THE Ireland team for the Compromise Rules test with Australia left these shores on Saturday, en route to next weekend’s opening game in Perth.

A week later they will meet up with the Irish rugby team ahead of the second game of the series in Sydney, to be played just 24 hours before the two nations meet in the Rugby World Cup.

And therein lies a fascinating bar-room debate for anyone with nothing better than David Blaine’s latest nonsense to discuss in the coming days.

The subject was one brought up by Ireland rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll just days before his team headed down under for a tournament that is going according to plan for the Irish so far, with two wins out of two.

He was asked about meeting the GAA players and revealed his admiration for players who can give their all in Croke Park on a Sunday, then turn up for work on a Monday morning.

“I’m barely able to think about training until the Tuesday after a game but these guys drive home the night of a match and go to work the next day. They are phenomenal,” admitted O’Driscoll.

He went on to discuss the prospects of trying out some of the best GAA and hurling players in the sport of rugby.

So imagine an Irish team with the likes of D.J. Carey at scrum-half, Trevor Giles at out-half, Seamus Moynihan at full-back, Peter Canavan on the wing and maybe Ja Fallon in the second row.

Better still, imagine a Dublin GAA team with Malcolm O’Kelly at full-forward and Brian O’Driscoll at midfield.

It’s a great topic to discuss over a few beers or two. We did so the other night here in Dunshaughlin – and they all wanted to see Mick Lyons in the front row of a rugby scrum. Wonder why!