Longwell ready to do battle with Puma pack

HE had done his bit, had Gary Longwell, played his part in beating the Wallabies and been intoxicated by the wonderful lap of honour.

But it was not until the Ballymena man arrived back home, away from the splendid isolation of the Ireland team hotel having been told he was being rested for the Fijian game, that the realisation he had helped defeat the world champion Australians really hit home.

He had been preoccupied with the fact he was being rested, a difficult thing to accept having waited 29 years for his first Irish cap.