Bruised Andrew Trimble wants to get back on the horse

One last push. The bodies may ache more than usual after that punishing Test against the All Blacks but Ireland have a chance to finish the year on a high against Australia this Saturday and Andrew Trimble believes the players will not lack for motivation.

Trimble and company will drag their tired frames into the Aviva Stadium this weekend anxious not to allow any further dulling of the sheen from their historic victory over New Zealand in Chicago. Last Saturday’s revenge mission by the world champions came with the addition of bruises to the disappointment but the visit of a rejuvenated Wallabies, ranked one place above Ireland at third in the world, has sharply focused minds and the expectation is that bodies will follow in time for kick-off.

“It’s certainly there,” Trimble said of the fatigue. “It was a very, very tough game to be honest. After Chicago, we had the following weekend off but we trained unbelievably hard that week as well, it was almost like a pre-season week. So, we didn’t really get a break or get rested.