Wallabies ready for brutal clash

Australia anticipate a bruising beginning to the Robbie Deans’ regime when they host Ireland in Melbourne on Saturday.

The Wallabies were impressed with Ireland’s willingness to meet the physicality of New Zealand head on in a wet and windy Wellington last weekend, despite the All Blacks emerging 21-11 victors.

And more confrontational rugby is expected under the closed roof at Telstra Dome, according to flanker Rocky Elsom.

“I thought the forwards had a really strong game. I think their forward pack led by (Paul) O’Connell has been their strength for a while,” Elsom said ahead of the one-off Test.

“They’ve definitely got some sharp backs but their forwards are what are winning the games more often than not.

“Very physical, that’s the style they go with. We’d expect nothing less.”

Playmaker Matt Giteau is another expecting a battering, but the aerial assault deployed by the visitors against the Kiwis may not be on show at Melbourne’s indoor stadium.

“We couldn’t take too much out of the New Zealand game because it was so wet,” Giteau said.

“It was always going to be a tactical game, a lot of kicking, they like to kick the ball a fair bit.

“But they do have their strike weapons out there. (Brian) O’Driscoll in the centres, the new full-back they’ve got (Rob Kearney) and also (Shane) Horgan on the wing.

“They still have their strike players if they want to throw the ball around. By no means are we expecting them just to kick, they are going to come out and they are going to attack.”

The Irish team was announced today with experienced scrum-half Peter Stringer and hooker Rory Best included in the starting team.

Stringer and Best replace Eoin Reddan and Jerry Flannery from the starting XV which lost to New Zealand.

Deans will announce his first Test side tomorrow with rookie Luke Burgess tipped to partner Giteau at half-back.

Burgess trained alongside Giteau today and the Western Force star gave him a glowing endorsement.

“I think he threatens the line well. He’s obviously a very good runner with the ball. He’s quick, (provides) good service, I think he’s got everything a half-back needs to have,” Giteau said of Burgess.

“Obviously he doesn’t have that experience because he has only just started playing Super 14, but I think he has shown that he has enough belief and confidence in himself to be able to handle any level.

“He definitely suits my style of game because he threatens the line and I think if he has those people getting in tighter it opens up a bit more space for me a bit wider.”