Beware wounded Wallabies, warns O'Sullivan
Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has warned his players Australia will arrive at Lansdowne Road confident they can halt their desperate slump in form.
The Wallabies, savaged by injuries to 10 Test players including Stephen Larkham and Stirling Mortlock, crashed to their seventh successive defeat with a 26-16 loss at Twickenham on Saturday.
But Ireland’s 45-7 hammering by New Zealand will have given Australia the belief they will soon end the worst sequence of results in their history.
O’Sullivan is aware his side will provide the weakest opposition since the Wallabies’ barren run began against South Africa in July and also knows opposite number Eddie O’Sullivan expects success in Dublin.
“Australia are capable of beating anyone on their day. It’s been hard going for them because they’ve had their injury problems but they still have some great players,” he said.
“Australia will be disappointed after losing to England. Eddie Jones will come to Dublin with the view of turning things around. But we also have a lot of work to do after Saturday’s match.
“Next weekend is going to be a tough one, whatever happened against New Zealand. Australia are a different bag of hammers but still very dangerous opponents.”
O’Sullivan names his team to face the Wallabies at lunchtime on Tuesday and is unlikely to tinker with the line-up, despite the All Blacks thrashing.
The Ireland boss – already missing Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell, Eric Miller and Denis Hickie through injury – does not have many options available and was happy with the spirit shown against New Zealand.
Skipper Simon Easterby suffered a perforated lip and left the pitch in the 73rd minute but O’Sullivan is confident he will be given the all-clear for Australia and otherwise there was a clean bill of health.
The only question mark hangs over the back row where replacing either Johnny O’Connor or Denis Leamy with veteran number eight Anthony Foley remains a possibility.
The biggest challenge for O’Sullivan lies in picking his shellshocked team up for the second Test of their Autumn schedule with New Zealand’s immense display certain to leave some mental scars.
“New Zealand used different teams for Wales and then us but both performances were world class. They have phenomenal strength in depth. They can only put 15 out at a time though, which is helpful,” said O’Sullivan.
Using the All Blacks as the benchmark, Ireland have gone backwards since they last played them at Lansdowne Road in 2001 – a match the tourists won 40-29.
Former New Zealand boss and current assistant coach Wayne Smith believes it is the improved relationship with the provincial sides that has paved the way for the current success.
“Four years ago it was a much closer game but the integration between us and Super 12 coaches has really helped. The relationship is a lot better,” he said.
“Everyone is working together for New Zealand rugby, which hasn’t been done before. The Super 12 and NPC coaches at home can take glory from our victory over Ireland because they played a big part in it.”
