The tests will be played in a 'good spirit', says Anthony Tohill.

Ireland manager Anthony Tohill and Australian boss Rodney Eade have ruled out a return to the violent scenes that marred previous international rules series ahead of the start of the 2011 installment

Tomorrow’s test is not being broadcast live anywhere in Australia, showing on a delay in Melbourne (one hour), Adelaide (90 minutes), Perth (four hours), Sydney (one hour) and Brisbane (two hours). The final test will be broadcast live in Sydney and Melbourne.

The managers and captains of both nations got together for a press conference at Etihad stadium ahead of their match on Friday night.

However, Irish skipper Stephen Cluxton was missing as he continued his media block-out. Vice-captain Ciaran McKeever represented the Irish team instead.

“I think it has to be played in that (good) spirit if it’s going to have a future,” Tohill said.

“We’re very mindful of our responsibilities to the future of the game and the people that come behind us, the coaches and the players that have come behind us so that they have the opportunity to play for their country. It’s too big a thing to be stuffed up by someone misbehaving on a football pitch and players all know the boundaries.

“They know what’s acceptable on a football pitch and what isn’t and certainly we’re very aware of our responsibilities. If you look at the way the series was played last year, it was played in a very sporting and hard way. There were no outbursts of violence like in the past. We don’t want to see that and if that returns the game will have no future. We’re expecting the games to be hard but we’re expecting them to be fair.”

Tohill’s Australian counterpart Rodney Eade (left) agreed.

“I think the game, since it happened (in previous series), has been played in a good spirit. Both teams are passionate about their countries and they both want to win. They’ll be going hard at it and it will be very competitive but I think it will be played in the spirit of what we want and (continuing) a good relationship between the two countries.”

Tohill denied that last year’s series had gone to the other end of the spectrum and become sanitised.

“I wouldn’t accept that no. If you were out on the pitch and as Brad (Green) who played in those games and Ciaran (McKeever) who played in them are aware of the intensity they were played at. Just because there was no dust ups if you like. There were physical confrontations in those games that are very demanding on the body, that’s real physical confrontation, not aggression and not violence … it was played in a very sporting way and fantastic to watch.”