Ireland and Australia Face-Off Preview and Prediction
Bustin' Bang-ups in Dublin 🇮🇪🇦🇺
The final dance of 2024 is set to take place in Dublin as Ireland and Australia square off in a tense Test Match clash at Aviva Stadium on the 17th at 17:10 SA time (that's 18:10 Dublin time for ya folks across the pond!).
The Irish rolled into the new year strong, snatching the Six Nations Championship title. But their year took a turn with a series draw against the unstoppable back-to-back world champs, the Springboks. Nevertheless, they've still managed to stack up a commendable 7-3 record for 2024, with their losses coming from England, South Africa, and New Zealand.
Since their surprising Autumn Nations Series start, where they surrendered their number-one ranking to the Boks, they've bounced back with a couple of wins against Argentina (22-19) and Fiji (52-17). However, they've lost some of the imperious form that earned them the Six Nations crown, favoring cleverness and nuance over good old physicality.
Long story short: They've been a bit too smart for their own good. They displayed some grit in their match against the Boks in July, but it's about time they showed some real muscle once more.
Meanwhile, across the globe, Australia, coached by former Ireland guru Joe Schmidt, has had a tough spinning reel in 2024, finishing dead last in the Rugby Championship with a record of 4-6. However, they've shown impressive improvement in the Autumn Nations Series, crushing England (42-37) and Wales (52-20) but dropped the ball against Scotland (27-13).
The Wallabies nearly scored 40 points in back-to-back Tests for the first time in 13 years against England, making Schmidt jump with joy. But then they stumbled against Scotland, reving back to their old defensive woes, missing over 30 tackles and offering soft shoulders.
Preparation for this match was far from ideal for the Wallabies, with some unfortunate setbacks. Losing Matt Faessler and Jeremy Williams late to injury and illness respectively didn't help their cause. But their effort levels should've been better, no matter the circumstances.
The big question is, will Australia muster the strength to compete against Ireland and keep fans excited for the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour Down Under? With their Grand Slam aspirations dashed, motivation seems a bit tricky. But, Scotland has shown that these Aussies still have some growing to do, with a six-day turnaround for the final battle.
All signs point to a comfortable win for Ireland, but who knows? Stranger things have happened in rugby!
So gear up for a thrilling showdown, folks, as Ireland takes on Australia in the final dance of 2024!
❓Will Ireland win by 15? Walkin' in the park, mate!
💸Suggested Bet: Australia +16.5 at 1.83
Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a wise rugger cracker-upper who's spent more than 15 years navigating the world of sports writing[1]. His tales are spun with knowledge from stints at The Fever Media Group, SARugby.com, and Rugby365.com.
- The anticipated rugby clash between Ireland and Australia in Dublin's Aviva Stadium on the 17th could be a thrilling spectacle, given both teams' performances in 2024.
- Despite Ireland's strong start to the year, their 7-3 record is a commendable achievement, with competitive losses from England, South Africa, and New Zealand.
- Since the Six Nations Championship title win, Ireland has shown a shift towards cleverness and nuance, but the physicality that earned them the title is missed.
- Australia, coached by former Ireland guru Joe Schmidt, has had a challenging year, finishing last in the Rugby Championship, but demonstrated impressive improvement in the Autumn Nations Series.
- Preparation for this match was less than ideal for the Wallabies, with late injuries and illnesses to Matt Faessler and Jeremy Williams, but their effort levels should have been better under any circumstances.
- As the British & Irish Lions tour Down Under looms, the question remains: can Australia muster the strength to compete against Ireland and keep fans engaged? Despite their Grand Slam aspirations being dashed, motivation will be key to their performance in the final dance of 2024.
