AUSTRALIAN coach Michael O'Loughlin has downplayed the early-morning incident that earned his players a dressing down from IRS team management, saying he's been on past international tours where players have behaved far worse.
Staff at the Australian team hotel in Ennis had to twice ask a small group of players to turn down their music at about 5am on Monday morning, after most of the players had returned from a nightclub in nearby Limerick.
The previous night, most of the Australians had partied long and hard in Cavan after their 22-point loss to Ireland in the first Test at Breffni Park.
"I've been on Australian tours where they've [done] a lot more than what we've done," O'Loughlin said after team training on Monday afternoon.
"It's one of those things. You're trying to get the group together as quickly as possible and you get them into those bonding sessions.
"But it's been far from a holiday."
O'Loughlin has not given up hope that Essendon ruckman Patrick Ryder will available for the second Test at Croke Park on Saturday night.
Ryder remains in Melbourne awaiting the imminent birth of his third child, but is understood to be extremely keen to get to Ireland if possible.
Ryder would be a key inclusion for the Australian team, which is without an obvious candidate to take the ruck contests after Lance Franklin flew back to Australia after the first Test.
O'Loughlin said he was prepared to keep a spot open for Ryder for another two days.
"We're prepared to sit for another 24-48 hours. We saw what Buddy can do on that limited time, so we're expecting Paddy to be around that stage as well and if we get him it will be fantastic," O'Loughlin said.
"We think he can offer a lot and that's why we're prepared to wait.
"Hopefully he gets over the line. If not, it's a fantastic challenge for this group."
O'Loughlin and his coaching team conducted a review of the first Test on Monday and he said some of the players would not want to watch their performances.
"Some guys would be very embarrassed about their efforts," he said.
"So we're trying to move on as quickly as possible, get them together and refocus because the last thing I want to do is get out there on Saturday and be embarrassed again."
O'Loughlin singled out his forwards, who he said had been lazy in their defensive efforts, and his midfielders, whose lack of accountability had allowed the Irish too many outlet passes.
However he said his team was a proud bunch and would bounce back in the second Test.
"If we go back to Australia and we come back as a team that didn't have a crack, I think certainly in our game that's a dirty word," O'Loughlin said.
"So you don't want to labelled as that."
