Australia `A' coach Eddie Jones has upped the ante ahead of this morning's match with the Lions (10.30 a.m., Sky Sports) by claiming that the tourists are setting out to intimidate opposing teams and target opposition players.
Lions manager Donal Lenihan has rejected the accusations. "We've watched the video (of the Queensland game) a number of times and how we can be accused of starting the problems is beyond me. We certainly weren't the aggressors in any way," said Lenihan, who laughed at the notion that his players targeted opposing players.
"At no stage have we ever mentioned taking out Australians or creating difficulties at the start of the game. You have to wonder why all these comments are coming out at this stage of the tour, perhaps to influence the neutral referees, I don't know, but it seems very strange."
Lawrence Dallaglio, Jason Leonard, Austin Healy and Mike Catt make their first starts today. Hitherto hampered by a calf strain, Catt admitted: "I didn't really have any rugby to occupy my mind, so I was probably thinking of the worst outcome."
Malcolm O'Kelly is Ireland's sole starter, while Ronan O'Gara and Jeremy Davidson are on the replacements' bench.
Australia `A' have been in camp for 12 days, and this despite having 10 New South Wales players, which suggests this game takes precedence over the NSW Waratahs' game against the Lions on Saturday.
"I think it's going to be the toughest game on tour outside the Test matches," said coach Graham Henry.
LIONS v AUSTRALIA A (10.30 a.m. Irish time)
LIONS: M Perry (England); B Cohen (England), W Greenwood (England), M Catt (England), J Robinson (England); N Jenkins (Wales), A Healey (England); J Leonard (England), R McBryde (Wales), D Young (capt), S Murray (Scotland), M O'Kelly (Ireland), L Dallaglio (England), S Quinnell (Wales), M Williams (Wales). Replacements: D Morris (Wales), G Bulloch (Scotland), J Davidson (Ireland), C Charvis (Wales), M Dawson (England), R O'Gara (Ireland), M Taylor (Wales).
AUSTRALIA A: R Graham (Queensland); M Bartholomeusz (ACT), G Bond (ACT), N Grey (NSW), S Staniforth (NSW); M Edmonds (NSW), C Whitaker (NSW); C Blades (NSW), B Cannon (NSW), R Moore (NSW), T Bowman (NSW), J Harrison (ACT), D Lyons (NSW), J Williams (ACT), P Waugh (NSW, capt).
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand).
