The Irish will be looking to remain undefeated in 2018 when they head to Australia for three Tests this June.
Joe Schmidt and his lads in green will be looking to make it eight wins from eight games in 2018 when they take on Michael Cheika’s Wallabies in a three-match Test series. The hosts endured a horrid 2017 and will need a big showing in this series if they are to get the Australian rugby public back on board.
Fixtures
1st Test
Saturday 9 June
Suncorp Stadium
12:05
2nd Test
Saturday 16 June
AAMI Park
12:05
3rd Test
Saturday 23 June
Allianz Stadium
12:05
Australia
Things look slightly brighter for the Australians than they did this time last year, with their Super Rugby sides being slightly more competitive. They also have talismanic flanker David Pocock, who returned from his sabbatical at the start of the Super Rugby season, back among their ranks.
Speaking of loose forwards, the Wallabies got a massive boost this past weekend with Crusaders’ backrower, Pete Samu, being cleared to turn out for them. The dynamic backrower will bring some much-needed physicality to an Australian pack that was often dominated at the breakdown last season.
The Australians have also bolstered their backline stocks, with the mercurial Kurtley Beale making a return to the national side. Beale has impressed alongside fly-half Bernard Foley during the Waratahs Super Rugby campaign with the duo often rotating positions to great effect.
Australian Squad
Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Folau Fainga’a, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper, Sekope Kepu, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, David Pocock, Tom Robertson, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Izack Rodda, Caleb Timu, Lukhan Tui, Taniela Tupou, Jordan Uelese.
Backs
Tom Banks, Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, Jack Maddocks, Sefanaia Naivalu, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell, Curtis Rona.
Ireland
It has been a magnificent year for the Irish thus far. The men in from the Emerald Isle managed to bag a Grand Slam for only the second time since the tournament expanded to six teams. The Irish will now look to continue their all-conquering Six Nations showing by bagging a clean sweep against an Australian side in flux.
Joe Schmidt’s men have every chance of whitewashing the Australians ‘Down Under’. The Irish mentor has a very settled squad that has some of the most experienced players in the business. And while he will be without veteran hooker, Rory Best, he still has cool heads like Johnny Sexton and Robbie Henshaw to call upon.
There’s also some extremely promising young talent in this squad, with young guns Joey Carberry and Jacob Stockdale sure to give the Australians all sorts of problems.
Ireland Squad
Forwards
Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Dan Leavy, Jack McGrath, Jordi Murphy, Peter O’Mahony, Andrew Porter, Quinn Roux, James Ryan, John Ryan, CJ Stander, Devin Toner.
Backs
Bundee Aki, Ross Byrne, Joey Carbery, Andrew Conway, John Cooney, Keith Earls, Robbie Henshaw, Rob Kearney, Jordan Larmour, Kieran Marmion, Conor Murray, Garry Ringrose, Johnny Sexton, Jacob Stockdale
Verdict: Ireland 2-1
Ireland have taken a very settled squad to Australia and should be able to bag a series victory. But I don’t think they will be able to bag a clean sweep à la England in 2017.
Written by Darry Worthington for @Hollywoodbets.net
