Needs to be clear in players’ minds
know yet what the qualification standard for the next World Cup will be but, last time, it was the top seven who got through so rankings are really important.
Finishing fifth must be Ireland’s focus now.
I think Australia will be tired today because they’ve had very little rotation so far and have lost their captain. They’re still able to put up points – they beat Japan 29-15 – so they are a threat.
We had cracks in our scrum against them and have got to sort out our set-up. I’ve felt it’s been very high from the start. There’s a lack of stability before we even go into the scrum, so I hope that’s improved.
The French game will have been bruising but one positive thing is that there were less unforced errors and Ireland had so much second-half possession. The negative is that they did very little with that possession.
We did not kick enough against Australia the first day which put us under untold pressure but Stapleton’s strategic kicking was much better against France.
Australia’s back three sit deep but they’re quite inexperienced. Their positioning isn’t great sometimes and we could do with getting a good kick-chase or vary our options with a grubber kick or chip over the top.
I still can’t figure out what Ireland’s game-plan is.
They just need a plan that is made clear in every player’s mind, and to reduce the unforced errors.
If we beat Australia again then we’ll face the winners of Canada versus Wales.
I’d imagine that would be Canada, who haven’t produced their best in this tournament.
As for the semi-finals, I don’t see the USA beating New Zealand.
They’ve performed well to date and Pete Steinberg is a very good coach but I think New Zealand will still have too much for them.
France will have a real go at England who have, noticeably, leaked some tries.
France have been unfortunate to lose their brilliant flanker Romane Menager to injury.
That could affect their game as she was one of the front-runners for Player of the Tournament.
England are the defending champions but if France play to their best this will be a cracker.