Australia looked totally lost and out of its depth in a record 36-point defeat by Ireland in the opening match of the International Rules series.

The game is supposed to be a compromise between Australian rules and Gaelic football but the tourists seemed to have no idea how to play as the Irish ran rings around them in the 3.17.8 (77) to 1.9.8 (41) win in front of a crowd of 46,370 at Dublin's Croke Park.

Australia, with only four All Australian players in the squad, now faces a huge task next weekend to win its third series in a row on aggregate points after suffering the biggest loss in the series' history.

The Australians could not cope with the skilled running angles of the home team as it swept upfield and when they had possession, could not control the round ball.

"They were too quick, too skilled and finished far better than us," said Australian coach Gary Lyon.

"They showed us up in every facet of the game.

"It's not embarrassment, but disappointment.

"What's really disappointing is that they were more physical than us."

Ireland raced to a 13-0 lead after seven minutes, vindicating Lyon's midweek warning that his players had a lot of defensive lessons to learn.

Nathan Brown finally put Australia on the board with one point after eight minutes but a hat trick of three-pointers in the first quarter to Dessie Dolan kept the Irish well in control.

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