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Quinlan and Fitzgerald ruled out
Luke Fitzgerald is ruled out by an ankle injury
Alan Quinlan and Luke Fitzgerald have both been ruled out of the Ireland team for Saturday's Test against Australia in Melbourne.
Quinlan (thigh) and Fitzgerald (ankle) missed Saturday's defeat by the All Blacks because of injury and they will not recover in time for this weekend.
Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris has already been called into the squad as cover for Quinlan.
No replacement is being sought by the Ireland management for Fitzgerald.
Meanwhile, new Australia coach Robbie Deans believes the Wallabies will have to play a highly physical game if they are to beat Ireland.
Deans said he had been impressed by the Irish during their 21-11 defeat by the All Blacks in Wellington.
"The thing that was really impressive was Ireland's contact work, their collision work," Deans said.
"They were very physical, and we anticipate that it will be very similar this week."
Deans said Australia would gain vital knowledge about the Irish from assistant coach Jim Williams, who recently joined the Wallabies from newly crowned European Cup champions Munster, where he was forwards coach.
Seven of the eight members of the Irish pack that played against New Zealand were from Munster.
"Jim has got a really important role," Deans said.
"He's overseeing the coming together of the pack (and) I guess he's got an insight into Munster.
"There's probably a bit of banter flying already between him and his Munster boys.
"When you've got a close relationship like that it always adds a bit of spice so both parties will be wanting to prevail.
"Jim will draw on his knowledge just as they will draw on their knowledge of Jim."
Meanwhile, Ireland giant Tony Buckley claims his team are hungry to pounce on an Australia side still yet to play a game under Deans.
Buckley, who came on as a replacement for Marcus Horan in the 61st minute in Wellington, said he and his team-mates were "gutted" after throwing away a golden opportunity to beat New Zealand.
"We came within 10 points of a New Zealand team that we could have beaten," the 27-year-old said.
"We should have been much closer. I felt we were unlucky on the night.
"We will be looking at capitalising on those situations against Australia.
"Everybody will be looking to fix their mistakes... to build on what they did last weekend."
Buckley added that Ireland "really have to win" in Telstra Dome in Melbourne on Saturday.
The Irish have not beaten the Wallabies on their home soil since 1979.
"We were confident of pushing New Zealand. The ball was in our court, we could have - and should have - won it but we didn't. Hopefully against Australia now we can win it."
Luke Fitzgerald is ruled out by an ankle injury
Alan Quinlan and Luke Fitzgerald have both been ruled out of the Ireland team for Saturday's Test against Australia in Melbourne.
Quinlan (thigh) and Fitzgerald (ankle) missed Saturday's defeat by the All Blacks because of injury and they will not recover in time for this weekend.
Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris has already been called into the squad as cover for Quinlan.
No replacement is being sought by the Ireland management for Fitzgerald.
Meanwhile, new Australia coach Robbie Deans believes the Wallabies will have to play a highly physical game if they are to beat Ireland.
Deans said he had been impressed by the Irish during their 21-11 defeat by the All Blacks in Wellington.
"The thing that was really impressive was Ireland's contact work, their collision work," Deans said.
"They were very physical, and we anticipate that it will be very similar this week."
Deans said Australia would gain vital knowledge about the Irish from assistant coach Jim Williams, who recently joined the Wallabies from newly crowned European Cup champions Munster, where he was forwards coach.
Seven of the eight members of the Irish pack that played against New Zealand were from Munster.
"Jim has got a really important role," Deans said.
"He's overseeing the coming together of the pack (and) I guess he's got an insight into Munster.
"There's probably a bit of banter flying already between him and his Munster boys.
"When you've got a close relationship like that it always adds a bit of spice so both parties will be wanting to prevail.
"Jim will draw on his knowledge just as they will draw on their knowledge of Jim."
Meanwhile, Ireland giant Tony Buckley claims his team are hungry to pounce on an Australia side still yet to play a game under Deans.
Buckley, who came on as a replacement for Marcus Horan in the 61st minute in Wellington, said he and his team-mates were "gutted" after throwing away a golden opportunity to beat New Zealand.
"We came within 10 points of a New Zealand team that we could have beaten," the 27-year-old said.
"We should have been much closer. I felt we were unlucky on the night.
"We will be looking at capitalising on those situations against Australia.
"Everybody will be looking to fix their mistakes... to build on what they did last weekend."
Buckley added that Ireland "really have to win" in Telstra Dome in Melbourne on Saturday.
The Irish have not beaten the Wallabies on their home soil since 1979.
"We were confident of pushing New Zealand. The ball was in our court, we could have - and should have - won it but we didn't. Hopefully against Australia now we can win it."
