International
PREVIEW: All Blacks v Australia (MCG)
Analysis can only take pundits so far when it comes to Bledisloe Cup games between the All Blacks and Australia, and the home team’s desire to end their losses in the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship will add an edge to their rivalry in Melbourne on Saturday.
Match Details: Australia v New Zealand, 9.45 pm NZT, July 29, 2023, Melbourne Cricket Ground
Played: 175
Won: Australia 45, New Zealand 122, Drawn 8
Last time: Australia 14-40 New Zealand, September 24, 2022, Eden Park
Referee: Wayne Barnes
FORM
Australia, having lost their first two games of the Rugby Championship, is looking to avoid only its second winless tournament. They were winless earlier when losing four games in the Tri-Nations in 2005. New Zealand have won both their games this year in the Championship and their last five games against Australia.
LOCKING CONTEST
It’s a measure of the developing depth in the All Blacks’ locking ranks that the stock market hasn’t plummeted, and the country hasn’t gone into a spin cycle with returning veteran Sam Whitelock coming off the bench for the 23rd time in his 144 Test career on Saturday. Brodie Retallick and Scott Barrett are the starters in Melbourne, with Retallick playing his 102nd Test and Barrett making his 61st appearance. Coach Ian Foster said, “It’s a great situation to be in.” Retaining the pair was also a reward for the growing combination seen against South Africa, and he wanted to keep growing that. A lot of attention was paid to who might lock the scrum, but the three named were backed by Josh Lord and Tupou Va’ai, who had also been performing well.
GORDON’S CHANCE
First five-eighths Carter Gordon’s first Test start will be a little more relaxed than his Test debut when replacing centre Len Ikitau against Argentina in Sydney two weeks back, a position he was not used to playing. He will be looking for his forward pack to give him the quality ball necessary for him to get control of the game. The lessons from those first two losses have been hit home. “Our breakdown wasn’t where we needed it to be. We had a lot of breakdown errors, a lot of turnovers. So the last few weeks have been making sure what we’re really smashing down on that detail at the breakdown, and we’ve been working pretty hard at that. We want to make sure we’re not leaving any stone unturned. We want to make sure we’ve got no regrets. Test match rugby is very different to Super Rugby. It’s a lot more territory based. And we know that, so we’re going to do everything we can to win these contests.”
THE SCOOP
The All Blacks have managed an attacking ruck speed of 2.96 seconds during the Championship, the best of the four teams, while Australia at 3.61s was the slowest. Australia has also made the fewest entries (10) into the opposing 22m area of the four teams but has achieved four points for each entry which is the most effective of the tour teams.
FAST FACT
New Zealand have won nine games in succession and has lost away from home only once since the loss to South Africa in Mbombela at the start of its 2022 campaign. A win would be only the second time they have been unbeaten in the Championship or Tri Nations in a World Cup year. The last occasion was in 2003. (Opta)
TEAMS (caps in brackets):
All Blacks:
1. Ethan de Groot (15) 2. Codie Taylor (78) 3. Tyrel Lomax (25) 4. Brodie Retallick (101) 5. Scott Barrett (60) 6. Shannon Frizell (27) 7. Dalton Papali’i (24) 8. Ardie Savea (72 – captain) 9. Aaron Smith (116) 10. Richie Mo’unga (46) 11. Mark Telea (3) 12. Jordie Barrett (50) 13. Rieko Ioane (61) 14. Will Jordan (22) 15. Beauden Barrett (114)
Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (22) 17. Ofa Tu’ungfasi (51) 18. Nepo Laulala (47) 19. Samuel Whitelock (143) 20. Luke Jacobson (12) 21. Cam Roigard * 22. Anton Lienert-Brown (60) 23. Caleb Clarke (17)
Australia
1. Angus Bell (21) 2. David Porecki (12) 3. Allan Alaalatoa (acting captain) (66)
4. Nick Frost (10) 5. Will Skelton (26) 6. Jed Holloway (11) 7. Tom Hooper (1) 8. Rob Valetini (32) 9. Tate McDermott (23) 10. Carter Gordon (2) 11. Marika Koroibete (53) 12. Samu Kerevi (43) 13. Jordan Petaia (25) 14. Mark Nawaqanitawase (4) 15. Andrew Kellaway (21)
Reserves: 16. Jordan Uelese (17) 17. James Slipper (129) 18. Taniela Tupou (47) 19. Richie Arnold (2) 20. Rob Leota (14) 21. Nic White (61) 22. Quade Cooper (78) 23. Izaia Perese (3)
Content & Images from – New Zealand Rugby
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.
The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:
“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.
“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.
“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.
“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”
The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.
IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:
Saturday, 16th November:
Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)
Friday, 22nd November:
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)
Friday, 29th November:
Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)
Friday, 20th December:
Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)
Saturday, 21st December:
Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)
Weekend of 28/29 December:
Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.
Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.
Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart
In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.
Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)
15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Replacements:
16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.
The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.
The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+
Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+
Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For All Blacks XV At Thomond
