Ireland was impressive and rarely lost their defensive form and discipline.
Our larger ball carriers were usually tackled by 2-3 players.
Although it was a good effort to come back from 17 points down in the first half the Wallabies never looked threatening.
In the 2nd half we looked like a rudderless ship in a running tide.
Our lineout did better than I expected (91% on own throw; Ireland only 69% on own throw).
Our scrummaging was terrible and I reckon we were outdone at the breakdown.
We were terrible under the high ball.
Foley kept kicking the ball straight to Sexton (??????)
Wallabies avoided nearly half of the rucks in defence.
Ruck data as follows:
+
Hooper (80 mins) made
39 rucks, 28 early
(72%) and 25 with impact
(64%).
(6 runs for 23m, 14 tackles/0 missed, 1 penalties)
+
Carter (71 mins) made 36 rucks, 31 early
(86%) and 33 with impact
(92%).
(3 runs for 2m, 10 tackles/
3 missed)
+
Kepu (70 mins) made 34 rucks, 21 early (76%) and 19 with impact
(56%).
(5 runs for 2m, 11 tackles/2 missed, 1 penalty)
+
Slipper (75 mins) made 33 rucks, 25 early (78%), and 23 with impact
(56%).
(5 runs for 4m, 8 tackles/1 missed,
3 penalties)
+
Fainga’a (70 mins) made 29 rucks, 23 early (79%) and 24 with impact (83%).
(3 runs for 3m, 10 tackles/1 missed)
+
Simmons (80 mins) made 24 rucks, 19 early (79%) and 19 with impact (79%).
(7 runs for 8m, 7 tackles/1 missed)
+
McCalman (80 mins) made 23 rucks, 17 early (74%) and 20 with impact (87%).
(12 runs for 33m, 9 tackles/1 missed)
+
Jones (53 mins) made 19 rucks, 14 early (74%) and 14 with impact (74%).
(5 runs for 2m, 10 tackles,
3 penalties)
Off the bench
+
Schatz (27 mins) made 12 rucks, 10 early (83%) and 7 with impact
(58%).
(1 runs for 2m, 3 tackles/1 missed)
+
Hanson (10 mins) made 4 rucks, 4 early (100%) and 3 with impact (75%).
(1 run for 0m, 0 tackles)
+
Robinson (5 mins) made 4 rucks, 4 early (100%) and 4 with impact (100%).
(1 runs for 0m, 0 tackles)
+
Skelton (9 mins) made 4 rucks, 4 early (100%) and 1 with impact (25%).
(5 runs for 4m, 1 tackles)
+
Faulkner (10 mins) made 3 rucks, 1 early (33%) and 1 with impact (33%).
(3 runs for 12m, 1 tackle/1 missed)
Significant ruck contributions by
Backs as follows:
Toomua – 17, AAC – 15, Speight – 14, Kuridrani – 8, Foley – 8.
Comments:
+ Early engagement = 1st or 2nd to ruck.
+ Impact = active engagement, strong physical contact, changed shape of ruck, clean-out, etc.
(more than hand on someone's bum or playing statues.)
+Impact doesn't mean that the player was "menacing" at the ruck.
+Rucks stats gathered while watching replays of the game. Other stats from ESPN Scrum.
Attachment 3567
Further comments/observations re the ruck involvement:
1. Hooper was busy but ineffective (in a Beau Robinson sort of way).
2. Carter wasn't far behind Hooper in ruck involvements but was a lot more effective.
3. Jones, Skelton and Schatz lie around the rucks (like garden slugs) just waiting to be penalised.
4. We missed Fianga'a when he was replaced. Hanson continues to offer little.
5. Kepu doesn't do cleanouts - he either plays statues or just leans against anybody who is close. But he's great at scrums.
6. Slipper is showing that it's been a long season....very low impact at rucks. I reckon that he has been fantastic this year and should have received the John Eales.
7. Simmons was better than usual.
8. Whatever, the problems are neither Jones nor Schatz provide solutions. Jones seems like a very slow learner and like Schatz just looks lost at this level (Schatz - 3 tackles in 27 minutes!!??).
9. I continue to marvel at the way Ben McCalman just keeps on keeping on. Strong contribution but obviously carrying injury/injuries. Suggest groin as lost his leg drive. Runs at about 85%. His ruck involvement wasn't up to his normal standard. 40 minutes of rest this week.
10.
It must be a continual frustration for Hodgson that he misses out on Test caps when clearly his credentials and impact are so much better than others.
11. Hooper actively avoided Defensive rucks. Only 5 of his 39 rucks were when Ireland was in possession.