Aussie heavyweights pack too much punch for over-run Irish

IT was one of those days that put sport in its box. Jolted by the sense of perspective gained by the mid-morning news, 44,221 people arrived in Croker and joined together for a moment’s respect for those that died in Bali.

Although, minute’s silence at sporting events can often be trite, yesterday it meant something. The Aussies who had come to this party in the park were the most affected by the bombing. After the match, Matthew Pavlich gave us a glimpse of just how close the Australian team were to the horrors in Indonesia.

“If I wasn’t here, I might have been in Bali myself, because Fremantle (Pavlich’s club) were over there on an end-of-season holiday. Most of the guys left on Saturday, but eight remained. They are all okay.”