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Tim Horan From: The Daily Telegraph September 21, 2011 7:11pm
IRELAND had a deliberate plan to fake injuries each time there was a breakdown in play last Saturday, so they could slow the game down and frustrate the Wallabies.
How can I be sure? By talking to Irish assistant coach Alan Gaffney in the dressing rooms afterwards.
If James Horwill was more experienced as a captain, he would have blown up about it to referee Bryce Lawrence and really created a scene - there is no way Richie McCaw would have stayed silent if a team used the same tactics against the All Blacks.
Australia's future opponents will have taken notice of the strategy.
Ireland had a game plan for Australia and it worked a treat: to slow the game down just for stoppages, target them in the scrum, and put the high ball up at every opportunity.
They also used the "choker tackle" taught by their defensive coach Les Kiss. They identified that the Australian midfield ran quite upright and successfully held them up to get turnovers.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1226142942135