By Country / Ireland

The long-haul back to Dublin will contain a few regrets and a trigger thoughts of what might've been for Ireland as again they came up tantalizingly short once again in the southern hemisphere.

Whereas Munster are the champions of close encounters, the international side lacked the composure despite matching Australia's efforts with an expansive game bereft of accuracy.

Ireland's lineout is strangely a concern. Replacement Jerry Flannery's metronomic throw deserted him while Rory Best lacked the former's urgency in the loose.

Summer tours are all about unearthing new talent. Rob Kearney can be most proud of his efforts. Under Eddie O'Sullivan, Girvan Dempsey was a favourite while often his understudy Geordan Murphy only flirted with showing his true colours.

Kearney alongside Jamie Heaslip have surely cemented their spot for the Autumn, showing there is life after the golden generation.

The action was fascinating with Australia's watertight defence something to admire. Drifting in tandem, the Irish failed to punch holes outwide as Lote Tuqiri, Stirling Mortlock and plucky scrum-half Luke Burgess all working in fine tune.

Their two tries were equally as impressive, giving more evidence that the ELVs have encouraged to keep things alive.

Lote Tuqiri's powerful burst and deft off-load was gobbled up by Berrick Barnes for the opener. James Horwill was the second to profit from a moment of magic. This time, Matt Giteau caught the Irish flat line napping, beating four static defenders, before popping the ball into the safe hands of the 22-year-old debutant.

Denis Leamy and Brian O'Driscoll conjured up Ireland's two efforts, but the nearly men of nothern hemisphere rugby couldn't find the inspiration to herald a first victory on Aussie soil since 1979.

First job for Declan Kidney - to install some confidence in their talented abilities.

It maybe winter, but the Australians are already dusting down the surfboards and warming the barbecues such is the anticipation of the Robbie Deans feel good factor blowing its way in from the Freemantle doctor.

This is the most exciting looking Wallaby side since 1999 and with beach beauties Matt Giteau, Berrick Barnes and Luke Burgess the pioneers of the new era, the threesome could easily emblazon a billboard for Home & Away instead of fresh-faced Wallabies.

One thing this side has is pace in abundance and Deans will be expecting ample ball being shifted across the hands to the whistling wings, Lote Tuqiri and Peter Hynes.

If Ireland are to last the distance then the forwards will again have to soldier on and take the Terry Griffiths approach by slowing the game so much that the opposition start ordering triple espresso's at half-time.

The scrum is one area where the Irish could expose havoc given Matt 'teletubby Dunning makes his first appearance in the green & gold since taking a bigger pummeling from Andrew Sheridan at the World Cup than Hillary Clinton dished out to Barrack Obama this week.

Australia: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 James Horwill, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Stephen Moore,1 Benn Robinson.

Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Ryan Cross, 22 Adam Ashley-Cooper

Ireland: 15 Robert Kearney, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Tommy Bowe, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Denis Leamy, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Rory Best, 1 Marcus Horan.

Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 19 Shane Jennings, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Geordan Murphy, 22 Girvan Dempsey.

Peter Stringer's somehow displaced Eoin Reddan as Ireland's scrum-half for the first of Ireland's two Test's against the Wallabies.

Reddan was a key figure in Wasps' Guinness Premiership renaissance, especially towards the latter stages of the season and interim coach Michael Bradley appears to have abandoned the adventurous skills of Reddan in favour of the attritional pass-machine from Munster, who has spent most of the run-in behind Tomas O'Leary.

Rory Best replaces Jerry Flannery at hooker, which is another surprise. Flannery's natural aggression and vigour in the loose was a key component of Munster's charge to European glory and is widely seen as the natural British Lions number two courtesy of his accurate throwing.

Ireland: 15 Robert Kearney, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Tommy Bowe, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Denis Leamy, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Rory Best, 1 Marcus Horan.

Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 19 Shane Jennings, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Geordan Murphy, 22 Girvan Dempsey.