Macqueen is well satisfied

Rod Macqueen's assessment of Ireland's victory over the USA at Lansdowne Road contained the soft focus one would expect from the Australian coach prior to the impending clash between the two Pool E heavyweights at the same venue on Sunday. His counterpart Warren Gatland will be no less effusive in applauding the obvious quality of Australia.

Both men though will be more preoccupied, outside of press conference soundbites, with the composition and grooming of their respective sides for what promises to be a great occasion. Publicly they will allude to the strengths of the opposition, privately pinpointing weaknesses will be the priority.

The Australians returned to their Portmarnock base yesterday from Belfast, reasonably content with a professional demolition of Romania: one or two cobwebs but those will be easily swept away over the coming days. The immediate preoccupation is with the treatment table that, although not oversubscribed carries the weight of a couple of key individuals.

Blindside flanker Matt Cockbain, a late withdrawal from the Romania game with a thigh strain is expected to be fit but his progress will have to be monitored closely. Out-half Rod Kafer is carrying an ankle problem but it is anticipated that he will play. In reference to the number 10 jersey and on a more positive note, Stephen Larkham is available for selection.

The final straw in an injury ravaged season was a broken thumb but the cast has been removed and he should make the 22 if not the starting 15. Macqueen enthused: "A fully fit Larkham offers us more speed in that position but it is an important game and a big decision to bring him in." Joe Roff was also mentioned in despatches after his brace of tries against the Romanians. He will push strongly for a starting place. Questions drifted towards Ireland's performance against the USA and Macqueen offer this insight: "I was quite impressed with their performance against the USA. They are going to be a handful, they have a good all round game. Humphreys is a good handler and the outside centre (Brian O'Driscoll) is impressive.

"They have a solid front row and a good pack. Keith Wood gets around the field very well. We know that Ireland are always passionate at Lansdowne Road. They are going to try and expose some of the defensive lapses that we showed against the Romanians. I expect Ireland to be even better than the last day."

Australian prop Richard Harry singled out the Irish front row for special praise. "I think that the Irish pack is in the top three or four in the world. I would consider their scrum the best in the Five Nations." Harry expects a tough battle on Sunday but that is not to say that he won't relish the prospect of a good tussle in the tight.

Someone mentioned that the Irish can be a bit volatile but Harry dismissed the notion that things could boil over. "The game is too fast now. There are too many cameras for players to start messing around." The emphasis appears to be a low key approach, saving the confrontations for where they should take place . . . on the pitch come Sunday.