‘Big climb for any team’: Tom Wright on the Wallabies’ Ireland challenge

The Wallabies are under no illusions about the almighty rugby powerhouse threat that awaits them this weekend, but fullback Tom Wright is “chomping at the bit” as the men in gold look to snap a losing streak against world number three Ireland.

It’s been a fair while since the Wallabies last tasted victory in this matchup, with the Irish winning the last five meetings in a row. That streak dates back to 2018, with the Wallabies last defeating the Six Nations juggernaut 18-9 in Brisbane on June 9.

Former ACT Brumbies outside back Mack Hansen was the star of the show when these two sides faced off last November, with the Australian-born Ireland flyer changing the game with a first-half hat-trick in the 27-point triumph.

Ireland haven’t played on Australian soil since the three-Test series eight years ago, giving the likes of Wright and others the chance to experience a career-first at home, should coach Joe Schmidt select them for the Nations Championship opener.

Wright has played 43 Tests, but none of those have been against Ireland in front of a sea of gold Down Under. The 28-year-old fullback expects a “really challenging” Test at Allianz Stadium, but the Wallabies certainly seem eager to get their international season underway.

“The threat that they pose as number three in the world, whether they’re home or away is a pretty big climb for any team. But it’s nice that we get them on our home deck for once,” Wright told reporters in Sydney.

“I think the Super Rugby season that all the groups have had, we’ve all performed really strongly and I think they’re probably looking forward to coming out and seeing where they land for a home game for us too, which is exciting.

“We saw how much enthusiasm and how much of a spectacle the Lions Series was and they’re obviously a strong contingent in that Lions team we saw.

“We’re all chomping at the bit.”

This Test in front of a sold-out Allianz Stadium crowd takes place in the opening week of the all-new Nations Championship, which pits the 12 best men’s teams from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres against one another.

Australia host Ireland in Sydney, Six Nations champions France at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium and Italy out west at HBF Park during the July international window. They will then round out their Nations Championship up north this November.

The six Southern Hemisphere sides will take on the Six Nations teams once, which determines the rankings ahead of the Finals Weekend at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium. These six matches will be played across three days of double headers.

“If I put my spectator hat on, I speak for my family for instance who can now follow the calendar season a lot mor easily. There’s something to refer to after a weekend or two weekends of games, you can see who’s sitting in which slot,” Wright said.

“By the end of the calendar season… you’re sort of playing for a little bit more maybe. I know since I’ve come into the Wallabies, you play each block for what it is and you don’t get to piece them together as nicely.

“We play for each other but for the people that watch us, it’s really important that they can follow which is nice.”