Players to Watch: Australia v Ireland

Players to Watch: Australia v Ireland

Both Joe Schmidt and Michael Cheika have named exciting teams for the test first in Brisbane tomorrow with a few players looking to prove themselves on the test stage.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa

The Reds hooker will make his test debut in the starting lineup and will be up against a strong Irish front row.

The 22-year-old has got experienced heads on either side of him with Sio and Kepu boasting over 110 test caps combined.


Paenga-Amosa is a strong ball carrier and will put in a number of thumping hits.

Peter O'Mahony 


O'Mahony will lead Ireland against Australia in the absence of regular skipper Rory Best through injury on the summer tour. 

The Munster flanker will is solid in all departments but his work at the lineout will put the Wallabies under tremendous pressure.

He has a knack for stealing lineouts at crucial times and will also bring a lot of physicality to the clash combined with a ferocious ability to turnover ball at the breakdown.

David Pocock

Pocock returned to Australia earlier this year after his sabbatical and stint in Japan and has been in exceptional form for a struggling Brumbies side.

Joe Schmidt's side will be well aware of Pocock's threat at the breakdown and will look to nullify his influence throughout the game. 

Pocock and Timu's work in close will also allow Hooper to have a bigger impact in the wider channels.

The return of 'Pooper' will be a real threat to Ireland with Pocock and Hooper boasting 230 Super Rugby caps and 145 tests between them.

Joey Carbery 

The Munster-bound flyhalf will be under the spotlight against the Wallabies as he gets a rare start with Johnny Sexton taking an unfamiliar place on the bench.

Carbery has great distribution and an exceptional turn of pace that could open up holes in the Wallabies defence. 

Israel Folau

The Waratahs fullback set a Wallabies test record for the most tries in a calendar year (12 in 10 matches) before he took a short sabbatical in 2017.

He has continued that kind of form during the 2018 Super Rugby season scoring 7 tries in 10 games for the Waratahs.

The 29-year-old is one of the best players in the air in test rugby which will help the Wallabies defuse Ireland's tactical kicking game.

Jacob Stockdale

The Wallabies will be warned that they could be standing under the poles with a single loose pass to Stockdale's side of the field.

The 21-year-old set a Six Nations try-scoring record earlier this year scoring braces against Italy, Wales and Scotland.

Stockdale has a keen eye for an intercept, is good in the air and has blistering speed making him one of Ireland's best-attacking weapons.

'The Irish Jonah Lomu' is how the Ulsterman is being acknowledged down under - not a bad comparison for the young winger!

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