Aussies braced for second coming as Irish ‘stung’
Lappin also expects Anthony Tohill’s side to adopt different tactics after their defensive approach lead to a poor showing in the first test.
“They’ve been stung a little bit by their local media and they’re giving them a little bit. We’d expect those players to fire up. They’ll do some things differently and we’ll sit down as coaches and work out what we think they’ll be and we’ll plan for those. If we were coaching them we would definitely change things up. I thought they started defensively with a spare man and that brought a negative message to them and their players, so I think they won’t do that again this week.”
Australia are set to welcome David Wojcinski and Travis Varcoe back into contention for Saturday’s game after both players missed the Gaelic Grounds tie due to injuries sustained in last week’s warm-up game against a Cork colleges selection. Wojcinski tested out his injured ankle at the side’s first Dublin training session on Monday while a heavily-strapped Varcoe, who is dogged by a shoulder problem, completed most of the session.
“David looked like he was running OK and it’s a long way to come not to play”, remarked Lappin. “They’ll both play as long as they get through the main training session. They’ll suit up but we won’t risk them. We have a no-risk policy but they want to experience the game and atmosphere at Croke Park so we’ll give them that opportunity. Exposing the players to another game, they’ll get a feel for the Irish and their soccer skills and the way they play the game.”
Meanwhile, Limerick chairman Liam Lenihan hopes the success of Saturday night’s International Rules First Test will encourage GAA chiefs to fix more games for the Gaelic Grounds during the 2011 season. Limerick county board officials were deeply disappointed that the Ennis Road venue was overlooked to hold the All-Ireland U21 hurling finals which took place in Semple Stadium last month. Lenihan is optimistic that their staging of the clash between Ireland and Australia will lead to the Gaelic Grounds being utilised on a more regular basis.
“It was a big disappointment for us about the U21 venue. All the officials that were there from Croke Park on Saturday night and from the CCCC were very happy with what they saw. I hope when those people sit down to make their 2011 fixtures that we’ll get more games. People keep on complementing us on the facilities and the floodlights enhance that. We got a crowd in excess of 30,000 on Saturday which we were happy with. At one stage during the week, we thought we’d only have 26,000 or 27,000, so to get over thirty is very good.”
Lenihan also revealed that board officials will be entering into discussions with Limerick hurling manager Donal O’Grady and football boss Maurice Horan about the prospect of holding some of the county’s home national league games next spring on Saturday nights. Currently there is just one game scheduled for a Saturday night, the NHL Division 2 tie at home to Westmeath on February 19th.
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