Australia v Ireland - Teams and Prediction

ROUND ONE PREVIEW: Skipper Harry Wilson has placed the onus squarely on his forwards to provide the platform for the Wallabies’ silky backs to produce the magic in a pivotal Nations Championship opener against Ireland.

After five losses from their last six Tests in 2025, culminating in a deflating and historic winless end-of-year tour of Europe, the Wallabies are desperate to open the year with a bang on Saturday.

Sydney’s Allianz Stadium is sold out, with the third-ranked Irish certain to enjoy massive support too, but Wilson knows it is critical for the Wallabies to win back wavering fans ahead of next year’s home Rugby World Cup.

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“We had a few ups and downs last year. We had a few really big wins and we didn’t have our best finish, so we really want to start this year with momentum,” Wilson said after Friday’s captain’s run.

“It’s so awesome to have all the support we’ve got behind us and we know it’s on us to work out the performances and to win Test matches for our country, especially in our own backyard here.

“There’s no better way to start against the No.3 Test team in the world. We know who we’re versing, we know how classy they are and I’m sure if we go out there and put a really good performance in, Australia will keep getting behind us.

“It’s all in our hands.”

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The time is now.

The inaugural Nations Championship campaign kicks off tomorrow 💥 pic.twitter.com/xYwTmRvV7z

— Wallabies (@wallabies) July 3, 2026

Far from the glory days when losing to anyone but the All Blacks and Springboks was humbling, the Wallabies have suffered five straight defeats to Ireland, stretching back to 2018.

Tellingly, the Wallabies have only averaged 1.6 tries and 17 points a game during that five-match losing streak.

Ireland have scored an average of a try more per match and more than 25 points in each of the past five Tests against Australia.

“If they suffocate you for long enough, they’re going to accumulate points,” said Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who took Ireland to the top of the rankings during his seven-year stint at the helm.

“And they do it so well. So, part of our plan is to keep playing against them. [Not] try to shut a game down too early again.”

Wilson accepts it is the responsibility of Australia’s forwards to win the physical battle to give the likes of attacking superstars Max Jorgensen and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii the room to ignite the Wallabies backline.

“We’ve got to win the collisions, our attacking breakdown [ball],” the No.8 said.

“They’ve got a lot of threats on the defensive side of the ball around the breakdown, so we’ve got to be on there. We’ve got to make sure we get quick ball and, ultimately, as a forward pack, we can create quick balls.

“We’ve got some incredible backs and it’s on us as forwards to make sure they get the right sort of ball, give our backs the opportunity to play some really good attacking footy.”

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A sea of Gold & Green awaits in Sydney 💛💚 pic.twitter.com/BzC6uhHhzm

— Wallabies (@wallabies) July 2, 2026

Meanwhile, Ireland coach Andy Farrell insists Australia can beat any team in world rugby.

Australia’s most recent defeat against the Irish was in Dublin last year when they were crushed 46-19.

It was among seven defeats from their last eight Tests, with the solitary victory a narrow win over Japan.

But Farrell, who boasts a power-packed squad for the game in Sydney despite missing a slew of injured players, is adamant that both teams were starting with a clean slate.

“I mean, they’ve got some superb rugby players,” said Farrell, who led the British and Irish Lions’ successful tour of Australia last year.

“You look at the centres and the edges that they’ve got, and the back row that they’ve got, and the people that they’ve come in off the bench, and the people that they’ve got out injured.

“You can see the capability of the side, and I read some reports this week that if they get it right, they can beat anyone in world rugby and I would agree with that.”

Players to watch:

For Australia: Fullback Jock Campbell is back in the starting line-up after a four-year exile and if he can carry the form he showed in Super Rugby over to the Test arena, then it could unlock another attacking weapon for the home side. Centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is a big man in the midfield, and there could be serious problems for Ireland’s defence if he can get his offload game going. Captain and No.8 Harry Wilson has been a stalwart for Australia in recent seasons, while prop Angus Bell will have a colossal scrum battle on his hands against Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong.

For Ireland: Wing Robert Baloucoune brings that guile and unpredictability that could’ve have been missing with James Lowe not there. There will always be a question mark around the flyhalf selection, and Sam Prendergast gets another chance to show his worth at Test level. In the pack, Jack Conan is a workhorse and someone who can help his team dictate momentum with ball in hand. Hooker Dan Sheehan is a gritty customer, and his exploits in open play can be disruptive for the Wallabies.

Prediction

Rugby365: Ireland by seven points.

Teams:

Australia: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Josh Canham, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lachie Shaw, 20 Tom Hooper, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Tom Wright.

Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jamie Osborne, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan (captain), 1 Tom O’Toole.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki

Date: Saturday, July 4
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 20.10 (11.10 IST; 10.10 GMT)
Expected weather: It will be clear and breezy with a temperature around 12°C
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

AAP, AFP & Rugby365