Australia v Ireland

[An Tarbh]

Well it's back again and looks like this is the last chance for the hybrid series as any repeat of the scenes of 2 years ago and the series is off the agenda as far as the GAA are concerned.

So everyone to be on their best behaviour in Perth and Melbourne in what should prove to be a snore fest as the Aussies canter to what will probably be an easy victory.

No doubt we'll hear the same old nonsense about the round ball suiting the Irish and the Aussies struggling to come to terms with the ball, but it will again be Ireland struggling with fitness, technique in taking the lions share of 3 pointers and no doubt suffering from Ulster syndrome in front of goal and hand passing the 3 pointer instead.

Some new rules as well this year, only 4 hand passes before the ball must be kicked and some limits have been put in place on the interchange which the Irish management have never really come to terms with, they've only been playing this series for 10 years so it does obviously take some getting used to, they'll be monumentally screwed now that we've had this enforced sabatical.

So will Ireland be taught a lesson yet again or can we be inspired to take back the McAnallen Trophy.

 

[MunsterMan]

Australia will always be favourites, simply because they are professionals but Ireland are in with a shout. Sean Cavanagh is an interesting choice for captain, extremely talented (imagine if he had played rugby from a young age) but not the most experienced. Hopefully the Australians will actually play the game this time.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMan @ Oct 23 2008, 04:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Australia will always be favourites, simply because they are professionals but Ireland are in with a shout. Sean Cavanagh is an interesting choice for captain, extremely talented (imagine if he had played rugby from a young age) but not the most experienced. Hopefully the Australians will actually play the game this time.[/b]

well they did actually play the game in between kicking the **** out of us and comprehensively outplayed us in that respect.

 

[Prestwick]

Yeah, can we have a game of International Rules which doesn't involve:

1. More brawls than open play.
2. The crims winning.
3. The Ireland coach blaming everything under the sun.

Please?

Other than that, when you do get to see some actual IR being played (a rare sight I know) its pretty awesome to watch!

 

[MunsterMan]

From what I remember of two years ago Ireland won the first match narrowly in a good game with no real thuggery from the Aussies. In the second match the Irish players were more concerned about their personal safety than the match. Australians made no attempt to play the game.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMan @ Oct 23 2008, 04:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

From what I remember of two years ago Ireland won the first match narrowly in a good game with no real thuggery from the Aussies. In the second match the Irish players were more concerned about their personal safety than the match. Australians made no attempt to play the game.[/b]

Ireland had a purple patch at the end of the game and snuck the win but for most of the match it was the Aussies who played the better football, in the second test we did lose the plot but when the Aussies actually played they were streets ahead of anything that we could do.

 

[Prestwick]

It must be about how the squad is coached, the Aussies know the Irish can play otherwise there wouldn't be this steady drip-drip of guys going south to play in the AFL?

 

[MunsterMan]

Fitness and strength play a part too. It's professional athletes against farmers, plumbers, electricians, dentists etc. Talent wise it's pretty even IMO. Shaun Edwards said yesterday that Irish Rugby should raid the GAA for players. Ireland's most talented athletes all play GAA. If they likes of Kieran Donaghy, Sean Cavanagh, Joe Canning, Sean óg etc. started playing rugby when they started playing GAA the Irish rugby team would look very different.

 

[An Tarbh]

In the words of the Carlow hurling fan, right lads we've won the toss, now off on the lap of honour cause that's the only thing we're gonna win here.

Already ominous signs with Coulter missing an absolute sitter.

 

[An Tarbh]

Coutler should be given a breather he's had a mare of a start.

 

[An Tarbh]

Oh sweet Jesus my granny could had hit a better penalty than that and she's been dead for 11 years.

 

[Prestwick]

Ireland are 9 - 1 up! Whatcha wining about?!

 

[An Tarbh]

9-4 now but that total is the equivalent of 1 point in 18 minutes of football, that's a poor return for a mediocre inter county team, you'd expect better from the international team.

 

[An Tarbh]

That's better an over and a goal now.

 

[Prestwick]

HOLY CRAP! HELL FREEZES OVER AS IRELAND KICK THE BALL UNDER THE BAR!

 

[An Tarbh]

Great save from Gallagher but again suicidal play by Ireland gifting the Aussies 6 points.

 

[An Tarbh]

Yet again the interchange proving to be too much for the Irish management, leaving players on the pitch who are offering nothing, McDonald has been woeful yet there he stays.

 

[An Tarbh]

Quick start again from Ireland, 9 points and a belter of a goal from Cavanagh. Let's just hope we don't get a repeat performance of the second quarter.

 

[Prestwick]

Third goal and the 2nd quarter is looking like a rout...

 

[An Tarbh]

Yeah it does look promising but we'll see now whether old habits come back to haunt us and we fade in the final quarter.