IRELAND MANAGER ANTHONY Tohill has called on Ireland to do their talking on the pitch and get off to a good start in the first Test in Limerick tomorrow night – before the Australians become too adept with the round ball.
Speaking earlier on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Tohill admitted he hoped to build up a lead before the second Test in Croke Park the following week. Said Tohill:
You can talk these things over too much in preparation of the big games. The only place to do you talking is the on the pitch and that’s what we’re looking forward to. The players are really, really relaxed and looking forward to the game tomorrow night.
We’re certainly looking for a good start but both tests are equally important. The series is not going to be won or lost tomorrow night but it’s important for us to get a good start to get a psychological boost from the first test which is a huge lift for our players.
Because there’s no doubt that their lads improve immensely between the two tests. Our lads will improve as well – we’ll have time between tests to analyse what we’ve done right and what Australia have done right and to see where our strentghs and weaknesses are.
But they put a big emphasis on the second Test because of the issue of getting used to the round ball. The longer their lads spend kicking that round ball, the beter they get at it. So we’re looking to get off to a good start tomorrow night.
Asked what characterises a Tohill compromise rules side, the Sunday Game pundit joked: “Hopefully one that wins but time will tell.”
He continued:
We’re delighted with the squad of players we’ve assmebled. They’re footballers, they’re sports men and they’re certainly playing the game in the right spirit. We feel that Australia are here to do the same so we’re looking forward to a good game and a good Ireland win.
Elsewhere today, in today’s Irish Times, Mike McGurn the renowned fitness guru who has worked with sportspeople from boxer Bernard Dunne to the Irish rugby team, discusses his role as Tohill’s right-hand man. Speaking from the squad’s Adare base, he said:
I can do a lot of work on the tackle but more importantly how to avoid the tackle. That is the big thing really because if it comes down to who is the best tackler the Australians will win every time. We can only really rely on Gaelic football skills. We don’t have the time to turn them into tackling machines.
We practice the tackle in training but what we keep saying to the boys is, ‘Look, it is going to happen in a game. Accept the hit, get used to it, get back up on your feet after it and just play on’. It is part of the game. It is not Gaelic football it is compromise rules, remember.
