pacific quadrant is done. Now for the “Atlantic Ocean” hemisphere matches.

 

[Demfad]

Good game,

Seems a silly choice to for the kick at the end considering he'd missed a similar one minutes before, and didn't get close on this one, but I guess they were down a forward so a maul in Ireland's 22 was hardly a forgone conclusion for points

There was a discussion I think he was told to kick. I thought he could adjust from the last one but I think he forced it a little.

 

[OllyM97]

you’ll hate this comparison @Leonormous Boozer, but purely in terms of levels of support, Irish rugby fans for international matches are like England fans in major football tournaments - they just get here, there and everywhere. Absolutely insane support.

 

[Demfad]

Ireland now the early frontrunner to top the NH group and make the final.

France got 2 points versus NZ. It will be decided in the big NH matches in October.

 

[Demfad]

you’ll hate this comparison @Leonormous Boozer, but purely in terms of levels of support, Irish rugby fans for international matches are like England fans in major football tournaments - they just get here, there and everywhere. Absolutely insane support.

There are a lot of recent (last 30 years) Irish immigrants. A lot of those kids in green were born and bred Aussies who were too young to object to their Irish parents.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

An hour between the end of Test3 and Test4 in today's rugby marathon, so time for a full English


Sausages (pork and ale), Bacon (smoked back), Eggs (scrambled over-yolked, peppered), Beans (with improved sauce - counts as leftovers), Fried bread (baguette, fried in bacon dripping), and sadly (well, not all that sad), Hashbrowns (normally fried Potato, but only seem to have bought new potatoes for salad recently). Served with homemade ketchup (apparently depending on your definition of "homemade", thanks to a previous discussion with a chef)

Don't like mushrooms, and I'm intolerant to proper tomatoes I'm afraid. Not a black/white pudding man either.

Is there a better meal for sports-watcning?

 

[ChicagoKid]

Right, an hour off between AusvIre and FijvWal - are hash browns an acceptrpart of a Full English? Or are they too American/French?

I’m shocked biscuits and gravy hasn’t taken over the UK. Everyone who tries them loves them - plus it’s gravy.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Ireland now the early frontrunner to top the NH group and make the final.

I find the format of this tournament strange. So if the northern hemisphere lost every single game they played there would still be a northern hemisphere team in the final???

 

[Tomma235]

Don’t care for this competition but the games have been exciting

I think cause teams don’t seem to be too worried they are just letting it play

I wasn't in favour of the competition either but if all the games are like the 3 so far today then all I've got left to dislike is the distance the teams have to travel.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

I find the format of this tournament strange. So if the northern hemisphere lost every single game they played there would still be a northern hemisphere team in the final???

Yes, and they can be "the best" team by having a favourable draw in terms of who they play at home and who away

I wasn't in favour of the competition either but if all the games are like the 3 so far today then all I've got left to dislike is the distance the teams have to travel.

Would the rugby have been worse if they were "just" the first round of summer international matches?

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Yes, and they can be "the best" team by having a favourable draw in terms of who they play at home and who away

Would the rugby have been worse if they were "just" the first round of summer international matches?

Almost as badly designed as the 2026 football world cup.

 

[Tomma235]

Yes, and they can be "the best" team by having a favourable draw in terms of who they play at home and who away

Would the rugby have been worse if they were "just" the first round of summer international matches?

History would say yes. It's a long time since 3 consecutive games of rugby have held my attention although technically they've been overlapping rather than consecutive

 

[Quel Carreleur]

History would say yes. It's a long time since 3 consecutive games of rugby have held my attention although technically they've been overlapping rather than consecutive

You were thrilled by Italy's capitulation?

 

[Demfad]

Yes, and they can be "the best" team by having a favourable draw in terms of who they play at home and who away

Would the rugby have been worse if they were "just" the first round of summer international matches?

Arguably France don’t send as strong a team for the first match and a full team for subsequent matches if it was just tests.
What is certain is that teams outside the top 6/7 will now get equal access to top quality tests every two years.
It is not clear whether the Atlantic or Pacific series of tests are harder. Thus no substantiation that either is easier, or that the best team in terms of the log gets there due to an easier draw.