IT appears on first glance as a parallel universe. The international rules series between the AFL and Ireland disappears for a year and the two bitter rivals undergo a drastic personality change.Once victimised, Ireland now shapes as the aggressor for the two-Test series in Perth and Melbourne later this month.
The brutish Australia now stands fleet-footed but mild, an agent of fair play in the hybrid game.
The Irish, so furious with the invaders` physical attack two years ago they refused to participate in the 2007 series, have plucked union bad boy Trevor Brennan to help condition them for the contact so natural to the Australian game.
It could prove an inspired - and perhaps logical - choice of tackling coach given the events of two years ago and the past of Brennan, who was banned for life by European rugby last season for vaulting the fence to assault a rival Ulster fan while playing for Toulouse. Australia, in comparison, has opted for a side based on character and sportsmanship, new coach Mick Malthouse said.
"One of the reasons why I`ve taken the job on (is) I believe that we have a fundamental obligation to ensure that this series is continued because we`ve played in the right spirit and we`ve conducted ourselves in the right manner and we`ve played to win," Malthouse said.
Few will doubt the speed of Port Adelaide`s Shaun Burgoyne.
Or Magpie pair Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury`s skill and running ability. Yet to dismiss this as an Australian side likely to be bullied by an Irish side that has vowed to muscle-up for the series would be a folly.
Hawk Campbell Brown, who played through September with a broken bone in his foot, has been named in the side despite the problem. Add Crow Nathan Bock, versatile Roo Drew Petrie and players the calibre of Daniel Wells, Brent Harvey and Marc Murphy and there is no doubting Malthouse`s intention, regardless of the pre-series niceties.
"Don`t misinterpret the fact that we`re out there to win this game of football and we will play absolutely within the rules, but those rules are quite broad," Malthouse said.
Additional reporting: AAP
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