O'Sullivan plots new gameplan for Australia

Eddie O'Sullivan is wrestling with a selection dilemma for Saturday's autumn showdown against Australia.

Confidence has soared following Saturday's 32-15 thumping of South Africa and O'Sullivan names his side on Wednesday knowing victory over the Wallabies would lift morale even higher.

Any changes will come from within the existing 22, but the prospect of securing successive wins over southern hemisphere opposition for only the second time ever demands the tinkering is kept to a minimum.

O'Sullivan claims Ireland's strongest line-up can overcome any team, but knows ruthless Australia are capable of bringing his side crashing back down to earth.

"We played well against South Africa but Australia are different opposition who provide a different set of challenges," he said.

"They don't defend the same way as South Africa and they don't play the same way.

"We have to get our head around as quickly as possible and go out with a different gameplan for Australia. It's nice to win but you have to look at the level of performance.

"If we get our performance right on the day with our current team we'll always be in with a shout of winning a game, no matter who we play.

"It went exceptionally well against South Africa but we have to kick on. Of all the Test sides out there, Australia are exceptionally good at finding weaknesses and capitalising on them."

O'Sullivan had revealed his intention to use the autumn internationals for minor experimentation but the prize of adding the Wallabies to his growing selection of major scalps can not be underestimated.

Victory over Australia would intensify the belief Ireland are heading in the right direction with the World Cup around nine months away and would lift morale to new heights.

If O'Sullivan does makes changes, Ulster scrum-half Isaac Boss and prop Bryan Young look the most likely players to be promoted from the bench.

Young, 25, would be viewed as the more risky decision, especially as the front row is an area where Ireland will have the edge on the tourists.

Replacing Ronan O'Gara (who was superb against the Springboks) with Paddy Wallace would represent a major gamble so the Ulster fly-half is likely to remain on the bench.

Simon Easterby, Malcolm O'Kelly and Geordan Murphy are known quantities and hardly need Test experience, but replacement hooker Frankie Sheahan could be given the nod as he continues his comeback from a serious neck injury.

"There's a balance to strike between winning Test matches, which is important for confidence and building the team, and also getting players to build the squad," said O'Sullivan.

"You can go one way or the other. The performance against South Africa has given us a bit of elbow room for next week.

"We have the elbow room now so we'll have a look and weigh it up before kicking on for Australia."

Ireland's only previous back-to-back victories against Tri-Nations opposition arrived in 1965-67, when South Africa and Australia were the victims.