FINEGAN ANNOUNCES WALLABIES CLASH WITH IRELAND IN PERTH

Perth has been confirmed as the host of the Vodafone Wallabies’ first Test match in the 2003 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series, when they take on Ireland at Subiaco Oval on Saturday 7 June.

Wallaby flanker Owen Finegan, who boasts a strong Irish heritage, arrived in Perth today to make the St Patrick’s Day announcement.

The clash between Ireland and Australia will attract the attention of world rugby, with the game seen as an important barometer of form for the Rugby World Cup. The two teams will meet in Pool A of the World Cup later this year.

Ireland defeated Australia 18-9 in Dublin at the end of last year, so the Wallabies will be keen to settle the score in Perth.

Finegan said he rated Ireland in the top five rugby teams in the world.

“Ireland beat us fair and square last year and are currently on a nine-match winning streak after beating France in the Six Nations recently. They are now a good chance of challenging England for this year’s Six Nations title, so the Test in Perth will be a big clash,” Finegan said.

Finegan today said his family heritage made a Test against Ireland even more significant.

“Both my parents and my two brothers and two sisters were all born in Ireland. Although I was born in Australia, there is obviously a lot of Irish blood running through my veins,” Finegan said.

“Every time I have played a Test in Ireland I have been inundated with requests for tickets from my extended family. When we played Ireland at the 1999 Rugby World Cup and again in Dublin last year I had over 40 family and friends in the grandstands.

“The Irish people love their rugby and I expect every person in Perth who has a skerrick of Irish blood in them to be at Subiaco Oval on 7 June.

“If the Australian rugby fans turn up in force wearing gold like they have in past years, Subiaco should become a sea of gold with a good dose of emerald green.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 5 May and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster7 outlets, on 1300 136 122 or at www.ticketmaster7.com.

AUSTRALIAN WALLABIES RECORD AGAINST IRELAND
Played 21: Australia 14, Ireland 7.
Year Winner Score Venue
1927 Australia 5-3 Dublin
1947 Australia 16-3 Dublin
1958 Ireland 9-6 Dublin
1967 Ireland 15-8 Dublin
1967 Ireland 11-5 Sydney
1968 Ireland 10-3 Dublin
1976 Australia 20-10 Dublin
1979 Ireland 27-12 Brisbane
1979 Ireland 9-3 Sydney
1981 Australia 16-12 Dublin
1984 Australia 16-9 Dublin
1987 Australia 33-15 Sydney*
1991 Australia 19-18 Dublin*
1992 Australia 42-17 Dublin
1994 Australia 33-13 Brisbane
1994 Australia 32-18 Sydney
1996 Australia 22-12 Dublin
1999 Australia 46-10 Brisbane
1999 Australia 32-26 Perth
1999 Australia 23-3 Dublin*
2002 Ireland 18-9 Dublin
* denotes a Rugby World Cup match


IRELAND’S NINE GAME WINNING STREAK
8 Mar 2003 Ireland defeated France 15-12 Lansdowne Road, Dublin
22 Feb 2003 Ireland defeated Italy 37-13 Stadio Flaminio, Rome
16 Feb 2003 Ireland defeated Scotland 36-6 Murrayfield, Edinburgh
9 Nov 2002 Ireland defeated Australia 18-9 Lansdowne Road, Dublin
17 Nov 2002 Ireland defeated Fiji 64-17 Lansdowne Road, Dublin
23 Nov 2002 Ireland defeated Argentina 16-7 Lansdowne Road, Dublin
28 Sep 2002 Ireland defeated Georgia 63-14 Lansdowne Road, Dublin
21 Sep 2002 Ireland defeated Russia 35-3 Centralny Stadium, Krasnoyarsk
7 Sep 2002 Ireland defeated Romania 39-8 Thomond Park, Limerick


INTERNATIONAL RUGBY MATCHES IN PERTH IN 2003
Saturday 7 June Australia v Ireland Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series
Saturday 11 October South Africa v Uruguay Rugby World Cup 2003
Sunday 12 October England v Georgia Rugby World Cup 2003
Wednesday 15 October Samoa v Uruguay Rugby World Cup 2003
Saturday 18 October South Africa v England Rugby World Cup 2003
Sunday 19 October Georgia v Samoa Rugby World Cup 2003


AUSTRALIAN WALLABIES RECORD IN PERTH
Date Match Crowd
18 July 1998 South Africa 14 defeated Australia 13 38,079
19 June 1999 Australia 32 defeated Ireland 26 26,267
18 August 2001 Australia 14 drew with South Africa 14 42,658
15 June 2002 Australia 27 defeated NZ Maori 23 33,053