Test rugby LIVE: Wallabies face Ireland searching for first win of spring tour

Good morning and welcome to the live blog of the Wallabies clash with Ireland in Dublin.

Hope you have a strong coffee at the ready, or a stiff Irish whiskey. It could get tense this morning.

Having lost to England and then Italy - shock horror - the Wallabies are wobbling, and in desperate need of a win. Heck, a good performance would suffice at this point.

The Wallabies haven’t lost four games in a row in Europe since 1968, and given their last two on tour are against heavyweights Ireland and France, the challenge to avoid that record is a steep one.

Australian coach Joe Schmidt has made plenty of changes in the hope of turning things around. James O’Connor and Len Ikitau return to the side, and so does Max Jorgensen, Rob Valetini and Allan Alaalatoa.

The Wallabies have actually done well in Dublin in their last few visits. Indeed, they’ve been desperately unlucky not to beat Ireland, who were ranked in the world top three at the time. In 2022, they went down 13-10 and were unluckily penalised near the end as they pushed for a winning try.

Last year, the Wallabies again fell by just three points at Aviva Stadium, 22-19.

Joe Schmidt knows the Irish game inside out, and he’ll come up against his former assistant - and recent Lions foe - Andy Farrell again this morning.

So is this the day? Can the Wallabies get it done this year? What do you think?

Here are all the details you’ll need for this clash.

The Wallabies have a handful of changes from the team who crashed to Italy last weekend.

Max Jorgensen is back from an illness, and Len Ikitau makes his return at no.12. James O’Connor also steps back into the no.10 jersey for the first time since the Wallabies played New Zealand at Eden Park.

Rob Valetini is back in the starting side, meaning Tom Hooper has shifted to lock and Nick Frost is on the bench. Allan Alaalatoa also starts at tighthead prop, with Taniela Tupou rested.

STARTING SIDES

Australia (15-1): Max Jorgensen; Filipo Daugunu Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; James O’Connor, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini; Tom Hooper, Jeremy Williams; Allan Alaalatoa, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell

Replacements: Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Zane Nonggorr, Nick Frost, Carlo Tizzano, Ryan Lonergan, Tane Edmed, Andrew Kellaway

Ireland (15-1): Mack Hansen; Tommy O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Conan, Caelan Doris (capt), Ryan Baird; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Paddy McCarthy

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Nick Timoney, Cian Prendergast, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Bundee Aki.

OFFICIALS

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Leal (RFU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FRPO: Dan Jones (RFU)

There have been a couple of cracking matches overnight already, and both added a bit of context to the Wallabies’ tour so far.

Italy were beaten by South Africa 32-14, but the Boks played with 14 men again for most of the game after Franco Mostert saw a permanent red card for a high shot in the 12th minute.

The Azzurri trailed by only one point in the second half before South Africa showed their class by pulling away near the end.

And in London, England pulled off a huge result by downing the All Blacks. They came from 12-0 down and ended up winning 33-19 - and that makes it 10 wins in a row for England.

Wales also accounted for Georgia 43-19.