Ireland weighing up Aki appeal, but preparing for NZ clash without him

If Wallabies’ backs click, then watch out England, says White

TOKYO, Oct 15, (RTRS): Ireland would have to just move on and prepare for their World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand without centre Bundee Aki even if they still may appeal his three-match ban, forwards coach Simon Easterby said on Tuesday.

New Zealand-born Aki was banned for three games late on Monday after he received a red card for a high tackle in Ireland’s final Pool A victory against Samoa on Saturday.

Easterby said they would need to see the full report from the disciplinary hearing before they make a decision as to whether to appeal, but given the week was marching on they had to just plan to be without the 29-year-old.

“We’re lucky that we have a real good group of players in that midfield, but he’s one of those and we’d be disappointed if we don’t get to use him,” Easterby told reporters at the team hotel in Tokyo.

“Until we’ve seen the report and know exactly how they came to that decision, we’ll probably have to wait until we see that before we make any further comment.

“We like to have as much clarity as possible early in the week and it’s now Tuesday. We obviously had a travel day yesterday so we were a little limited in terms of time on the pitch in training.

“At the moment were having to take the take the course of action that Bundee won’t be available.”

Easterby added that Robbie Henshaw’s return to full fitness ahead of the Samoa game was a massive boost for the clash with the All Blacks and he added to the midfield equation for the side.

“We’re really fortunate that the medics and Robbie worked particularly hard to get him back up to speed – and him getting through 80 minutes against the Samoans was great to see,” Easterby said.

Ireland have never advanced past the quarter-finals at the World Cup and face a massive task to break that curse against the three-times champions.

Joe Schmidt’s side, however, have won two of the last three games between the two teams and Easterby said making it three in four would depend on them shutting down the All Blacks ability to accumulate points quickly.

“They’re probably most dangerous when it’s loose and maybe get a turnover and are able to do what they did against South Africa – and go from 3-0 down to a 17-3 lead very quickly,” Easterby said in reference to the All Blacks opening game.

“Things like that can happen very quickly if you’re not on your game, so we’re fully aware of that.

“We’ve seen that ourselves in recent games, how dangerous they can be. We know that if you give them a sniff, they’ll take their opportunities.”

An often maligned pack has so far gained most of the plaudits for an under-par Australia in the Rugby World Cup, and scrumhalf Nic White feels if the backs can raise their game to the forwards’ level, England has better watch out.

The Wallabies face a confident England, whose pack are one of the best in the tournament, in the first quarter-final in Oita on Saturday.

Few give Michael Cheika’s side much of a chance, following an indifferent pool phase in which the coach’s revolving-door selection policy for the back line has thus far failed to deliver a potent combination.

“There’s definitely more to come, as a team and as a backline. That’s the exciting bit,” said White, who plays his club rugby in England for last season’s Premiership runners-up Exeter Chiefs.

“That’s part of the confidence we’ve got as a group that we’re doing well but gee whizz when it does click we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with,” he told reporters.

The Wallabies struggled to overcome Fiji, Uruguay and Georgia, and lost 29-25 to Wales despite a storming second-half comeback, having trailed 23-8 at halftime.

But Australia’s forwards did raise their game when they had to, and without revealing too much about how they might play in the knockout phase.

In their first match against a rampant Fiji, they tightened up, narrowed the game, squeezed the Pacific islanders and seized control in the second half.

In the final match against Georgia, a side renowned for a strong pack, the Wallabies forwards dominated the collisions, the breakdown and set piece only for the backs to suffer cohesion issues.

Part of the problem may lie with Cheika having picked three different halfback combinations in the four Pool D games, and flyhalf Christian Leali’ifano suggested that could be an issue.

“We’re trying to focus on getting our best combinations that we feel will put our best game out there,” Leali’ifano said. “I don’t know if it’s a strength. There’s a few different combinations in there.”

While Cheika also has multiple options in his midfield, his preferred combination has been Samu Kerevi and James O’Connor, who have played three games together in Japan.

Tevita Kuridrani, in the first-choice midfield with Matt Giteau in the last World Cup, recognised he had probably dropped down the pecking order in Japan but it was all part of Cheika’s plan to select combinations depending on the opposition.

“We’ve been trying to work around the combinations, just trying to mix it up and see where we can take (on) the English side and defend against them,” Kuridrani said.

“.. They haven’t named a team yet so we don’t know what’s (happening).”