Australia and Ireland face off in an exciting match preview, with predictions for the outcome. Expect a fierce contest between these two talented teams.
Let's Get Down to This: The last dance of the year is set to take place on Saturday, and Ireland and Australia both want to end their 2024 campaigns with a bang in Dublin (kick-off at 17:10 SA time), according to Quintin van Jaarsveld.
The Irish began the year by snatching the Six Nations title before battling to a series draw against the reigning world champions Springboks in South Africa. Their record for 2024 stands at 7 wins and 3 losses, with their defeats coming against England (23-22), South Africa (27-20), and New Zealand (23-13).
Since their shocking defeat to the All Blacks, which cost them the world No. 1 ranking, the Irish have managed two wins, over Argentina (22-19) and Fiji (52-17), but they haven't quite reached the heights they did during the Six Nations.
Modern Irish squad members fancy themselves to be intellectuals, but they have been overly focused on complexity and sophistication, neglecting their physicality. It's about time they got their hands dirty and displayed some real muscle, especially after observing Scotland's dominance over the Wallabies.
Former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt's maiden season in charge of Australia has been challenging, resulting in a record of 4 wins and 6 losses, finishing last in the Rugby Championship. They've made improvements in the Autumn Nations Series, with standout performances against England (42-37) and Wales (52-20), but their dreams of a Grand Slam were crushed by Scotland (27-13) at Murrayfield.
The games against England and Wales marked the first time the Wallabies had scored more than 40 points in back-to-back Tests in over a decade. Schmidt would have been disappointed to see his players fail to show such attacking prowess against Scotland, as their defensive woes returned, and they missed more than 30 tackles.
Issues off the field may have caused distractions for the Wallabies, with the loss of Matt Faessler and Jeremy Williams to injuries and illness before their match against Scotland. Despite the adversity, their effort levels should have been better, raising questions about their motivation for the season finale in Dublin.
Some question whether the Wallabies will bring the same enthusiasm to the table, as the Grand Slam dream has been extinguished and they face a dead rubber. However, the future of the British & Irish Lions tour Down Under next year depends on the level of competition in this match, making it crucial for both sides.
This clash promises to be an exciting one, but odds suggest Ireland may walk away with a comfortable win due to their recent form and the extra time the Wallabies have had to rest.
Prediction: Ireland by 15
Suggested Bet: Australia +16.5 at 1.83
- The upcoming game on Saturday against Ireland in Dublin is highly anticipated, as both teams aim to finish their 2024 campaigns with a strong performance.
- Ireland started the year by clinching the Six Nations title and drew against the Springboks, but their record for 2024 shows 7 wins and 3 losses.
- The Irish squad, known for their intellectual approach, need to focus more on physicality, especially after witnessing Scotland's dominance over Australia.
- Australia, under Joe Schmidt, have faced a challenging year, with a record of 4 wins and 6 losses in their maiden Rugby Championship.
- In the Autumn Nations Series, Australia showed great attacking prowess against England and Wales, but their defensive issues returned against Scotland.
- Despite the adversity faced by the Wallabies and the loss of key players, their upcoming match against Ireland is crucial for the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, making it vital for both teams to give their best.
