Speaking to Dave McIntyre on Off The Ball, the Irish manager for the International Rules series Joe Kernan stated that he's expecting a very tough test from the Australians in this year's clash.
Kernan has opted for skillful players who can move the ball quickly in place of bigger target men, and stated that will be a reflection of the type of game his Ireland side will look to play this weekend: "when you work with players for a few weeks, you get to see what's inside them [...] we're looking for someone that's mobile, that can kick the ball and knows what to do when they have it. They won't panic".
Speaking about how the game will pan out, Kernan stated that his Irish team might look to avoid the big hits that have made this game so physical in the past.
"The tackle is a specialised part of their game," said Kernan "but if it's on we'll go for it. If we can do it, it'll affect the game because it sops the game and that's what they're good at. From our own point of view, we're going to try and make sure that we don't go into as much contact so we don't invite them into the tackle".
One thing he was very clear on was the level of commitment from the players who have been included in his squad: "Their commitment is never in doubt, everyone of them wants to wear an Irish jersey [...] For your club, your county and your province it's an exceptionally proud moment [...] I can guarantee you that every Irish player will put his head on the block".
Speaking about the future of the series, Kernan admitted that there may well be a lot riding on Saturday's clash at Croke Park, so he's expecting a flowing, fast game.
"We certainly want it to continue, it's something different. But we have to play it at a high level, at a high tempo [...] we want the bums off the seats here in excitement at what the Irish players can do".
You can listen to the full interview below:
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