Scrum of the Earth /

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.