Former Blue Rocky knows old friends can pack punch

FORMER Leinster hero Rocky Elsom has labelled Ireland’s back row as one of the most underrated in international rugby ahead of Australia’s World Cup game with the Irish at Eden Park tomorrow.

Elsom lifted the Heineken Cup for Leinster in 2009 before returning to Australia to resume his Wallabies career and will face Ireland in a gold jersey for the second time when the countries meet in a pivotal Pool C showdown.

Former teammates Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien will pack down against the Australians tomorrow alongside Ulster’s Stephen Ferris and Elsom said: “Looking at their back row, they’ve got a lot of ball-carrying options. With their six, seven, eight combination they’ve got a lot of leg drive. They’re big blokes and they’re probably one of the more underrated back rows in Test rugby.