Ireland provides the perfect opportunity for the Wallabies to win back the respect they desperately crave ahead of the Lions tour, not just in Europe, but back home in Australia. The reigning Six Nations champions have invited the Wallabies to Dublin as opponents for their 150th anniversary, but the warm welcome will stop by match day.
The gradual evolution of the Wallabies into a confident attacking side after the disaster of the 2023 World Cup has been admired in Ireland, but the true test will be how they can perform against the strongest of the home nations.
Canberra-born Mack Hansen in action for Ireland against Fiji.Credit: Getty Images
Ireland have not quite been themselves in November. They lost to New Zealand and just sneaked home against Argentina by three points. Their most recent 35-point win against Fiji was emphatic, but there are question marks on what is their strongest side.
The incumbent five-eighth Jack Crowley is facing a considerable challenge from Sam Prendergast after years of stability under the retired Jonathan Sexton. The Wallabies had little opportunity to attack with the ball in hand against Scotland and must do this in Dublin in the expected milder conditions.
Across the Ireland team, there are potential match-ups for the Wallabies against potential Lions tourists. Angus Bell, normally a world-class operator, has had two poor games against Wales and Scotland by his lofty standards and knows that Ireland’s tighthead Tadhg Furlong is almost guaranteed to start for the Lions Test side. If Bell can match or even beat Furlong in the scrum, the Wallabies can take considerable confidence ahead of next year’s series.
Ironing out the Wallabies’ creases
In Ireland, Schmidt is still revered as a coach who transformed Ireland’s fortunes through work ethic, detail and discipline. Similarly, the Wallabies have spoken about the coach’s ability to ensure that each squad member is across the minutiae of their role in attack and defence.
After a strong opening quarter against Scotland, when the Wallabies took a direct route into the Scottish defence, the famed Schmidt attention to detail was neglected by his team. Tackles were missed all over Murrayfield: 34 in total, the second-most since 35 in their 28-31 defeat against New Zealand in Sydney.
Discipline was also a disaster, with 14 penalties conceded, with the Wallabies struggling to get to grips with Ireland’s Chris Busby, particularly at the breakdown. Against Ireland, Australia can easily address this and not make life any harder for themselves than it already will be.
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The Wallabies will also likely welcome back Fraser McReight who will go up against one of the best back rows in the world, in Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne and Caelan Doris.
McReight’s absence was brutally exposed against Scotland, with breakaway Jamie Ritchie beating his replacement Carlo Tizzano to the ball at the breakdown. Already gaining a reputation as a world-class player, McReight can lift to another level if he can match this Irish unit in Dublin. McReight and his teammates will not be short of motivation.
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