Kicking can beat home disadvantage

The choice of Pádraic Joyce as Ireland captain is the culmination of a slow-burning international career that began in the ill-fated home series of 2000

Originally felt to lack mobility for the international game, the Galway player was very eager to play at that level and made a noticeable commitment to play in the second test four years ago, just a week after losing the All-Ireland final replay to Kerry.

It was during the following year's successful series in Australia that Joyce showed an impressive ability to impose his own strengths as a forward on the international stage and his performance in the second test in Adelaide helped destroy the home team, by the biggest margin the series has seen since its 1998 resumption.

Joyce's stature as a footballer with Galway is another factor in his appointment - the first Connacht player so honoured - and coach Peter McGrath described him as "a player of tremendous skill and great achievement".

The newly appointed captain is aware of Ireland's poor recent run in the series. The last two years have ended in defeat, albeit after second tests where the result went down to the wire.

"I think the series score is three-each at the moment but Australia have won three of the last four. I think a lot of it has to be down to the panel of players we pick," said Joyce.

The 2001 series was the last successful one from an Irish point of view. It was marked by a tactical departure by Ireland coach Brian McEniff and his team. Instead of trying to work the unfamiliar aspects of the game, such as the mark, the Irish players concentrated on kicking points (or overs worth three in the international game) and playing the ball soccer-style on the ground.

"That's what we did. The Australians' game is straight-line running whereas a small, nippy fella wouldn't play that. That tactic worked that year for different reasons but Australia have started to pick smaller and faster guys. I think they have adapted a lot quicker than we thought. They have conquered the game and the round ball."

Last year was a disappointment in that it was the first time Ireland had lost an away series. Hampered by injuries, they lost the first test and won the second but fell short on aggregate scores.

"We have to improve our finishing. Last year for example in the first test in Perth we were seven or eight points up at half-time but we hardly scored after that and missed some very kickable scores. Our kicking let us down in the first test and although we won the second test we lost overall by a few points.

"I think our fitness is always as good as theirs but our kicking needs to improve. We should be doing better with the round ball."

Joyce is also conscious of the poor record of home teams. Since 1984 there have been 10 series and only two have been lost by the travelling side. He points out that there are obvious reasons for this and foresees further difficulties.

"The advantage is definitely with the travelling team. I mean they'll come over and will be training in the week between the games whereas all of our lads will be going to work Monday to Thursday and meeting on Friday, which is not ideal from our point of view."