Ireland must get interchange right, cautions Boylan

IRISH International Rules manager Sean Boylan is concerned about the ability of his side to adapt to the interchange rule in Friday night’s opening test against Australia, (Perth, RTÉ Two, 11.10am).

Admitted the former Meath manager: “It has been a huge problem (in the past) because they are so good at it. It’s part and parcel of their game. There’s still that thing if you don’t start or you’re taken off after a couple of minutes the Irish psyche kicks in and you think ‘I’m not that bad.’ It’s a question of getting the head right.’’

Yesterday morning 20 players (Brisbane-based Colm Begley from Laois joined them later) trained in the morning in Fremantle in temperatures exceeding 30C. “It’s lovely to have the sun on your back, a big change from home. The lads have time to acclimatise and they will be sensible about it. They won’t be looking to get suntans!”