Australia's rookies to tackle Ireland

Eddie Jones always said he was going to experiment for these autumn internationals but it is doubtful that the Australian coach ever had the line-up in mind that he was forced to name yesterday. On the face of it, this was not experimentation but full-blown revolution that Jones was declaring with his team to face Ireland tomorrow.

Six name changes, eight role changes, with some of the players turning out in positions they cannot remember how to spell never mind be conversant with. But if the Wallabies do insist on travelling halfway around the world for Tests with Ireland, England and Italy and first make a stop-off in that haven of relaxation called Argentina for a meeting with that saintly band of well-wishers known as the Pumas then what do they expect?

With Ben Tune already safely home, with Mat Rogers, David Lyons and Jeremy Paul all strapped in on the travelling treatment table and with athletes such as Justin Harrison, Bill Young and Dan Vickerman all buckling under the weight of such a punishing itinerary, it was a wonder that Jones could field any sort of team at all. That he could is testament to the ball-playing skills of those such as Matt Burke, moving from centre to full-back, Stirling Mortlock, from wing to centre, and Owen Finnegan, from flanker to lock.

The injuries will also allow Lansdowne Road the dubious pleasure of seeing Wendell Sailor, the man-mountain wing who is starting his third Test since swapping over from league a year ago. In the presence of such might, the crowd will be ruing the absence of their talismanic hooker, Keith Wood, who would have licked his lips at the prospect of facing Adam Freier, the 22-year-old hooker making his run-on debut for his country.

The Australian bench is just as inexperienced, for on it will sit young Matt Giteau, who has never even played senior rugby. The 20-year-old outside-half has been a revelation with the Brisbane club side Canberra as well as Australia Under-21 and Jones may yet have to give him a try before he starts in the Super 12s with ACT Brumbies. "Mmm, interesting," the coach admitted when quizzed over the selection. "It's exciting for us. We want to develop the squad so that by the end of the tour we have an idea of where players are placed in terms of Test rugby. And we do endorse the philosophy of a squad of 22 very strongly.

"We have had to field some fresh legs. But believe us, we are not taking Ireland lightly." They would do so at their peril, as not only have Ireland never been better prepared for an autumn international but yesterday the fleet-footed Denis Hickie declared himself fit. The Leinster wing's recovery from a wrist injury means a place in the replacements for Munster's John Kelly, in which he will be joined by his team-mate, Marcus Horan, who is filling in for the Lions prop Paul Wallace, out with an ankle injury.

AUSTRALIA (v Ireland, Lansdowne Road, tomorrow): M Burke; W Sailor, S Mortlock, D Herbert, S Staniforth; S Larkham, G Gregan (capt); T Kefu, G Smith, M Cockbain, D Giffin, O Finegan, P Noriega, A Freier, N Stiles. Replacements: B Cannon, B Darwin, J Harrison, D Croft, C Whitaker, E Flatley, M Giteau.