Australia 18 Ireland 12

Paul O’Connell was left to rue Ireland’s error count as they ended their southern hemisphere tour with an 18-12 defeat to Australia.

WHAT A tumultuous 12 months for Irish rugby: the provinces excelling and the national team winning just seven matches from 14.

Robbie Deans is fully aware of the threat Ireland pose ahead of his debut as Australia coach at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne on Saturday.

Australia anticipate a bruising beginning to the Robbie Deans’ regime when they host Ireland in Melbourne on Saturday.

Interim Ireland coach Michael Bradley has made two changes to the starting line-up for the one-off Test against Australia at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne on Saturday.

Robbie Deans has named seven uncapped players in his first Australia squad for the Test against Ireland on June 14.

Melbourne’s Telstra Dome has been chosen to host next year’s World Cup clash between Australia and England.

Down youngster Martin Clarke let his boots do the talking as he kicked three goals and a behind in Collingwood's 95-87 loss to Hawthorn in the AFL Premiership earlier today.

Australia scored twice in the final six minutes to stun New Zealand in the second Test of the 2006 Tri-Nations at Melbourne's Telstra Dome.

Former Young Hurler of the Year Setanta O’hAilpin has played in back-to-back AFL Premiership matches for Carlton for the first time.

England have dismissed Australian claims of underhand tactics in their attempts to stop tearaway flanker George Smith during the world champions’ 34-3 first Test defeat.

Setanta Ó Hailpín made his second senior appearance for AFL Premiership club Carlton at the Telstra Dome today, but he failed to make an impression in the Blues' 100-68 defeat to Hawthorn.

THE GAA’S best footballers may have left Australia empty handed after the last International Rules Series but the Association’s president and top officials certainly achieved more than a little revenge yesterday.

Chris Johnson is unlikely to play for his country again after being handed a five-match suspension from the International Rules Series today.

Cork's All-Ireland winning captain Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has thrown his weight behind efforts to alter the International Rules Series' controversial red card rule.

CORK footballer Anthony Lynch does not believe the controversial International Rules Series should be abandoned.

THE GAA will not hesitate to break off contact with the Australian Football League if there is a repeat next year of the thuggery witnessed in the second test in the Telstra Dome at the week-end — specifically when Australian captain Chris Johnson struck three Irish players in quick succession.

Australian co-captain Chris Johnson has admitted the incidents that led to his sending-off in yesterday's International Rules second Test were "so out of character".

Australia 63 Ireland 42

THE dust hadn’t even settled after the stormiest International Rules game in the short history of the series and Kevin Sheedy was talking about Australia “getting the sting” in Croke Park next year in retaliation for knocking Pete McGrath’s team off their stride in Telstra Dome.

Ireland manager Pete McGrath reckons his side still have their "pride and self esteem" intact after a second Test slug-fest against 2005 Series winners Australia.

Australia comfortably claimed the 2005 International Rules Series and the Cormac McAnallen Cup today as Pete McGrath's Ireland side were soundly beaten 63-42 in a hard-edged second Test in Melbourne.

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.

Australia 31 Ireland 18

AUSTRALIAN manager Kevin Sheedy shares the philosophy of Pete McGrath that there should be no thuggery in the International Rules Series.

Ireland manager Pete McGrath is banking on a stellar performance from Westmeath forward Dessie Dolan in tomorrow's second International Rules Test in Melbourne.

Manager Pete McGrath has sounded a battle cry to his Ireland troops ahead of tomorrow's International Rules second Test by claiming: "We can beat Australia by 37 points."

KEVIN SHEEDY has vowed that there will be no let up in the intensity that helped Australia to a 36-point belting of Ireland in the first international rules test last Friday night.

THE Irish team have a number of issues to address ahead of Friday's second test against Australia in the International Rules Series.

AUSTRALIAN coach Kevin Sheedy admitted to some surprise that his team finished with the magical figure of 100 points in the opening test of the Fosters International Rules Series in Perth last evening.

England have been pooled with hosts Australia in a tough draw for next year’s Commonwealth Games sevens.

Padraig Joyce will captain a provisional panel of 43 players confirmed by Ireland manager Pete McGrath for October's Coca-Cola International Rules Series in Australia.

Four tries by dynamic winger Lote Tuqiri and a man-of-the-match performance by Matt Giteau steered Australia to their second big win of the international season – a 69-21 victory over Italy at Telstra Dome on Saturday.

KERRY have turned to Ballylongford’s Paddy Kelly in a bid to strike the right midfield balance for Sunday’s Munster SFC semi-final against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.

MAYO defender James Nallen is a major doubt for his county’s National Football League semi-final clash with Armagh on April 17 - because he will only be arriving back from holidays hours before the throw-in.

HALF a world away from Kerry’s preparations for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final, one of the county’s young talents is continuing to astound the AFL and impress a Hollywood star.

Head coach Matt Williams today admitted Scotland face a “massive task” in Sunday’s first Test against Australia in Melbourne but backed his players to rise to the challenge.

Australia have included five new players in their squad for the forthcoming Tests against Scotland and England – and they are all from the Super 12-winning ACT Brumbies team.

The Scottish Rugby Union have confirmed they will play three provincial matches on their summer tour to Australia.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan today demanded that his players salvage their battered pride when they meet France in the opening match of the 2004 RBS 6 Nations championship.

CHRISTMAS came early for nine inter-county hurlers yesterday, with call-ups for next month’s All-Star tour to Arizona.

The GAA has confirmed an exciting fixture list for the International Rules schoolboy team Down Under next April.