Ireland know only the best will do

Ireland have said that nothing less than 80 minutes of their best rugby will be enough to repress the attacking threat of Australia at Eden Park on Saturday.

In a match that will likely decide the winner of Pool C, the Irish know the form they displayed during their 22-10 win against USA will not be good enough against Australia, who impressed during their opening 32-6 victory over Italy.

"We know the enormity of the task but we believe we're up to that task," said Ireland backs coach Alan Gaffney.

"We also understand that we have to be at our very best."

In a small boost to the Irish cause, Australia coach Robbie Deans has been forced to make changes to the back line that took on Italy at North Harbour Stadium last Sunday.

Digby Ioane suffered a broken right thumb during the match and underwent surgery on Tuesday in the hope that he will be fit to play a role in the final stages of Rugby World Cup 2011.

With Ioane out, 21-year-old James O'Connor has been able to force his way back into the team and has been named on the right wing with the versatile Adam Ashley-Cooper shifting to the left wing to accommodate.

The only other change has come with Drew Mitchell taking his place on the bench after recovering from the dislocated ankle and the broken bone in his leg suffered in April.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney made four changes in the official team announcement on Wednesday with Sean O'Brien and Cian Healy returning to the pack, Eoin Reddan coming in at scrum half and Rob Kearney at full back.

After announcing their team Ireland were hit by late news of a calf injury to replacement hooker Jerry Flannery that has forced him out of RWC 2011. Sean Cronin will take Flannery's place on the bench at Eden Park.

Saturday's match will mark a memorable occasion for Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll and centre partner Gordon D'Arcy, who will set a new world record for a midfield partnership when they line up for their 45th test as Ireland's centre combination. The Leinster teammates will break the previous mark of 44 tests set by England's Jeremy Guscott and Will Carling.

Hard-fought history

While recent form would suggest the Wallabies should triumph in this match, Ireland pride themselves on a history of close-fought encounters with Australia.

Ireland have never beaten Australia at a Rugby World Cup in their four previous meetings but in 1991 and 2003 the Wallabies escaped with nail-biting one-point victories.

The two teams have traded results in recent Tests. A last-minute try from Brian O'Driscoll salvaged a 20-all draw when the sides met at Croke Park in 2009, while the Wallabies took the honours the last time they played - 22-15 at Suncorp Stadium last year.

However the result Ireland will be looking to recreate is the 21-6 victory at Lansdowne Road in 2006 - a result that still resounds with the team, according to captain O'Driscoll.

"The fact we have beaten Australia has helped us," he said.

"That it is in the back of their heads, the realisation that we have done it before. So it is remembering that formula of what it was that did it for us."

The formula is simple according to Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton:

""There's a level of confidence that on our day, when we play well, and when all cylinders are running smoothly, we can beat them."