What Wallabies captain Harry Wilson makes of Ireland’s backrow trio

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson has highlighted the importance of winning collisions at attacking breakdowns before facing Ireland this weekend, as the forward pack look to lay down a marker by creating quick ball for the backs.

Wilson leads a forward pack that boasts 313 Test caps of experience, including more than 135 appearances between the three loose forwards. Ireland coach Andy Farrell has named an experienced coach as well, with four players beyond the 50-Test mark.

The battle of the loose forwards stands out as a positional duel to watch on Saturday evening in Sydney, with two British & Irish Lions named to start. Jack Conan started all three Lions Series Tests about 12 months ago and Josh van der Flier was part of the touring squad.

Those two will be joined by Connacht’s Cian Prendergast, with the 10-Test backrower selected at blindside flanker. Prendergast will pack down at scrum time opposite Rob Valetini, who joins Fraser McReight and Wilson in the Wallabies loose forwards.

“It’s a really good backrow there. Obviously we versed van der Flier and Conan last year in the British & Irish Lions and we know what sort of players they are,” Wilson told reporters at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.

“Prendergast, we haven’t seen too much of him compared to the other two but we’ve done our research and he’s quite an abrasive player.

“It’s a really good challenge and something we’re really looking forward to.”

Valetini is a two-time John Eales Medallist, which is awarded to the Wallabies Player of the Year, and is coming off a strong Super Rugby Pacific season with the ACT Brumbies. ‘Bobby V’ lines up on one flank, with Queensland Reds skipper Fraser McReight on the other.

The starting No. 8 is Wilson, who was named in the World Rugby Dream Team after Australia’s mammoth 15-Test international season in 2025. All three have played at least 36 Tests in Wallaby gold, with Valetini the most experienced with 62 appearances.

Tom Hooper, who was named the Player of the Match in the third Lions Series match last August in Sydney, will provide impact off the bench. Hooper has returned home to Australia after a season with England Premiership runners-up Exeter Chiefs.

“The training sessions, everyone’s always competing hard and that’s what you want,” Wilson said.

“Everyone gets along so well in the squad and that’s what creates that nice environment against each other.

“Us four have the opportunity to go out there tomorrow night and we really want to start the year well.”

Ireland finished second in the 2026 Six Nations with a 4-1 record, missing out on the top prize to France. The Irish have now made their way Down Under for the first time in almost 10 years, having not played on Australian soil since 2018.

The Wallabies defeated Ireland in the first of three Tests that year, before the visitors bounced back with wins in Melbourne and Sydney. Ireland have won the last five meetings between the sides, including a 46-19 triumph in Dublin last November.

“We’ve definitely seen a bit of change. Obviously the Six Nations is a hell of a competition and we’ve made sure to have a look through them all.

“The nice thing about the first Test match of the year, the coaches have had the last four or five months on them, seeing ways for us to go about our game this weekend against them.

“We feel like we’ve got a good plan and now it’s on us to go out there and execute it against them.”