Tall order for Ireland
IRELAND will throw even more tall timber at Israel Folau in tomorrow night’s deciding rugby Test as it anticipates the Wallabies looking to better utilise the unique skills of their gamebreaking fullback.
Inaccurate field kicking by the Wallabies and some canny defending from the Irish negated Folau’s awesome aerial skills in last week’s second Test.
Despite allegations from the Wallabies camp that Folau’s runs were being illegally blocked, Ireland coach Joe Schmidt insisted his side did nothing wrong.
With 191cm winger Jacob Stockdale replacing the injured and much smaller Andrew Conway, Ireland will add to an already handy aerial arsenal of their own.
Schmidt said 208cm lock Devin Toner covered most of the kickoffs in Melbourne. He said fullback Rob Kearnery, halfback Conor Murray, wingers Stockdale and Keith Earls and centre Robbie Henshaw, who has a Gaelic football background, were also good in the air.
He said Folau was among the best in the world, but added: “When you look at guys who are good in the air we feel like we’ve got a fair few people who can try as best as they can to get into that competition.”
Murray was wary of Wallabies counterpart Nick Phipps, who has been called in to replace the injured Will Genia.
“He did really well against us (in Ireland in 2014). He scored two tries and was the heartbeat of their side that day,” Murray said.
Schmidt made five changes to Ireland’s starting side — three of them forced by injuries.
He opted for a new backrow configuration, moving captain Peter O’Mahony from blindside flanker to openside, CJ Stander from No.8 to blindside and Jack Conan makes his first start of the series at No.8 Prop Jack McGrath and hooker Sean Cronin respectively replace Cian Healy and Niall Scannell, both of whom drop to the bench.
Bundee Aki comes in at inside centre, with Henshaw shifting to outside centre.