Lansdowne Road showdown a family affair for Finegan

OWEN FINEGAN has had a busier week than most big, strong, bruising Australian backrowers.

Between long-haul flights and a punishing training schedule, the Aussie who has earned the nickname 'Melon' from the travelling party, has had to seek out tickets for Saturday's meeting with Ireland. 44 to be exact.

But such demands are a céad míle fáilte of sorts for the Randwick clubman, as his father hails from Co Meath and his mother is a Corkonian. So as he sets about to win his 51st cap for the Wallabies, in the new ground of second row, there will be a sizeable Irish contingent with Aussie sympathies "There would have been a lot of disappointed relatives if I didn't get some time on the pitch," Finegan said yesterday.

"The aunts, uncles and cousins have all come out of the woodwork. I think I've had to ask for 44 tickets and put some heat on a lot of people to get them. Now that everyone has a ticket, I hope there are no more requests."

Though this will not be his debut in Dublin, it is nonetheless a huge game "This is a big game for me personally. I played at Lansdowne Road before but this is my first start. No matter what is said about professional rugby, it's something special to get back to the roots and to play in front of the extended family." Finegan has experienced some of the great days of rugby Down Under.

The recipient of a World Cup medal and a try scorer in the final against France in 1999 he admits to being privileged to be part of such an awesome side. "It's all about being in the team. This is a great Australian set-up and I'm happy when I am a part of it, no matter what part I have to play. And he insists the Wallabies are taking nothing for granted against Ireland: "I think Ireland have come on in leaps and bounds. Some of their results in recent years, particularly against a huge rugby-playing country like England, have been magnificent.

That's one good reason why nobody in the Wallaby camp will go into this game with eyes and ears closed.

"We think we know what to expect, but sometimes you just never know what to expect against Ireland.

"That's what makes playing against them, each and every time, such a challenge."