Friday 21 November 2014 16:57, UK
Michael Hooper hopes Australia will rediscover their best form when they face Six Nations champions Ireland on Saturday.
Hooper is concerned by the Wallabies' consistency in recent months and is seeking a return to the quality of performance they showed in the win over Wales in Cardiff a fortnight ago.
Since their Millennium Stadium victory, Australia have been beaten 29-26 by France in Paris, and Hooper knows they face another tough challenge against an Irish side on a run of six successive Test victories.
"The Irish are confident and tough to beat," said Hooper.
"We have been up and down and basically inconsistent. We need to pick up again from where we left off against Wales.
"Last weekend we did put ourselves in with a chance of winning (against the French) but ultimately it was a disappointing result and performance.
"The Irish put in a really good performance against the 'Boks and that puts the pressure on us. Also they now have the third ranking in the world which we have held for most of this year so it would be nice to get that back."
Hooper feels Australia's players also have to be on their guard as he believes very few members of their squad can be absolutely assured of a starting place in Michael Cheika's World Cup XV quite yet.
"''Cheiks' has been really pushing us hard in training - it's really been that and then going to bed early has been the routine! Defeat last weekend was really tough to take both for the players and for him so this week that training has been extra intensive," Hooper added.
"You have got to keep on your game or else your spot is up there for grabs. Everyone has got to be playing hard, training hard first of all, and then if you are doing that it should relate to a good performance at the weekend.
"There is an abundance of back-row guys especially, for example, over here and at home who will all be putting up their hand, not only the next two weeks but come next year throughout the Super Rugby season and into the World Cup preparation.
"I got the black eye in training on Monday. It was friendly fire in a nice relaxed controlled drill and I ended up with a shiner. It was a complete accident but I guess it's an indication of how tough training has been."
Watch Ireland take on Australia live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Saturday - coverage from the Aviva Stadium begins at 4:00pm.
