ALL THIS serious business must be catching on. For all the sombre mood, the discussion of being in the last-chance saloon and one wrong move away from ending it all, we could well have stumbled across a repeat of Questions and Answers pondering the budget yesterday, when it was in fact Michael Lyster and co chatting about the International Rules Series.

Australia comfortably claimed the 2005 International Rules Series and the Cormac McAnallen Cup in Melbourne today as Pete McGrath's Ireland side were soundly beaten 63-42 in front of 45,428 spectators at the Telstra Dome.

Two indigenous AFL players Andrew McLeod and Chris Johnson are to lead Australia against Ireland in the International Rules Series over the next two weeks.

Australian coach Kevin Sheedy has named a speed-laden, new-look squad for the forthcoming International Rules Series with Ireland.