Ireland v Australia: The nagging sense of Irish unease about the International series was best portrayed by a senior GAA figure who said that, whereas the Australians had worked on their weaknesses in respect of the round ball, Ireland had not addressed their own shortcomings in the tackle and the mark as successfully.
In fact, it could be added that far from coming to terms with these problems, Ireland has slipped back in areas of what should be expertise.
Ability to kick overs with the round ball is meant to be a concessionary aspect from an Irish point of view, but, in fact, the Australians are often doing it better. For example, in last year's Melbourne Test, which was won by Ireland, the home side scored more three-pointers.
Ireland manager Peter McGrath made it clear that he was prioritising this as soon as he was appointed and during the week said that players were being encouraged to take simple three-pointers rather than over-elaborating in search of goals.
His panel lacks the imposing physical presence of pioneers of the international game, such as John McDermott, Darren Fay and Anthony Tohill, but to an extent that reflects football's evolution. Ireland's approach will emphasise mobility and speed and hope that some of the home team's best finishers can translate their skills on to the international stage.
Australia arrive with the usual turnover of players.
As professional athletes they are better able to step up to this level than Irish players who have tended to rely on proven performers. Despite the focus on Garry Lyon's team featuring only five of this year's All-Australian selection, this isn't a significant setback.
Last year, the side that became the first home series winners in Australia had exactly the same number of award winners and neither of their most influential players, captain Shane Crawford and the gigantic Sydney forward Barry Hall, had been honoured last season.
Nonetheless, this year's AFL Brownlow medallist Chris Judd is certainly a loss. An underage international player, he was also very impressive in the senior series two years ago at Croke Park. But, overall, Lyon seems to be happy with the players available.
Wednesday's practice match saw the best warm-up performance ever by a scratch team, as the Dublin All Stars lost by just 10 points, a smaller margin than has decided some Tests. But there's little reason to doubt the Australian coach's dismissal of the match as "just practice".
For instance, captain James Hird, a superb footballer who was man of the series in 2000 when fitness last allowed him to play, spent the second half on the line having had his run-out in the early stages.
Once again it's likely that Ireland's best players will be established performers. Cork's Graham Canty has been immense in the last two series, claiming the Irish medal both years, and training suggests that he is on form again.
Seán Martin Lockhart has been one of the great defenders in the international game since its resumption six years ago and is reportedly playing well. One of the newer faces to impress has been Laois' Tom Kelly, who has some experience from last year.
Yet, for a second year Ireland running are troubled by injury.
Séamus Moynihan, arguably Ireland's best international player since 1998, misses his second series and his fellow Kerryman Tomás Ó Sé, a triumphant All-Ireland season behind him, was injured in a club match last week.
There will be great interest in how the "imports" work out for Ireland. Tadhg Kennelly was a big loss for Ireland last year. In former Ireland coach John O'Keeffe's memorable phrase, the Listowel-born Sydney Swans player "has both codes locked in his head". If he reproduces the form of his inaugural series in 2001, McGrath will be well pleased.
The Ó hAilpín brothers will also attract attention. Setanta hasn't played for quite a while, but will be anxious to follow in the steps of Kennelly. Seán Ó hAilpín is made for this game with his natural athleticism and a hurler's instinctive ball release.
It's always hard to call first Tests, given that they take place in a vacuum, but the visiting team generally gets the default favouritism. And Australia have the mobility and adaptability to deserve that status.
Meanwhile, the hurling-shinty International Rules match between Ireland and Scotland takes place in Ratoath, Co Meath, this afternoon.
Ireland's selection is drawn from the second tier of hurling counties with only one team, Laois, of next year's senior championship contenders represented.
There was some disillusionment with the news that the match would not precede next week's second Test with Australia, as had been the case in 2002 and 2000. Instead a Railway Cup hurling semi-final between Munster and Leinster will be the curtain-raiser at Croke Park.
Throw-in for the senior match is at 3.30 p.m. and preceding it will be a women's match and an under-21 international.
Ireland are through to the final of the first ever International camogie competition after they had two emphatic victories over Britain and the United States, both at Russell Park, Blanchardstown, yesterday.
The opening game saw the home-side overcome Britain 6-24 to 0-2, while the second game was equally one sided as Ireland triumphed 3-15 to 0-2.
