O'Driscoll picks Aussies to take down All Blacks

Australia 37 Ireland 15

SYDNEY - Irish rugby captain Brian O'Driscoll has set the scene for a classic Bledisloe Cup test in Christchurch on July 13, stating he believes the Wallabies can beat the All Blacks.

"I think you just have to match New Zealand with muscle power, which the Aussies clearly can, and I'm sure they will be over to turn over the All Blacks," O'Driscoll said after the Wallabies beat his side in Perth.

The Wallabies had a dreadful season under coach Eddie Jones last year, but have impressed with their wins under his successor, John Connolly, against England and Ireland this winter.

Ireland lost twice to the All Blacks this month before playing Australia, but the margins against New Zealand were 11 and eight points, while against Australia it was 22.

"Those scorelines don't lie," said O'Driscoll. His comments may overlook the fact that many of the All Blacks did not line up for their Irish series, but they will give the Wallabies extra confidence heading into the first Bledisloe Cup test.

They also have to be tempered by the fact that he admitted the Irish tired badly in the final stages.

Before the test, he said Australia's backline was smarter than New Zealand's.

"The Aussie backline are probably a little smarter than New Zealand's. They tend to read the game extremely well and they work out early where they think they might exploit your frailties."

- NZPA