Size and fitness worries dent Irish optimism

As soon as the match ended last weekend, it was obvious that Ireland had been banking on a first-test victory in the Coca-Cola International Rules series. Manager Colm O'Rourke was as downbeat as his Australian counterpart, Leigh Matthews, had been relaxed and cheerful.

Losing a 16-point lead had been a frustrating experience for the home side and given the conventional wisdom that touring sides get better as their tour progresses, there was little optimism for Ireland's chances for tomorrow's second and final test in Croke Park (3.0).

A week on, it's hard to be any more positive about Ireland's chances. There are a number of indicators which suggest that the Australians can maintain the 100 per cent record of away teams in these series going back to 1984.

First, the visitors improved as the match continued. Having looked at odds with the game for the early stages of the match, Australia gradually recovered. Their primary difficulties had been a failure to win any significant ball up front and the excellence of Ireland's adaptation to the tackle.

The latter meant that the ball was kept moving quickly and, unlike the Irish juniors last April, the home side were rarely caught in possession. The lack of possession in attack looked doubly damning because it was assumed that the Australians would need plenty of chances to compensate for their lack of familiarity with the round ball.

As it turned out, there was little to choose between the Australians and the Irish in terms of accuracy. Compared to previous teams from Down Under, the current side have a greater aggregate of fitness and skill and nowhere was the skill more evident than in their kicking of scores from any angle across the pitch.

The assumption must be that the visitors will start the match more coherently than a week ago and their challenge is consequently going to be more sustained.

Second, Ireland suffered physically to a greater extent than the Australians. Whereas the nature of the physical exchanges was disproportionately represented by O'Rourke after the first match, his team did pick up more injuries and two of the best Irish players from last week, John McDermott and Brian Stynes, are struggling for fitness.

The current Australians are a different breed to their predecessors in terms of discipline and a desire to play the game without roughing up the opposition. Last week's match was played in good spirit and, with the exception of the fracas at the end of the third quarter, there was little to remind us of the more scabrous episodes in past series.

But Ireland still failed to last the pace in the final quarter.

This can be partly remedied by more judicious use of the unlimited inter-change provisions but the 80-minute game still poses problems.

Third, doubts exist about Ireland's defensive capacity in the face of Australia's aerial threat. This tactic was slowly enough identified by Leigh Matthews and his bench but once Spider Everitt's six feet nine inches was deployed at full forward in the second quarter, the possibilities became clear to the visitors.

Wayne Carey, Jim Stynes and finally - to devastating effect - David Neitz all made a subsequent impact on Darren Fay at full back. The Meathman started in excellent form but, despite his size, is more comfortable on the deck than up in the air.

In the past Ireland have converted centrefield players, including Brian McGilligan and even Jack O'Shea, to the full-back role. A similar improvisation may be necessary tomorrow.

Ireland have strengthened the panel this week by calling up the Galway centrefield of Kevin Walsh and Sean O Domhnaill. Both are big men and, whereas Walsh has more football, O Domhnaill was very impressive in the run to the All-Ireland and, at six feet five, has a reach at the disposal of few top inter-county footballers.

Kildare have sorted out their county championship and postponed Glen Ryan's outing with Round Towers until Tuesday. This is a boost for Ireland as the Kildare captain was very authoritative in defence last week, making himself available and disciplining his natural tendency to dwell on the ball.

Niall Buckley returns after his club engagements in Kildare and there has been talk of him playing in goal, where he acquitted himself well during the final trial in Omagh. This might seem strange given his natural athleticism and the need for that quality around the middle.

John McDermott acquitted himself well in the aerial tussles but the indefatigable running of Nathan Buckley wasn't sufficiently tracked.

These matches are rarely one-sided and Ireland will have learned from the experience of last week. But whether they have the wherewithal to apply those lessons is open to doubt.

Ireland: F McConnell, P Canavan (vice captain) G Cavlan, E Gormley (Tyrone), K McGeeney, D Marsden (Armagh), A Tohill, SM Lockhart (Derry), B Devenney (Donegal), P Brewster (Fermanagh), D McCabe (Cavan), J McDermott (capt), D Fay (Meath), J Nallen (Mayo), C Parkinson (Laois), D Foley (Tipperary), F Cullen, J Kenny (Offaly), B Stynes (Dublin), S Moynihan (Kerry), J Fallon, M Donnellan S de Paor, K Walsh, S O Domh naill (Galway), M Daly (Clare), G Ryan, N Buckley (Kildare), K O'Brien (Wicklow), J McGuinness (Donegal). Standby: Micheal Magill (Down), D Donlon (Roscommon).

Australia: S Silvagni (Carlton), N Holland, S Crawford (Hawthorn), N Eagleton (Port Adelaide), M Lloyd, S Wellman (Essendon), N Buckley (Collingwood), A Stevens, W Carey (capt) (North Melbourne), P Everitt, R Harvey (St Kilda), T Viney D Neitz, J Farmer (Melbourne), S Camporeale (Carlton), R Smith, B Johnson (Western Bulldogs), W Campbell (Richmond), N Smart, S Rehn, M Ricciuto, B Hart (Adelaide).

Referees: A Coates (Australia), M Curley (Galway).

The series will be decided on aggregate. Should Ireland win by a point, two two-minute periods of extra-time will be played. If the sides are still level, sudden death - the first team to score - will be decisive.