Farrell flattery primes Ireland for Australia clash

Ireland coach Andy Farrell insists Australia can beat any team in world rugby, but the Wallabies' recent history points to an uphill task in their Nations Championship opener on Saturday.

Australia have lost their last five encounters with the Irish dating back to 2018, most recently 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 boosts a powered-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."

Despite the flattery, Ireland take a physical and competitive advantage into the game, having played a thrilling Six Nations tournament this year, finishing runners-up to France.

In contrast, Australia line up for their first Test since a 48-33 defeat to France in Paris in November, which capped an awful Spring Tour that also saw them beaten by Italy and England.

Australia's Joe Schmidt, in his swansong month as head coach before handing the reins to Les Kiss, is optimistic his side is making progress.

He said lessons were learned from last year's loss in Dublin, where they collapsed under a late onslaught after trailing just 19-14 at half-time.

- Suffocate you -

"They are a team that can suffocate you so well, and if they suffocate you for long enough, they're going to accumulate points, and they do it so well," he said of Ireland, a team he used to coach.

"So part of our plan is to keep playing against them, you know.

"You can never guarantee results because A, you're playing such a good team and B, there are so many uncontrollable factors in the game," he added.

"All you can do is try to really control what you can as best you can and keep building on that."

It is a huge challenge for the Wallabies who are banking on a fullback -- Jock Campbell -- who has not played a Test since 2022 and an untested halves combination in Carter Gordon and Ryan Lonergan.

But they have a muscular pack with a top class backrow led by captain Harry Wilson alongside flankers Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight.

The front row is anchored by the experienced Allan Alaalatoa while Angus Bell returns from a sabbatical in Belfast to start at loosehead prop against a number of his Ulster teammates.

They face an Ireland team packed with 11 Leinster players and Sam Prendergast pulling the strings as playmaker alongside experienced scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park.

Australia are expected to come under an aerial barrage from the pair with Farrell picking the lanky Robert Baloucoune and Jamie Osborne as his wings to challenge the high kicks.

In the pack, Tom O'Toole, captain Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong make up the front row, with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan in the second row. 

Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan comprise the back row.

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