DUBLIN - Skipper Stirling Mortlock says the Wallabies will review their on-field conduct after another two Australian players were sin-binned during today's 21-6 rugby test loss to Ireland at Lansdowne Road.
Flanker Phil Waugh and replacement five-eighth Mat Rogers were sin-binned in the 53rd minute for fighting, taking
the tally of yellow cards for Wallabies on their European tour to seven in five matches.
Lock James Horwill has been a repeat offender, pinged for a rucking infringement against the Ospreys in Swansea and for a high tackle in Australia A's clash with Ireland A in Limerick.
Prop Guy Shepherdson also spent time in the bin in Swansea for stamping.
Hooker Brendan Cannon and winger Lote Tuqiri were banished against Italy in Rome for fighting before Waugh and Rogers were yellow carded at the same time today, leaving Australia with only 13 players on the field for 10 minutes midway through the second half.
Ireland were one man down after No.8 Denis Leamy was sin-binned for his scuffle with Waugh and Rogers was also asked to cool his heels for coming to the aid of his vice-captain.
"Waughie has a receeding hairline and seeing as though the guy was pulling his hair, Matty Rogers reacted pretty quickly to that," Mortlock explained.
South African Marius Jonker struggled to keep control with melees breaking out on three occasions and Mortlock admitted the Wallabies had a tendency to sometimes lose their cool.
He said his team needed to strike a balance between controlled aggression and outright ill-discpline.
"Test match footy sometimes, especially in these conditions, is ugly and it's pretty physical," Mortlock said.
"We're certainly as a team trying to be physical and aggressive but, at the same time, we don't want to lose our discipline.
"It's something we've got to look at and review. It's a matter of having the right level head to be able to be aggressive yet not ill-disciplined.
"It's a tightrope to walk but sometimes we do go overboard, but we'll look at that and review."
- AAP
