VENUE & TIME: Metricon Stadium, Friday, 4 November, 7.45pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD 1998-2011: Played 23: Australia 10, Ireland 11, Drawn 2
LAST TIME:
First Test, 20011: Ireland 4.17.5 (80) def Australia 1.8.6 (36) at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
WHAT'S WHAT: The rules are a compromise between Gaelic football and Australian Rules. A round ball and a rectangular field are used and there's the opportunity to tackle. A player must bounce, touch the ball on the ground or 'solo' - kick the ball to themselves - at least once every 10 metres. While there's a maximum of two bounces per possession allowed, players can 'solo' the ball as often as they wish. The ball may be lifted directly off the ground, but players cannot scoop the ball to a team-mate or pick up the ball if they are on their knees or on the ground. The game uses two large posts and two small posts as in Australian Rules and a crossbar and goal net as in Gaelic football. Into the net - a goal - scores six points; over the crossbar and between the two large posts - an 'over' - scores three points; and between a large post and a small post - a behind - scores one point. There are four 18-minute quarters and each team consists of 15 players including a goalkeeper.
WALKING WOUNDED: Australian forward Jake King will miss after tearing the medial ligament in his right knee in a heavy tumble over Tommy Walsh last Friday. King's place in the squad has been taken by Brisbane's Joel Patfull. Liam Shiels is expected to recover from a corked quad. The Irish will be closely monitoring the fitness of Emmett Bolton who was heavily concussed in a clash of heads with Mitch Robinson.
WHO'S HOT: Bernie Vince and James Kelly were the only Australians to crack 20 possessions in the First Test and Stephen Milne the only Aussie forward to score multiple overs. Coach Rodney Eade said he was pleased with Shaun Grigg's defensive work early on Irish veteran Stephen McDonnell who ended up top-scoring for the visitors. Best-afield was Stephen Cluxton who directed proceedings from the last line of defence for the Irish. The media-shy skipper complemented his game-high 38 possessions with a game-high 13 marks. At the other end of the field Leighton Glynn, Michael Murphy and new Sydney Swans recruit Tommy Walsh finished brilliantly.
WE THINK: The Australians were surprised by the physicality of the Irish in last Friday's record defeat and they've pledged to hit back hard in the Second Test. Their ball-handling and foot skills will need to improve. The Aussies butchered a welter of scoring opportunities with the round ball at Etihad Stadium. The Irish, in contrast, did everything right. They were quick, committed, hit targets and tackled like demons. Irish manager Anthony Tohill warned afterwards that the hosts were more than capable of winning game two by 45 points or more to retain the Cormac MacAnallen Cup. The Aussies have some improvement in them, but not 45 points worth. It's Ireland by 23 points.
SQUADS: Australia: Brad Green (Melbourne), Richard Douglas (Adelaide Crows), James Frawley (Melbourne), Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), Shaun Grigg (Richmond), James Kelly (Geelong), Ben McGlynn (Sydney), Trent McKenzie (GCS), Stephen Milne (St Kilda), Angus Monfries (Essendon), Robin Nahas (Richmond), Mark Nicoski (West Coast), Joel Patfull (Brisbane), Mitch Robinson (Carlton), Liam Shiels (Hawthorn), Zac Smith (GCS), Matthew Suckling (Hawthorn), Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne), Jack Trengove (Melbourne), Bernie Vince (Adelaide), Callan Ward (GWS), David Wojcinski (Geelong), Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs)
Ireland: Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), Ciaran McKeever (Armagh), Colm Begley (Laois) Emmet Bolton (Kildare), Eoin Cadogan (Cork), Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Leighton Glynn (Wicklow), Finian Hanley (Galway), Pearce Hanley (Mayo/Brisbane Lions), Darren Hughes (Monaghan), Tadgh Kennelly (Kerry/Sydney), Steven Mc Donnell (Armagh), Kevin McKernan (Down), Joe McMahon (Tyrone), Neil McGee (Donegal), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Darran O’Sullivan (Kerry), Kevin Reilly (Meath), Zach Tuohy (Laois/Carlton), Aidan Walsh (Cork), Tommy Walsh (Kerry/Sydney)