The Wallabies are under pressure to bounce back against Ireland and skipper Michael Hooper warns no player is safe from the selection axe under Michael Cheika.
Newly appointed coach Cheika faces the toughest task yet of his short reign when Australia meet Europe’s top-ranked team at Lansdowne Road on Saturday (Sunday 0330 AEDT).
Cheika’s appointment just a week before the tour was widely applauded but he’s come under some early scrutiny after last week’s disappointing 29-26 loss to France in Paris.
Australia have not lost back-to-back spring tour games in almost a decade and the coach has stepped up an already-intense training regime this week, with Hooper sporting a black eye suffered in “friendly fire” during a midweek session as proof.
Places in next week’s tour finale against England are likely to be on the line in Dublin and 23-year-old Hooper said Cheika’s appointment had put an end to any sense of selection complacency that might have previously existed within the squad.
“I guess a change that Cheiks has brought in is that no one’s spot is safe,” said Hooper.
“You have got to keep on your game or else your spot is up there for grabs.
“Everyone has got to be playing hard, training hard first of all and then, if you are doing that, it should relate to a good performance at the weekend.
“There is an abundance of guys over here and at home who will be putting up their hand up, not only in the next two weeks but come next year into the Super Rugby season and leading towards the World Cup.”
The Wallabies’ victory over Wales in Cardiff a fortnight ago remains their only win in five games, and Hooper admitted the side had a point to prove in Dublin.
Ireland leapfrogged Australia into third place in the world rankings courtesy of their 29-15 victory over South Africa a fortnight ago.
“For Ireland to get a win over (South Africa) is great for them and puts the pressure on us to get a win now,” Hooper said after Australia trained in cold, wet conditions at the match venue on Friday.
“They are number three in the world now, a spot that we’ve held for most of the year.
“We want to try to get that back but, to do that, you’ve got to go through these guys first.”
Cheika blamed the loss to France on silly errors and Hooper called for a greater sense of individual accountability within the team.
“It’s something we’ve been focusing on this week,” he said.
“If guys are getting themselves in the right position, they can take the ball without pressure and a cooler head.”
The Irish are one win away from completing their first sweep of November Tests since 2006 but remain wary of a side they still consider a rugby “superpower”.
“They have now had three games under (Michael Cheika) and appear to have gelled,” Ireland captain Paul O’Connell said of Australia.
“They’re in a very good place.”
AUSTRALIA vs IRELAND:
* Test match, Lansdowne Road, Dublin
* Saturday, November 22, 4.30pm (0330 AEDT Sunday)
* Head to head: Australia 21, Ireland 9, drawn 1
* Last meeting: Australia bt Ireland 32-15, Dublin, November 2013
*Odds: Ireland $1.72, Australia $2.10
Wallabies: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Henry Speight, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper (capt), Luke Jones, Rob Simmons, Sam Carter, Sekope Kepu, Saia Fainga’a, James Slipper. Res: James Hanson, Tetera Faulkner, Benn Robinson, Will Skelton, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale.
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Robbie Henshaw, Gordon D’Arcy, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jamie Heaslip, Rhys Ruddock, Peter O’Mahony; Paul O’Connell (capt), Devin Toner; Mike Ross, Rory Best, Jack McGrath. Res: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Rodney Ah You, Dave Foley, Tommy O’Donnell, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Felix Jones.
