Last hurrah unlikely to end in cheers

RUGBY AUSTRALIA v IRELAND:ONE LAST hurrah then to a Test season that, in many respects, cannot end soon enough. Ending it all with a prized away scalp on Southern Hemisphere soil for the first time in 29 years would at least put a decidedly non-vintage '07-08 to bed with a little redemption.

It's been a long, slow week. Teeming rain and 13-degree temperatures have brought an autumnal feel. The squad have kept their workload to the bare bones and the tree-lined streets, with their mix of modern and colonial architecture, cafes, restaurants, boutiques and malls, and the spectacular river front, at least help the squad pass the hours more easily than was possible in their sleepy, lakeside bunker on the outskirts of Bordeaux 10 months ago.

One well-heeled lady in the 33-floor Grand Hyatt where the team are staying observed there was "only one accent" in her hotel. And while those streets were not yet festooned with Irish supporters, the ex-pat invasion from all corners of Oz is anticipated to swell the attendance in the Telstra Dome to beyond 40,000.

The Wallabies held their captain's run there yesterday, but only the Irish kickers visited the Dome as the time slot afforded them (9.30am) did not suit the rest. The airy atmosphere underneath the closed roof was a good deal cooler than it will be come kick-off.

"It is a unique venue," said Stirling Mortlock. "I've played here a number of times when it's been close to capacity, and the noise just reverberates around the ground. I think Ireland will have a fair following here so it will make for a really good atmosphere."

Whereas Ireland have been generally competitive in recent times in the first games of end-of-season tours, they've invariably struggled on their final outings; witness losing margins of 32, nine, 22 and 16 on their last four tours to the Southern Hemisphere. It is a tough ask; all the more so with a virtually unchanged side.

Mortlock reiterated the Wallaby mantra about matching Ireland's "physicality", and they are clearly aware the pack's Munster tinge has been diluted further by the withdrawal of David Wallace.

This belated second cap provides quite an opportunity for Shane Jennings - the late call-up Stephen Ferris is promoted to the bench - and this game may suit Jennings more than last week's would have done.

Perhaps the most revealing comment was by the Wallabies' full-back Cameron Shepherd: "The most important thing is just keeping the speed of the game up. With the ELVs it has made everyone fitter and made everyone a lot more aware of the opportunities on the ground. Our fitness is definitely going to be one of our advantages."

It will therefore be no surprise if coach Robbie Deans has encouraged his team to play a brand of Super 14 rugby regardless of reverting from the ELVs, tapping even "full arm" penalties and declining to kick to touch.

Having gone into a tactical shell for much of the season, Ireland too seem set on having a go.

"Absolutely, that's the way everyone wants to end the season off," said Brian O'Driscoll. "We haven't really put together a big 80-minute performance . . . so it would be nice to finish on a high and maybe we need to put a little bit of pressure on ourselves to do that and not play for 60 or 65 minutes. Play for the full 80 and expect to win it. That's something I'll be saying to the boys."

With the prospect of a fluid, high-tempo game, there are signs Ireland are upping their defensive line speed. Given the Wallabies' restructured back line, attempting to cramp their space and force errors makes sense.

A good start looks vital here. At this juncture, Ireland's appetite for the battle may well be inextricably linked to the scoreboard. An early lead would offer encouragement to keep going, but as in Perth two seasons ago, not even mass use of the bench will save them if they start to waver.

Similarly, if there is any stage where the Wallabies are liable to be rusty it is the opening quarter. But if they build a head of steam they could become unstoppable.

On paper Deans's first selection looks well balanced, with the Leinster-bound Ricky Elsom, Wycliff Palu, Luke Burgess (a real find), Matt Giteau and the reborn Lote Tuqiri all on top of their game.

Of the big three in the south, Ireland appear to play with slightly more belief against Australia, who it's reckoned don't dislike Ireland enough. Yet much of that history is sepia tinged, and it is now 24 matches since the last of their away wins in the Southern Hemisphere, against Australia in 1979.

Alas, the odds heavily favour that becoming 25.

TEST TEAMS HOW THEY LINE UP

IRELAND
15 Rob Kearney (Leinster) 14 Shane Horgan (Leinster) 13 Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster) capt 12 Paddy Wallace (Ulster) 11 Tommy Bowe (Ulster) 10 Ronan O'Gara (Munster) 9 Peter Stringer (Munster) 1 Marcus Horan (Munster) 2 Rory Best (Ulster) 3 John Hayes (Munster) 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster) 5 Paul O'Connell (Munster) 6 Denis Leamy (Munster) 7 Shane Jennings (Leinster) 8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster) Replacements:Jerry Flannery (Munster), Tony Buckley (Munster), Mick ODriscoll (Munster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Eoin Reddan (Wasps), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster).

AUSTRALIA
15 Cameron Shepherd (W Force) 14 Peter Hynes (Reds) 13 Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies) capt 12 Berrick Barnes (Reds) 11 Lote Tuqiri (Waratahs) 10 Matt Giteau (Brumbies) 9 Luke Burgess(Waratahs) 1 Benn Robinson (Waratahs) 2 Stephen Moore (Reds) 3 Matt Dunning (Waratahs) 4 James Horwill (Reds) 5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force) 6 Rocky Elsom (Waratahs) 7 George Smith (Brumbies) 8 Wycliff Palu (Waratahs) Replacements:Adam Freier (Waratahs), Al Baxter (Waratahs), Dean Mumm (Waratahs), Phil Waugh (Waratahs), Sam Cordingley (Queensland Reds), Ryan Cross (Western Force), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies).

Overall head-to-head:Played 26, Australia 18 wins, Ireland 8 wins.
Last five meetings:(2003) Australia 45 Ireland 16 (Perth); Australia 17 Ireland 16 (Melbourne, RWC); (2005) Ireland 14 Australia 30 (Dublin); (2006) Australia 37 Ireland 15 (Perth); Ireland 21 Australia 6 (Dublin).
Five-game formguide:Australia - 91-3 v Japan (RWC); 32-20 v Wales (RWC); 55-12 v Fiji (RWC); 37-6 v Canada (RWC); 10-12 v England (RWC q/f). Ireland - 21-26 v France (a); 34-13 v Scotland (h); 12-16 v Wales (h); 10-33 v England (a); 11-21 v New Zealand (a).
Leading points scorers:Australia - Stirling Mortlock 463. Ireland - Ronan O'Gara 833.
Leading try scorers:Australia - Lote Tuqiri 28, Stirling Mortlock 25, Matt Giteau 20. Ireland - Brian O'Driscoll 31, Shane Horgan 20, Girvan Dempsey 19, Geordan Murphy 18.
Betting(Paddy Power): 1/8 Australia, 25/1 Draw, 9/2 Ireland. Handicap odds (Ireland + 14pts) 10/11 Australia, 25/1 Draw, 10/11 Ireland.
Forecast:Australia to win.