Ireland assistant coach Simon Easterby feels the players must be ready to face an Australia side looking to “lay down a bit of a marker” for the World Cup when they kick off their Nations Championship campaign in Sydney.
Andy Farrell’s 36-strong squad – which has three uncapped players, with Dan Sheehan set to stand in as captain – face the Wallabies on Saturday looking to push on again following a promising Guinness Six Nations campaign where they finished second behind France.
With Australia building towards a home World Cup in 2027, Easterby is anticipating a stern test from a team out to make a response following a 46-19 defeat in Dublin during November.
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“(They are) a physical team who will look to try and impose themselves on the opposition, something that we were well aware of, and their threats in attack, their ability to attack in a way that can create opportunities. Those are the things that we have spoken about in a bit of detail,” Easterby said at a press conference.
“(We are) just expecting a side who have probably got a chance to go and lay down a bit of a marker leading into a World Cup year, playing at home for the first time in a while, so it is exciting for us to be here in the first game.”
Uncapped Connacht trio Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Sean Jansen have all been included in the 36-player squad, which will also have games against Japan at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle and then New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland on July 18.
Ireland Caelan Doris, who has a foot injury, is one of several players who have to sit out the tour, including the likes of fly-half Jack Crowley, prop Andrew Porter as well as wingers Mack Hansen and Tommy O’Brien.
Leinster hooker Sheehan will skipper the squad during the tour and Easterby feels the initial signs in the camp have been positive.
“Sometimes players miss out for whatever reason, through injury or non-selection, and you get the opportunity to work with other players, and they have all slotted in really well,” Easterby said.
“It is testament to the group that we have not had anyone drop out in training. They have worked hard, and I can say they have hit the ground running.
“It is going to be an interesting few weeks in terms of selection, because some of the more experienced players are training well, but also some of the younger guys have made the mark as well.”