The final which will be played tomorrow at noon before the International Rules Test at Croke Park and will feature Ireland and Britain who overcame the US on Thursday.
Rules of the Rules
* The game is played 15-a-side with eight interchange players, who can constantly rotate throughout the match. Each team lines out with a goalkeeper and 14 outfield players as in Gaelic football.
* There are two referees, two linesmen and two umpires.
* Goalposts have bars and nets as in Gaelic football with "behind" posts, as in Australian Rules, set 6.4 metres outside the goalposts.
* The tackle allows a player in possession to be held below the shoulders and above the thighs, but pushing on the back is a foul.
* A goal is worth six points and is scored into the net. An over is worth three points and is scored between the posts and over the bar. A behind is worth one point and is scored between the behind posts and goalposts.
* The ball is a regulation Gaelic football.
* A mark, as in Australian Rules, is awarded to a player catching the ball in the air after it has been kicked, provided it hasn't touched the ground or posts since the kick.
* Players are allowed run with the ball provided it is hopped or touches the ground every 15 metres up to a limit of 30 metres. Soloing, hand to toe, every 15 metres is allowed as many times as the player wishes.
* Each match lasts for four quarters of 20 minutes, the end of which is sounded by a siren. Play is ended by one of the referees signalling he has heard the siren.
* Scoring after the siren is allowed if one of the referees deems the ball has been kicked or if a free kick or mark has been earned before it sounds.
International Rules Teams
Ireland (First Test v Australia): 1 Stephen Cluxton (Dublin) 2 Joe Bergin (Galway) 3 Alan Brogan (Dublin) 4 Eoin Brosnan (Kerry) 5 Declan Browne (Tipperary) 6 Graham Canty (Cork) 7 Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone) 8 Brendan Coulter (Down) 9 Brian Cullen (Dublin) 10 Dessie Dolan (Westmeath) 11 Mattie Forde (Wexford) 12 Paul Galvin (Kerry) 13 David Heaney (Mayo) 14 Pádraic Joyce (Galway) 15 Tom Kelly (Laois) 16 Tadhg Kennelly (Kerry/Sydney Swans) 17 Seán Martin Lockhart (Derry) 18 Philip Loughran (Armagh) 19 Kieran McDonald (Mayo) 20 Steven McDonnell (Armagh) 21 Martin McGrath (Fermanagh) 22 Ciarán McManus (Offaly) 23 Brian McGuigan (Tyrone) 24 James Nallen (Mayo) 25 Seán Ó hAilpín (Cork) 26 Setanta Ó hAilpín (Cork/Carlton).
Australia (First Test v Ireland): 15 Mal Michael (Brisbane Lions) 2 Nathan Brown (Richmond) 3 Brady Rawlings (Kangaroos) 4 Alan Didak (Collingwood) 5 James Hird (Essendon) 6 Craig Bolton (Sydney) 7 Dean Solomon (Essendon). 8 Max Hudghton (St Kilda) 9 Austinn Jones (St Kilda) 10 Mark McVeigh (Essendon) 11 Joel Bowden (Richmond) 12 Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) 13 Matthew Lappin (Carlton) 14 Jason Johnson (Essendon) 16 Luke Ball (St Kilda) 17 Andrew Embley (West Coast) 18 Brad Green (Melbourne) 19 Joel Corey (Geelong) 20 Michael Braun (West Coast) 21 Brett Kirk (Sydney) 24 Jude Bolton (Sydney) 26 Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda) 28 Jared Crouch (Sydney) 32 Cameron Bruce (Melbourne) 33 Adam McPhee (Essendon) 42 Robert Haddrill (Fremantle).
Ireland (Hurling/shinty senior panel): M Brennan (Meath), P Mahon (Laois), J Bermingham (Wicklow), B Murtagh (Westmeath), G Savage (Down), P Reidy (Kildare), G Clarke (Down), M Connaughton (Roscommon), D McCormack (Westmeath), P Seevers (Sligo), J Young (Laois), A Mitchell (Westmeath), A McAndrew (Kildare), N Campbell (Donegal), M McHugh (Monaghan), M Cole (Meath), F Bannon (Fermanagh), JM Dooley (Kerry).
