Wallabies warned of Irish threat
Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:48
Leading light: George Smith to captain Australia
Ireland, despite falling short against new Zealand at the weekend, pose a major threat to Australia when the two countries go head-to-head in an 'indoor' Test at Melbourne's Telstra Dome on Saturday.
The Test, Australia's first for the year and also their first since their failed World Cup campaign that cost John Connolly his job, will be played under a closed roof.
This will come as a huge relief to the touring Irish, after the Arctic conditions they faced in their 11-21 loss to the All Blacks at the weekend.
Despite the loss in very testing conditions, the Wallabies have seen enough to know that the Irish pose a major threat.
Loose forward George Smith, who played when the Irish beat the Wallabies (21-6 in Dublin in 2006) the last time these two sides met, said they were preparing for another gruelling mauling from the Irish.
"We have to be wary against them," Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"When we lost to them at Lansdowne Road they played the conditions very well and adapted a lot quicker than we did.
"They punished us in the field position. So with the 'Dome closed on Saturday, it should be a totally different game."
He admitted that the atrocious conditions at a freezing Westpac Stadium in Wellington at the weekend made it difficult to accurately judge the Irish team's ability.
"The Test against New Zealand wasn't a true indication of how they will play, but I'm assuming they will target the set piece.
"Historically, the Irish pack has always been very strong. We're expecting nothing different on Saturday.
"They will also take some confidence in how well Munster performed in the European Cup. They obviously got their combination there, and are on a high. But, come Saturday, hopefully our combinations will work."
Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll described Wellington Test as the coldest conditions he had ever played in.
However, Ireland won't face similar conditions at the Telstra Dome on Saturday, with the roof scheduled to be closed, ensuring near perfect playing conditions.
