Another waltz with the Wallabies

THOSE damned Wallabies. From start to finish they seemed to dominate my rugby career. In all between playing and managerial assignments our paths collided on 17 occasions. More often than not, it ended in despair for me.

At a time when custom dictated you were rested on the Saturday before your first cap, I broke tradition and lined out against the tourists for Munster five days before my international debut.

Some suggested I was mad to take the chance of injury but I was rewarded for the gamble when the provincial side lived up to their reputation and downed the colours of another touring outfit (15-6).

From that day in 1981 our paths would cross at various junctures over a 20-year period through three World Cups, two Lions expeditions and a number of tours. In my experience, Australia were always talented, confident and very competitive. They do not accept second best in a country where sport is central to life.

On Saturday, Declan Kidney will make his managerial debut against the full Australian side but they will dominate his thoughts for the next two years as, for the fifth time in seven World Cups, the two countries are destined to meet. But this week he must concentrate on preparing to meet a side in a rebuilding phase but are far better than recent results would suggest.

It is hard to believe that 25 years have elapsed since Australia last embarked on a Grand Slam tour of these islands with a side that for me was the best they have ever produced. Andy Slack’s 1984 Wallabies were the team that changed the face of Australian rugby and contained some of the best players the game has seen.

I got to know them up close and personal on that tour, playing against them on three separate occasions for Munster, Ireland and the Barbarians. While Ireland ran them closest of the four home countries, losing by 16-9 with a comparatively young and inexperienced team, they influenced our thinking to such a degree that it inspired Mick Doyle to adapt a ball in hand game, alien to Irish rugby at the time, which resulted in a Triple Crown and championship success three months after their departure.

That successful Grand Slam winning team hosted a backline that produced eventual World Cup winning captain Nick Farr Jones at scrum half and two audacious talents who would go on to dominate on the world stage.

David Campese would compare favourably with the very best of the professional era and was a prolific try scorer and entertainer supreme while Michael Lynagh made his debut on that tour, learning his trade at inside centre before becoming the most influential outside half of his generation.

Interestingly Daniel Carter took the same route wearing the No 12 shirt for the early part of his career.

In 1984 however Lynagh could not get near the No 10 jersey because of the presence of the gifted Mark Ella. He was phenomenal and achieved the remarkable feat for an out half at that time by scoring a try in all four internationals. On his return home at just 25 years of age he retired from the game for reasons known only to himself and rugby was robbed of a genius.

Up front the Aussies were the first to introduce the bean poles to the second row with the two Steve’s, Cutler and Williams standing at a combined height of close to 13½ feet. Let’s just say your elbow had to work overtime against that pairing.

Over the years I had so many close encounters with Australia; none more gut wrenching as that last minute defeat in the famous World Cup quarter final in 1991 – not to mention the third test on the 2001 Lions tour. I have learned through harsh experience that every Australian side will fight to the death. That is why even after beating England without raising a sweat Saturday I am surprised to hear so many former players and pundits predict an Irish win Sunday as a fait accompli.

Too much has been read into Australia’s losing streak of six from their last seven games prior to Twickenham thought they were all against either South Africa or New Zealand. On the evidence of their last two tests, they are well advanced in addressing the deficiencies that have plagued them in recent times.

The most significant of these is the scrum. That has been a serious problem for a long time. Since 2003 they have tried to mask their issues by continuously collapsing at engagement and resetting every scrum. In the end, referees come under pressure to get on with the game and look to get the ball in and away as quickly as possible.

Robbie Deans has finally addressed the issue of Al Baxter at tight head who unfairly became the focus of the referee’s attention at scrum time and was constantly penalised. With Baxter left at home, his replacement in recent games, Ben Alexander has made a big impact while on the other side of the scrum, Ben Robinson has also come to terms with the requirements of an international loose head.

With all the injury and suspension woes surrounding Ireland’s front row forwards of late the Wallabies – with the benefit of Jim Williams’ insider knowledge – will fancy taking on the Irish scrum.

The retirement of George Gregan after the 2007 World Cup left Australia with a challenging void to fill. Luke Burgess started promisingly before losing his way however Deans has unearthed a clone of Gregan in Will Genia who electrified Twickenham last weekend on the way to picking up the man-of-the-match award.

He will take some watching around the fringes where his pace will cause problems for the Irish back row. Suddenly Australia seem to have another problem position rectified.

They still have deficiencies which result directly from the unavailability of Sterling Mortlock, Berrick Barnes and Nathan Sharpe for the tour due to injury. Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane combined in midfield for the first time at international level on Saturday and despite playing well lacked the maturity and direction of Mortlock and Barnes. As a result Australia’s finishing was rushed and smacked of panic with at least two try scoring opportunities butchered. They will be better on Sunday. Sharpe was also missed up front especially from a line out perspective, an area that Ireland must set out to attack.

If history has thought me anything it is that every Australian side, even one performing below their best, is extremely difficult to beat. Ireland better take note if they wish to launch this autumn campaign on a positive note.