Ireland v Australia: Five talking points for Dublin Test
By Tony Tighe
Last Updated: 26/11/16 5:05pm
Ireland and Australia meet for the 33rd time in Saturday's autumn international as Joe Schimdt's side attempt to sign off 2016 with a victory.
After starting November with a stunning win over the All Blacks in Chicago, Ireland will be determined to end on a winning note against a Wallabies side that remain on course for a northern hemisphere 'grand slam'.
Ireland have won two of their last three meetings with Australia, which includes that memorable World Cup win at Eden Park in 2011. Can they repeat the feat? Let's examine some key talking points…
The Best man
The hysteria that followed Ireland's bruising rematch with New Zealand has threatened to overshadow a fantastic milestone for one of Ireland's most consistent and committed players.
Skipper Rory Best wins his 100th cap on Saturday, becoming only the fifth Irish player to achieve the feat. The Ulsterman made his international bow against the All Blacks in 2005, coming off the bench to join brother Simon in the thick of the action, and it came as no surprise that he was handed the captaincy after the retirements of fellow centurions Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell.
Best has led Ireland to an historic win in Cape Town against the Springboks in June and a first-ever victory over the All Blacks earlier this month. He now has his sights set on becoming the first Ireland captain to beat the southern hemisphere's 'big three' in a calendar year.
"It would be a massive deal for me, not only with the 100th cap but also captaining the side," said Best about the possibility of a hat-trick of wins over the Tri-Nations.
"We've talked about building a squad and we had to rely on that in South Africa with key players missing. It's going to be the same this weekend.
"The World Cup probably hit it home for us. We had been reasonably lucky for a couple of years with no injuries. Then it all came at once and we weren't really prepared, whereas now we feel a lot more comfortable."
Ireland's walking wounded
The attritional nature of last Saturday's Test has left Ireland minus a number of key players for their final game of the year, and things could get even worse in the hours leading up to kick-off.
Sean O'Brien and Jared Payne could join Johnny Sexton and Robbie Henshaw on the sidelines after they sat out Friday's captain's run. Munster duo Peter O'Mahony and Rory Scannell are on standby.
Match fact
Australia are seeking their fourth successive victory, which would represent their best sequence since winning seven on the bounce to reach the final of last year's World Cup.
Andy Farrell says both O'Brien and Payne are carrying 'lower-limb tweaks' and is confident they will be fit to face the Wallabies, but Ireland will check on both players on the morning of the match.
O'Brien was outstanding against New Zealand, making a lung-busting 20 carries and winning three defensive turnovers, while Payne is the captain of Ireland's backline defence. Their absences would be sorely felt.
Ringrose takes centre stage
Garry Ringrose has been tipped to belie his inexperience and solve Ireland's midfield conundrum against the Wallabies.
Ringrose will make his first senior start at 12 when Ireland host the Wallabies at the Aviva Stadium, amid robust backing from head coach Joe Schmidt.
Centre partner Jared Payne also hailed Ringrose's rapid progress, and insisted the 21-year-old's lack of experience in his new role will not dent his performance in Dublin.
Ringrose was pressed into service at inside centre off the bench in last week's 21-9 New Zealand defeat - but head coach Schmidt has handed him the 12 shirt on merit amid a clutch of midfield injuries.
"In terms of experience Garry Ringrose doesn't need any of that," said Payne.
"You just tell him to do his thing and back himself, and he's a smart enough and good enough player to do that."
Ringrose deputised manfully at 12 against New Zealand after Robbie Henshaw was forced off with concussion and Schmidt says the 21-year-old has played his way into position for Ireland's final autumn Test.
"I thought Garry stepped in and did incredibly well against New Zealand," said Schmidt.
"He slipped a couple of tackles, got one line break and almost got another couple, and he was among our top tacklers. So it's another opportunity to invest in Garry.
"He's been in camp with us for a year and a half at different times, and he's been a bit of a long-term investment, that we want to take this opportunity to develop a bit further."
Wallabies at full strength
Having rested some of his big guns for Saturday's win over France, Michael Cheika has named his strongest side for what he says is Australia's 'biggest game' of their November tour.
Israel Folau and Michael Hooper headline six players who are restored to the starting XV after sitting out the 25-23 win in Paris, while the inclusion of Dean Mumm at blindside flanker means Cheika has stacked three locks into his side in a bid to combat Ireland's much-vaunted lineout.
Match fact
Ireland and Australia have met 32 times, with Australia victorious on 21 occasions, Ireland winning 10 and one draw.
"We want to focus a little bit more on our lineout this week and the threat that Ireland might pose there, they're very good in that area," said Cheika.
"Dean brings a lot of experience and quality in that area."
A switch in mood
Last week Ireland were manning battle stations in anticipation of a barrage from New Zealand. The Kiwis left Dublin with the win they demanded last weekend, and Australia rolled into town.
It was like old friends came home. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika lived for five years in Dublin, transforming Leinster into a European club champion. Skills coach Mick Byrne helped Leinster in the 2002-03 season. Lock Kane Douglas lasted less than a season at Leinster before he was recalled home last year for the Rugby World Cup, but left behind good memories, too.
Cheika said he's been seeing Irish friends in down time, and suggested if he can't catch them all up, then "I can always come back for holidays."
There's little of the tension in the air like last week also because the Wallabies, unlike the All Blacks, haven't lorded over the Irish for 111 years.
Ireland has beaten the Wallabies 10 times in 32 contests, including the last one in 2014, when Cheika had been Wallabies coach for less than a month.
Cheika's powers of persuasion have lifted the Wallabies again from the depths of the Rugby Championship to successive wins over Wales (32-8), Scotland (23-22), and France (25-23). They are halfway to a 'grand slam' of the home unions.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Garry Ringrose, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Jack McGrath, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Iain Henderson, 5 Devin Toner, 6 CJ Stander, 7 Sean O'Brien, 8 Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Simon Zebo.
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia; 1 Scott Sio, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Rory Arnold, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Dean Mumm, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 David Pocock.
Replacements (one to be omitted): Tolu Latu, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Kane Douglas, Lopeti Timani, Sean McMahon, Nick Phipps, Quade Cooper, Sefanaia Naivalu.
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