Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is braced for a backlash from a wounded Wallabies side intent on taking the scalp of the world’s top-ranked team.
Australia run out at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday evening seeking to make amends for last weekend’s shock humiliation at the hands of Italy.
Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie has made sweeping changes to the team which started a chastening afternoon in Florence, recalling a host of regulars.
Farrell expects the alterations to create a “different vibe” and knows how dangerous the opposition can be due to their agonising one-point loss to Six Nations champions France a fortnight ago, which followed a narrow win in Scotland. “They have a couple of things to hang their hats on in regards to motivation,” said Farrell, whose side remain atop the global rankings. “But in reality 10 changes for them and they get the leaders back in the room, so there is a different vibe there from the start. “Those guys are the ones that took the field against Scotland and came so close to winning in Paris.