Australia v Ireland
Perth - 7 June 2003

This Saturday's test against Ireland represents the first step in the journey of a thousand miles that is the 2003 international season for the Wallabies. Yep - a lot of rugby to come, which is, of course, absolutely brilliant for we fans. But a successful World Cup campaign should mean the Wallabies play a whopping fourteen tests over the next six months - for the numerically challenged, that's a test every two weeks or so until the end of November.

In terms of finding the combinations on the field which will keep Bill in this wide, brown land, Australia is worryingly behind schedule. Last year's European tour was supposed to be the laboratory for such experimentation, but injuries to key players prevented that from happening. Sound familiar?

With injuries to nine potential starters, it has been a case of selecting the last men standing. The good news is that that side still looks quite competitive on paper. A few years ago, that wouldn't have been the case. So, our depth is improving, but in all likelihood we won't be much closer after the upcoming three test matches to uncovering our best XV for the World Cup.

On the plus side is, I suppose, the fact that it is best to suffer a spate of injuries now rather than in four months' time.

But turning our attention back to Saturday's test...Ireland gave the Wallabies a lesson in wet weather rugby last November, securing an historic, rare victory. But that was then. The Wallabies look a better side this time round, and hopefully Subiaco will be bone dry. And Ireland are missing key players O'Driscoll, Henderson, and Wood (who is touring, but is unlikely to play). It's certainly not the same Irish team that came second in the Six Nations earlier this year, and the Wallabies should account for them with relative ease. Mind you, as we are all too aware, the Wallabies are capable of losing their way against 'inferior' opposition.

The victor in this test will have the psychological edge going into the critical World Cup pool match in Melbourne. So, from that point of view, the stakes are relatively high.

But the real interest will be on the form of the Australians. Will Kefu and Turinui provide some midfield spark, particularly against the excitiing Irish outside centre, Geordan Murphy? Will Lyons stand and deliver as starting blindside flanker? Will Smith and Waugh be on the field at the same time at some stage? Will Latham reproduce his Super 12 form? Will Gregan run with the ball? Will Wendell's good form continue? Will the pigs find some grunt?

Let the games begin.

- Dan Fowell

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