Aussies take it on the chin and plot revenge

TAKE a moment to scrutinise yesterday’s slaughter. Ireland may have been tactically tuned, but it’s hard to avoid the conclusion the visiting Aussies committed a cardinal sin by eschewing the brute force that won them the last two Series.

Where was the successor to Barry Hall for instance, the bald bulldozer who terrorised Ireland on his debut Down Under last year? You won’t hear the Australian management admitting they got it so wrong - not with another test to come - but read between the lines and the realisation is certainly there.

“Normally the Irish are quick out of the blocks and we’re more of an endurance team. That didn’t happen today,” said assistant manager Jim Stynes.