Lack of physical power a major concern for O’Keeffe

IT’S clear Irish manager John O’Keeffe is worried about the size of the task facing his team over the next two Fridays here in Australia.

He readily admits that they are short in physical power and that in key aspects of play they have been found wanting in the past. In brief, he is telling his players avoid a repetition of 'silly mistakes,' which he feels cost them victory in the home series twelve months ago.

O'Keeffe quoted one interesting statistic that the Australians tackled three times more than his team in the two tests in Croke Park and said that he wasn't surprised by that.

He also points out that the opposition has the capacity to win 90% of breaking ball. "When it's on the ground they're going in head first, whereas we're going in leg first," he comments.

Back home, in their preparations they used tackle bags to help players brush up on a skill he agrees is alien to Gaelic footballers.

However, he is hopeful that a specific change of policy basically cutting the type of short passing which is endemic in their own game will limit the Australians' scope for getting in those 'big hits.'

"We'll be paying more attention to kicking, as against fist-passing. If you fist-pass the ball it allows the Australians the chance to come tighter on you and tackle you. We will want to eliminate that as much as possible," he added.

"Hopefully we'll see more kicking out wide and hopefully we'll pay more attention to kicking three-pointers. We were a bit obsessed with six-pointers last year. It didn't come off and we paid the penalty."

With an emphasis in training on 'familiarising lads with their roles,' O'Keeffe stresses the importance of having cover for every position, adding that in some he 'almost' has two per position.

It's a game that 'opens itself' to versatility and while he has several players who can play in defence or attack, he doesn't have one of the calibre of former winning captain Anthony Tohill.

Colin Corkery, who spent two years with the Carlton club in Melbourne in the late eighties, is earmarked for the important role of target man. Because of the way the speed of the international game has evolved, he recognises that Corkery doesn't have the mobility or the pace to fill an outfield role.

And, on the one hand while he is worried that Steven McDonnell has no experience of this game, he believes that as a specialist corner forward he can quickly adapt: "The more you play inside in the corner, it's more your Gaelic skills that will come into play," he commented.

Conversely, inexperience and a lack of involvement in the pre-tour preparations may make it difficult for Tyrone midfield star Kevin Hughes.

With the eyes of the world focused on the Rugby World Cup in Australia, the Irish manager acknowledges that there is more at stake for the Australians this time that the attraction of getting their (own) game on a world-wide stage gives them a new incentive.

"It won't be easy to beat them. The continuity of (Australian manager) Gary Lyon will help. I know he was badly hurt when they lost in Adelaide the last time.

"I'd say they are sick of being beaten in their home patch.