ALTHOUGH Australia maintained their 100 per cent tour record with their win over Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, it was the spirited Irish performance which drew most accolades from writers and commentators in the Australian media.
Despite grumblings about selection and their side's over all direction - which have included calls for coach Greg Smith to stand down - the media whole heartedly praised the manner of Ireland's performance in their 10 point defeat.
New South Wales's biggest selling newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, under the headline "Ireland raise standard", described how "the outweighed Irish pack stood up like men to the Wallabies and, in the end, dominated the line outs."
"This Ireland side recalled all the old pride and fire and had by far the better of the first half and some of the second," rugby analyst Bruce Wilson said. Australia salvaged an escape from Devil's Island win over an Ireland that at the end had some reason to feel unlucky."
Gabriel Fulcher, Jeremy Davidson, the entire back row and captain Keith Wood, in particular, came in for praise.
The Australian also recognised the problems Ireland posed the Wallabies, and showed concern for their team's own performance.
"The Australians are not playing at pace, not controlling the game, not playing with a real direction. Coach Smith says the rucking game is too risky because of referee interpretations and ground conditions," writer Peter Jenkins said.
"Yet the Irish looked terrific at one stage in the second half, taking it up, going to ground, cleaning out and providing quick ball for the next runner. The Wallabies are looking too staid with their preference for the maul."
Columnist Evan Whitton said: "In a pulsating, but not notably skilful match, Ireland had much the better of things for 65 minutes.
"Their forwards played in the grandest Irish tradition of maddoggery, almost as if they'd been supplied with a jolt of Jameson against the bitter chill and it sadly wore off just too soon.
"With a little more attacking talent, the Irish might have expected to be 20 points in front, but that was never going to happen: the rugby league coach, Wayne Pearce, last summer drilled the Australians much too well in tackling," Whitton said, explaining one of the principal reasons for the excellence of the Wallaby defence on this tour.
Television commentator Simon Poidevin, a former Wallaby, praised the kicking of Paul Burke and the performance of David Corkery and Denis McBride, whom he described as "being everywhere on the park".
