Players' reaction: Ireland fielded a frontrow at Lansdowne Road yesterday that included a "Bull", and a "Bear", vernacular references for props John Hayes and Bryan Young. The young Ulsterman acquitted himself well but it was the granite-hewn Hayes who scuppered the Australians when they slunk around the sides of rucks.

Time and again he arm-wrestled the ball-carrier to the floor, the Bruff farmer almost taking it as a personal affront to those Aussies looking to steal a few yards of turf. It's impossible for Hayes' stock to rise further in the eyes of his team-mates. His work ethic and work-rate is celebrated within the squad and by the management, the Munsterman a champion of the mundane chores that underpin any victory.

He even managed to snaffle an Australian lineout. Hayes smiled: "(it was) a hard game in hard conditions. I was looking at the stats on my lineout takes and they were down so I thought I better get them back up. In the lineout, with wind like that there is going to be a bobbling ball every now and again, so I was just trying to stay alert at the back in case the ball came my way."

He relished the abrasive nature of the contest, comfortable among the heavyweight collisions. "You might play one game and they mightn't do one pick and go around the sides, instead going side to side, but today conditions dictated you had to control the ball. In the second half there was no way they were going to throw around the ball, so you know what's coming and you have to stay tight.

"It was physical in close, because you're going to get the big guys taking it up; I didn't tackle one of their backs. It was forwards around the sides all day. It suits me, a lot easier in there than wide open country.

"In the first half we knew we were going to be carrying into the wind. Rog (Ronan O'Gara) wasn't going to kick it 80 yards down the field. You have to be ready to carry or support. You have to concentrate."

Eddie O'Sullivan's interval dissertation demanded that the players zone in on playing clever rugby to suit the conditions and avoid any complacency.

Hayes admitted: "The wind isn't going to win it for you and that's the way it turned out. You have to play rugby. It was only 15-3 which, against a side like them, isn't a whole lot.

"They made the better start in the second half so that got us focused and we knew we had to get back into the game and control the ball. It was about getting back down in their half and asking them to play from there."

Victory brought its own satisfaction.

"It's great to beat two of the big teams from the Southern Hemisphere because you don't get to play them as often as other sides. To play them back-to-back is hard but that makes it all the more satisfying."

Hayes won't be looking for a rest when the Pacific Islands come calling next Sunday. "I'd love to play again. When you're playing at Lansdowne Road with Ireland it's where you want to be. I love being out there. I wouldn't want it any other way.

"I got sick, picked up a virus during the pre-season and then injured my ankle, not exactly on the rugby field. It was a field all right. I was out looking at cattle, stepped in a hole and twisted my ankle. I had some explaining to do in a phone call.

"When you're out it makes you appreciate what you have all the more. I'd be happy to keep going."

Another Irish player to excel was fullback Geordan Murphy, foot-perfect in horrendous conditions for a fullback, including grabbing a try, which he described thus: "Rog (Ronan O'Gara) came around Drico (Brian O'Driscoll) on a move called late. I popped it to Shaggy (Shane Horgan) who thought he was in in the corner but I managed to trail him on the inside and nick his try.

"It was tough going, nasty (conditions). I just thought, sod's law, get a run and there's a lot of pressure on the shoulders because it's lashing it down. There wasn't much to do other than be solid and that's what I tried to do."

What about the try that got away? "No it wasn't a try. I wrapped it up under my wrist, had it (the wrist) cocked and then went for the line. I thought I could get to the line but it came out of my hand when I hit the ground. I was thinking about going back inside but had a stab at the line. It was about an inch short (when it came out) and then the ball popped out. I knew it had popped out but wasn't sure if I had made the line. I try to bluff it, say 'yeah', just in case.

"I thought Girvan (Dempsey) played well last week. If I was in his shoes I probably would have felt a little hard done by. There was pressure there. If I didn't play well it gives everyone an opportunity to write in the paper tomorrow that I should be sacked."

No fear of that on a day when most fullbacks would have gladly pulled the covers back over their heads.