Leigh Matthews, the Australian International Rules coach, yesterday hit out at the idea that Jim Stynes would switch sides to play for Ireland in Sunday's second and concluding test in Croke Park. Dublin-born Stynes played for Ireland in the previous series in Australia eight years ago but is committed to his adopted homeland this time.

The suggestion emerged in post-match comments by Ireland manager Colm O'Rourke after last Sunday's first test. On the UCD campus in Belfield, where the Australian panel had a training session on their return from a holiday break in Galway and Mayo, Matthews dismissed the matter.

"I thought that was stupid, thought it was ridiculous. No way it would have happened and if it had happened, I would have thought the people wouldn't have bothered turning up on Sunday. What kind of series do you have when your blokes change sides during the week.

"It would make a joke of it. That's my opinion. It didn't upset me. It was more, `You've got to be kidding'. I just couldn't understand the logic behind it."

The Australians have been emphasising team-bonding rather than preparation and Matthews described the sojourn in the west as the "holiday part" of the itinerary. Although the players ran and did stretching exercises each day, yesterday was their first session with the round ball since last weekend.

Captain Wayne Carey didn't take full part in the session and received physiotherapy. But the player dismissed any prospect of missing the match and assured reporters that he would be ready for action.

The series will be decided on aggregate scores and is evenly balanced, with the visitors leading by a single point after the first test.

Reflecting on the coming match, Matthews was upbeat, considering the injury difficulties facing O'Rourke and Ireland with two of the best players, John McDermott and Brian Stynes, looking doubtful.

"They seem to have lost some of their better players, which is good for us, I guess. I would have thought we would be better in the second game after the experience of the first game."

Last week the visiting coach expressed the view that International Rules was 80 or 90 per cent Gaelic football. Yesterday he re-iterated that view but expanded on the topic.

"Well, I think so but maybe Gaelic is 80 per cent Australian Rules. The round ball's the thing. Apart from the shape of the field, which is neither here nor there, just the fact that it's a round ball instead of the normal oval ball means it's a fair claim.

"I guess what we're trying to find is a balance between Gaelic football and Australian Rules. Something where there's enough in between that both sides have a genuine chance. Now I guess on the history of games, the game would seem to be providing the sort of objective we're looking for.

"I thought it was a tremendously enthralling game. About five minutes from the end when we were a bit behind, the thought did cross my mind, `Gee, this is some good entertainment'. And when you're managing a team, you're not really into the entertainment, you're just trying to win but I thought it ended up a very attractive code of football."

He was sceptical whether the Irish players could cope with the Aussie Rules football when asked whether such a departure would increase interest in the series in Australia.

"It might but I'm not sure how well the Irish could adapt to the oval ball in a matter of a couple of weeks. You could over a period of time but it would be difficult to do that."

Although he believes that the public interest back home isn't a lost cause, he also feels that the series caters for players and has merit regardless of public reaction - a view shared by his O'Rourke, who expressed the same opinion in his newspaper column at the weekend.

"The Australian public in our footie codes haven't been into representative football. They've enough trouble getting enthused for state versus state (where players play for their state of origin - a rough equivalent of the Railway Cup) so that's a long-term project but I think in some ways, although the public have to be interested in it to justify the expenditure, providing it can break even and isn't a great financial cost to either association, then think of the players.

"They get a chance to represent their countries at the highest level they can do. I think it's well worthwhile as long the public supports it sufficiently to make it pay for itself."