A disappointing 32 - 15 defeat to Australia was definitely not the ideal preparation for a tough match against Ireland's bête noire New Zealand this weekend.
It was a poor performance from Joe Schmidt's side with the team overrun by the Aussies in many aspects of the game including the scrum.
Trevor Hogan and Eddie O'Sullivan joined Off The Ball tonight and both exclaimed serious worries about the porous nature of Ireland's defence, especially when the Wallabies got the ball wide.
Eddie O'Sullivan said: "We got too condensed into the middle of the field. Once the ball went out the back, it was a scramble round the corner and they had lots of numbers out there. We got caught a bit like that against Samoa in the outside channels. We looked very vulnerable.
"If there is anything we have to fix before New Zealand, it is our defence. If we're porous against New Zealand, they'll rip us to shreds. The first thing on the agenda this week is that we cannot give up soft tries or it will be a horror show. We've suffered that ignominy a few times. The worrying thing is that it's not a new defensive system because [forwards coach] Les Kiss has been in the job since the autumn of 2008. It's not like he has changed that defence dramatically."
O'Sullivan also felt Ireland kicked too often against Australia's gifted back three, particularly to Israel Folau who reigned supreme aerially and whose performance was described as "unbelievable" by Hogan.
Hogan also felt that Australia had the beating of Ireland at the breakdown and also in the battle stakes as exemplified by the reaction to the tip tackle on Peter O'Mahony.
"I suppose the lads will be looking back at that moment when Peter O'Mahony was spear tackled... they'll be really disappointed that they were waving at the ref instead of piling in. But look at the time that it happened as well. It's 72, 73 minutes and by that stage of the game, we were beaten. But the body language was interesting. It's a cumulative effect of small little things that build up during the game. And by that 72nd minute, we couldn't fake it."
But Ireland will have to regroup this week, although it is likely that they will have to take on New Zealand without Jonny Sexton.
So who should get the nod at 10?
Hogan pointed out that it is not a simple choice, given that Paddy Jackson's inclusion against Samoa was aided by the fact that the experienced Gordon D'Arcy started at inside-centre to counter-balance the former's relative inexperience. Hogan thinks sticking with Luke Marshall at 12 may be the best way forward.
O'Sullivan believes that Schmidt may lean towards Jackson.
©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
