🇮🇪🆚🇦🇺 Battle in Dublin 🇦🇺
Ireland and Australia Set to Clash: Analysis and Forecast
The final Test of 2024 finds Ireland and Australia squaring off in Dublin, kicking off at 17:10 South African time. Let's dive into this irreverent preview, shall we?
Ireland's tough 'n' gritty Six Nations victory was followed by a rollercoaster ride through the Autumn Nations Series. Claiming the title with a 23-22 win over old nemesis England, they then slumped to a nerve-wracking 27-20 loss against back-to-back world champions South Africa. New Zealand, however, proved a bridge too far, with the All Blacks edging Ireland 23-13 and sending them tumbling from the world number one spot.
Nonetheless, wins over Argentina (22-19) and Fiji (52-17) kept their 2024 record respectable at 7-3, and they head into this clash with confidence. Their Six Nations charm hasn't quite translated into the Autumn Nations Series, with a sprinkling of overcautious flair and shiny new tricks diluting what made them great in the first place. That said, their grit was on full display during their thrilling win over the Springboks in Durban – maybe they'll dust off those sweat-streaked knuckles again this weekend.
On the other side of the field, Australia has had a rough inaugural season under coach Joe Schmidt. A forgettable 4-6 record in the Rugby Championship saw them finish rock-bottom, and their season took a turn for the worse when they suffered a crushing 27-13 defeat to Scotland in the final round.
The Schmidt Era has shown improvement in the Autumn Nations Series, with both England (42-37) and Wales (52-20) succumbing to the Wallabies’ scintillating form. However, these performances were nowhere to be found against Scotland, who mercilessly burst their bubble with a disheartening 27-13 victory. Schmidt would've been beyond disappointed to see his charges fail to replicate their attacking prowess, especially considering they scored 40-plus points in back-to-back Tests for the first time in 13 years.
The Wallabies may be demoralized after their failed Grand Slam bid, but they'll want to salvage some respect before the British & Irish Lions tour Down Under next year. Ireland, on the other hand, will be eager to build momentum leading into the Six Nations. With Scotland exposing the Wallabies' flaws and their six-day turnaround, all signs point to an easy win for the Irish.
- ** australia**
- ** ireland**
- ** quintin van jaarsveld**
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- ** wallabies**
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Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. His extensive career includes stints as sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com, and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com. With over 15 years of experience under his belt, Quintin continues to provide insightful and engaging sports journalism.
- Quintin Van Jaarsveld, a seasoned sports journalist, offers his predictions for the 2024 Irish-Australian rugby match in Dublin.
- For betting tips, consider the gritty performance of Ireland, who emerged victorious in the Six Nations and the Autumn Nations Series, despite a few setbacks.
- On the other hand, the Wallabies, coached by Joe Schmidt, have had a challenging season, finishing last in the Rugby Championship and losing to Scotland in the Autumn Nations Series.
- Despite their failed Grand Slam bid, Australia will strive to salvage some respect before the British & Irish Lions tour Down Under next year.
- Ireland, in contrast, will be keen to build momentum leading into the Six Nations, with their six-day turnaround providing an advantage.
- As the Irish prepare for the 2024 rugby battle, Quintin Van Jaarsveld, a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year, will continue to provide insightful articles on this exciting match and future European-leagues action.
