Rugby Exclusive

With Robbie Deans taking over as Coach of the Wallabies there was a lot riding on this match. The team seem to come together well but proved to be very rusty with many handling errors costing field position in critical areas of both defence and attack.

Ireland showed a willingness to play an expansive style of Rugby much to the delight of the huge crowd at Melbourne’s Telstra dome.

Sterling Mortlock was able to concentrate on his captaincy without having to worry about the kicking duties as this was taken over by the Forces kicker Matt Gitto

The Wallabies return to Sydney today where they will go into camp in preparation for the French Test.