Kerr will play it straight

AUSTRALIA will provide Ireland with the type of challenge they can expect from Russia in three weeks time when they meet at Lansdowne Road tonight.

This means that manager Brian Kerr will not depart from his expected championship team selection for a game he won't want to lose.

For that reason he was delighted when all of his selected squad reported for duty with the exception of the injured pair, Lee Carsley (Everton) and Steven Reid (Blackburn), when yesterday he conducted the only full training session the pressure of club matches allowed before the match.