Wallabies wary of Woody

Australia know just how dangerous Brian ‘Waltzing’ O’Driscoll can be after a devastating Lions tour Down Under two years ago but, for those in the murky world of the Wallabies front row, no Irishman is held in higher esteem than Keith Wood.

The heartbeat of the Ireland side, Wood is in the last throes of a stellar career and battled back from a year on the sidelines with serious neck and shoulder injuries to make the World Cup.

The 32-year-old was in influential form as Ireland booked a place in the quarter-finals with a gritty victory over Argentina last weekend and Wallabies prop Bill Young believes his presence alone makes the Irish far more dangerous proposition.

The two sides meet in Melbourne on Saturday in an eagerly-awaited encounter to determine who will advance to the quarter-finals as Pool A winners.

“Wood represents what the Irish are, very passionate. He’s certainly a fantastic player, he’s one of the best players in the world and we look at him with great respect,” Young said.

“We have to make sure that we’re on our guard on Saturday night whenever he’s anywhere near the ball, or at set-piece time because he controls the game so well.”

Wood also enjoyed a stellar Lions tour but missed his country’s last two Tests against Australia as he struggled with serious neck and shoulder injuries.

The two matches were split, with Ireland prevailing 18-9 at a sodden Lansdowne Road last November before a weakened touring side were turned over 45-16 in June.

The prize for the winner on Saturday is to reach the last eight as group winners and therefore avoid the likelihood of a daunting quarter-final showdown with France.

Wood will come up against Brendan Cannon for the first time since the Lions’ third Test against Australia in Sydney and the Wallabies hooker admitted to being somewhat in awe of his Irish counterpart.

“Not just Irish and British rugby but in international football I think he’s without peer and to play against someone like him is a tremendous honour,” said Cannon.

“He possesses so many skills that we wish we could have half of.”

Australia coach Eddie Jones, after watching Ireland’s dramatic 16-15 victory in Adelaide, believes they will hit the Wallabies with a no-fear brand of attacking rugby.

But that does not mean the battle up front will be any less intense.

“They’re good scrummagers, one of the best line-outs in the game and they’ve got some fantastic backs in O’Driscoll and Kevin Maggs who can cause you a lot of damage,” said Young.

“They’ve got the complete game. If you’re looking for a side that’s going to cause you trouble all over the park you don’t have to look any further than Ireland.”

The memory of O’Driscoll waltzing through backlines from Perth to Sydney has dominated much of the pre-match talk and although he has yet to produce his best form during this World Cup Australia coach Eddie Jones is wary.

“Yes, he’s probably been below his best during this tournament so far but with a guy like him that he might be only one ball touch away from being at his peak,” said Jones.

“He’s a great athlete and I think he’s going to really respond to a fast surface in Melbourne.”

The Wallabies had their final training session today ahead of tomorrow’s team announcement with a number of the players suffering from a touch of the flu.

Flanker Phil Waugh is also troubled by a hamstring problem but Jones is expected to have a full complement of players to select from and vowed he would be announcing a full-strength side.