The final instalment of the 2024 Autumn Nations Series sees former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt return to the Aviva and the Irish Rugby Football Union celebrate its 150th anniversary.
Schmidt, who guided Ireland to unprecedented success during his tenure from 2013 to 2019, faces an emotional reunion with the Dublin crowd as he attempts to upset the party in his new role with Australia.
Head to Head
Ireland and Australia have played each other on 37 occasions since their first meeting in 1927. The Wallabies historically have the upper hand winning 22 of these matches, while Ireland have won on 14 occasions (1D).
Recently the tide has turned with Ireland claiming the lion’s share of the victories, winning four out of the last five matches between these two sides. Three of these wins came with now Wallabies head coach Schmidt at the helm of the Irish side.
The last three fixtures between Ireland and Australia in Dublin have all been decided by a three-point margin, with Australia's last away win against Ireland in 2013.
Another Irish victory would equal their longest-ever winning run against Australia, which saw them win four games in a row between 1958 and 1968.
Recent Form
Andy Farrell’s Ireland come into this clash off the back of a mixed Autumn Nations Series. Ireland’s impressive 19-game winning streak at the Aviva Stadium was brought to an end by the All Blacks earlier this month. However, they have since bounced back with hard-fought victories against Argentina and a dominant performance over Fiji in recent weeks.
Their clash with the Pumas was a tense affair which Ireland narrowly edged 22-19 after Argentina knocked on in the dying moments deep in opposition territory. In contrast, Ireland hit their stride against Fiji on Saturday. Farrell, rotating his squad with seven changes, saw his side run in eight tries to secure a commanding 52-17 victory.
Ireland heads into this game, with their defence on top form, having conceded both the fewest defensive 22 entries per match (6.6) and the fewest points per entry (1.8) of any Tier1 team in 2024, while Australia may have some defensive concerns as they have conceded 11.4 entries per game, the most of any such side this year.
Australia began their November tour on a high note, raising hopes of replicating the historic Grand Slam success of 1984. Early wins against England and Wales brought them halfway to that goal, but a disappointing 27-13 defeat to Scotland on Sunday has halted their momentum. They now arrive in Dublin eager to bounce back against a formidable Irish side.
Team News
Tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong remains sidelined for Ireland after sustaining a hamstring injury during their training camp in Portugal, leaving him yet to feature in this series. Ryan Baird suffered a head injury in Ireland’s narrow victory over Argentina, and he is still unavailable for selection.
Farrell will have some concerns as backs Jamie Osborne and Jacob Stockdale were forced off during the victory over Fiji, nursing abductor and hamstring injuries respectively.
There are records to be broken for both Ireland and Australia, Cian Healy could make his 134th international appearance in this fixture, surpassing Brian O’Driscoll as Ireland’s most-capped player in men’s Test history; the only prop with more caps for a single nation is James Slipper, who could make his 143rd Wallabies appearance in this game and become the outright fourth most capped player of all time, surpassing Sergio Parisse (behind Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Whitelock and Richie McCaw).
For Australia, there is uncertainty surrounding rising star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who exited early with an injury during Sunday’s defeat at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, with what looked to be a hand injury sustained in a bone-crunching tackle with Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu.
Additionally, centre Samu Kerevi, serving a suspension following his red card against Wales, and former captain Will Skelton will be unavailable as this match falls outside World Rugby’s official international window.
