Wallabies forced to make changes in front row

WALLABY coach John Connolly has had to improvise in the front row for Saturday’s Test with Ireland at the Subiaco Oval.

It will, no doubt, come as sweet music to Eddie O’Sullivan’s ears that powerhouses Adam Freier and Rodney Blake have been ruled out through injury.

In their places, Guy Shepherdson makes his debut at tight head prop, and Tai McIsaac gets just his second run after starting for the first time against England last week.

It’s a far cry from Auckland last week, when Ireland found themselves under immense pressure in the front row. They’re unlikely to suffer the same fate against an inexperienced Wallaby trio; that allied to huge potential in the lineout gives Ireland great hope of finishing the season on a high.

But if there are not many readily recognisable names in the Wallaby pack, there is a wealth of experience behind the scrum.

George Gregan will captain the side in this, his 121st Test, and will be joined by an array of hugely talented players in that back division, amongst them Chris Latham, Stirling Mortlock and Stephen Larkham.

But Australia are cautious and

Connolly is well aware that this is the biggest challenge he has faced so far in his short tenure as coach.

“Ireland has a fantastic team; they’re good in every department and brilliant in others,” he said. “They’re organised, skilful and stick, if they can, to a very clever game plan. Yet, they’re capable of changing that and they have guys in key positions to be able to do it.”

Having just returned from Wales, Scott Johnson is Australia’s assistant coach, and he knows as much about Ireland as Connolly, who once spent a year with Old Belvedere and who toured a lot through Britain in the last few years.

Johnson pointed out: “My time in Britain was very rewarding, and it gave me the opportunity to study coaching methods there; methods I hope will help me in my present job.

“We have had to have a good hard look at where we’re going, and the scrum is certainly one of the areas.”

Connolly, in describing Ireland’s defence as one of the best in the world, is looking forward to the challenge. “The games against England were all over the place; I don’t think they quite gave us the opportunity to judge too much. Ireland will play a more structured game; they’ll be more measured when they attack and more measured when they defend. That will bring about a different set of problems. Having said that, I’m quite happy to have started off with a couple of victories; the guys are enjoying their rugby and that’s what we set out to achieve as a coaching team.

“If the players are happy to express themselves; if they win games as a result of that, then everyone is in a feelgood factor,” he said.