IRELAND’S TRAVELLING INTERNATIONAL Rules side are expecting a backlash this week.

The tourists take a commanding 44-point lead into the second Test on the Gold Coast on Friday, after last week’s demolition job in Melbourne.

But the noises coming from the hosts’ camp suggest that Ireland won’t have such an easy ride again.

“I think that was something we lacked last Friday, was some intensity, and … we’ll be working on that,” Angus Monfrie told reporters after the Australin squad’s first training session at Metricon earlier.

“We probably didn’t play to our strengths. That’s (physicality) our game week-to-week and they’re probably not used to it, but they beat us in that area so we’ve definitely got to improve that on Friday.

“We pride ourselves on being tough and winning those things, so to get beaten in it was disappointing.”

Sean Óg de Paor, one of the Irish panel’s backroom staff, insists however that a more robust approach is to be expected form the losing side.

“Look it, when you get beat 80-36 or whatever it was,  you have to fight back in some shape or form. We will certainly be expecting a phyical contest from them because their motivation levels are going to be fairly high,” he told Brian Carthy on Morning Ireland.

The Irish players go through their recovery session in the pool. (INPHO/James Crombie)

Meanwhile, manager Anthony Tohill is set to call upon All Star defender Karl Lacey if Emmet Bolton is unfit to play, according to RTE.

The Lilywhites man was concussed in the first Test in a clash with Mitch Robinson in Melbourne.

The side’s journey from their first host city was disrupted by the Quantas industrial action this weekend.

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