Australia hit Ireland for six in Antwerp: ‘They are world class'
Cole said: 'I think we struggled to keep up with the pace in the second half, and I think we went a little bit flat and into our shells which is never a good thing to do against Australia.
'They are a world class outfit, they have always been. I think everyone in this league is and that's the real challenge. Stringing performances together is where we need to improve.
'We have another chance tomorrow to bounce back. In an ideal world, if we don't bounce back, we get one good performance and back it up with another.
'That is the plan now, a big game tomorrow and then back it up with two good performances in our final games over the weekend.'
Jeremy Hayward opened the scoring for Australia only for Ireland to level before the end of the first quarter.
Johnny McKee stepped forward in the press to win the ball and release Banbridge's Peter Brown down the right flank. Brown weaved his way into the circle, offloaded to Ben Walker who found McKee free to flick into the top corner.
At the start of the second half, a stick tackle on Nathan Ephraums inside the circle resulted in a penalty stroke, which Blake Govers dispatched to restore Australia's lead.
Cooper Burns added a third at the start of the third quarter, before Connar Otterbach penalty corner deflected into the roof of the net for four. Jack Welch hit a fifth just before the end of the third quarter.
Blake Govers scored his second and Australia's sixth in the final quarter of the game.
The two teams will clash against in Antwerp on Wednesday afternoon. Ireland's FIH Pro League campaign will close this weekend with a double header against Spain.
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