DUBLIN’s Aviva Stadium should witness yet another thrilling contest as Ireland take on the Wallabies, despite some in Ireland seemingly unable to let go of last weekend’s 21-9 loss to the All Blacks.
A win would heal the hurt among some Irish hearts and place them alongside England as the best in the northern hemisphere, with the final game of next year’s 6 Nations on March 18 also in Dublin most likely the one to decide who stays on top.
Last week’s game was one physical contest and one in which the scoreboard did not reflect the Irish domination and the loss of three of their better players early in the game through injury following some hard hits. It did not make it any better for the whole of Ireland.
Two All Blacks – flanker Sam Cane and centre Malakai Fekitoa – were yellow-carded and then called up to face a disciplinary committee. Fekitoa was banned a week and Cane let off.
This made it worst for some and one journalist vented his displeasure to the extent of chiding All Blacks captain Kieran Read as having diplomatic immunity because of his position and would only end up being sanctioned only when he murders someone. Gosh.
That indirectly accuses match officials of being biased in favour of New Zealand. This of course is nothing new, certainly with teams that were defeated by the world champions.
Because of what were seen to be mistakes in decision-making, the journalist further suggested that South African referee Jaco Peyper should never be given the whistle again.
By the way, whatever the outcome of his citing, Cane would not have made the All Blacks team to face France on Sunday morning (Malaysian time) because of an ankle injury in the Dublin game. This corrects a mistake in this column on Wednesday.
Rugby fans would remember that the Australians were similarly furious with Welsh referee Nigel Owens after the Wallabies lost last year’s World Cup to the All Blacks and again after they were defeated 37-10 by the same team in Auckland on October 22.
Rod Kafer, a former Wallaby and now a television commentator, also stated that Owens should never be allowed to referee again.
It would make for a truly memorable afternoon if the Ireland team will not allow the off-field distraction to affect their game.
Australia too would want to continue its good run in this tour, so far winning all three games, including the one last week against France despite playing with an under-strength side.
This is by far the biggest test for the Wallabies as they target a Grand Slam success over the four Home Unions.
Success too would go some way towards winning back support from the fans after a far from convincing season up to the end of the Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup.
The game in Cardiff between Wales and South Africa is just as crucial to both sides. Both badly need to win, especially the visitors.
For the game in Paris, the All Blacks have named their strongest possible side despite not encountering much resistance from the French in recent years.
Winger Rieko Ioane, still only 19, gets his second game on this tour and is named on the bench as cover for the outside backs.
The most significant change and one much of New Zealand has been clamouring for is the decision to start scrumhalf TJ Perenara ahead of the unsettled Aaron Smith who drops to the bench.
This is Perenara’s first experience in facing the French but one start he truly deserves.
In last 10 games, France has won only once and their last was an upset 27-22 over an under-strength All Blacks at Carisbrook in 2009.
In the quarter-final of the last World Cup, the All Blacks ran riot in thrilling fashion to hammer France 62-13 in Cardiff.
But there have been a few upset wins by the French and two in the World Cup come to mind – the one in 1999 and again in 2007.
You cannot discount another upset and under new coach Guy Noves, this France team is slowly discovering its flair but to be able to upset the All Blacks again, the French will need to play way beyond their best this season.
For good measure, the referee for this match is Englishman Wayne Barnes, the man who controversially refereed that quarter-final upset win by France in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final.