‘All in our hands’: Wallabies vow to take it to Ireland

Darren Walton | July 3, 2026

Skipper Harry Wilson has placed the onus squarely on his forwards to provide the platform for the Wallabies’ silky backs to produce the magic in a pivotal Nations Championship opener against Ireland.

After five losses from their last six Tests in 2025, culminating in a deflating and historic winless spring tour of Europe, the Wallabies are desperate to open the year with a bang on Saturday night.

Sydney’s Allianz Stadium is sold out, with the third-ranked Irish certain to enjoy massive support too, but Wilson knows it is critical for the Wallabies to win back wavering fans ahead of next year’s home Rugby World Cup.

“We had a few ups and downs last year. We had a few really big wins and we didn’t have our best finish, so we really want to start this year with momentum,” Wilson said after Friday’s captain’s run.

“It’s so awesome to have all the support we’ve got behind us and we know it’s on us to work out the performances and to win Test matches for our country, especially in our own backyard here.

“There’s no better way to start against the No.3 Test team in the world. We know who we’re versing, we know how classy they are and I’m sure if we go out there and put a really good performance in, Australia will keep getting behind us.

“It’s all in our hands.”

Far from the glory days when losing to anyone but the All Blacks and Springboks was humbling, the Wallabies have suffered five straight defeats to Ireland stretching back to 2018.

Tellingly, the Wallabies have only averaged 1.6 tries and 17 points a game during that five-match losing streak.

Ireland have scored an average of a try more per match and more than 25 points in each of the past five Tests against Australia.

“If they suffocate you for long enough, they’re going to accumulate points,” said Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who took Ireland to the top of the rankings during his seven-year stint at the helm.

“And they do it so well. So part of our plan is to keep playing against them. (Not) try to shut a game down too early again.”

Wilson accepts it is the responsibility of Australia’s forwards to win the physical battle to give the likes of attacking superstars Max Jorgensen and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii the room to ignite the Wallabies backline.

“We’ve got to win the collisions, our attacking breakdown (ball),” the No.8 said.

“They’ve got a lot of threats on the defensive side of the ball around the breakdown, so we’ve got to be on there. We’ve got to make sure we get quick ball and, ultimately as a forward pack, we can create quick balls.

“We’ve got some incredible backs and it’s on us as a forwards to make sure they get the right sort of ball, give our backs the opportunity to play some really good attacking footy.”

The Wallabies also hope to feed off the home support as a wave of patriotic fever sweeps the country during a huge month of sport around the globe.

“We love it. You see what the support for the Socceroos has been over the last few weeks,” Wilson said.

“It’s the whole country getting behind it. Everyone just going to pubs and watching it, and it’s a really cool time when you see your whole nation get behind the sport.

“It’s a really big day of sport tomorrow in Australia. You’ve got the Socceroos, you’ve got the Demon (Alex de Minaur) at Wimbledon, and then with us.

“It’s an exciting day for Australian sport and hopefully it’s a really good day.”