Williams backs Wallabies to end eight-year drought against Ireland in Sydney opener

Jeremy Williams has urged confidence in the Wallabies camp despite Australia carrying an eight-year winless run against Ireland into Saturday’s Nations Championship opener at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.

The second-rower’s message comes as the Wallabies sit eighth in the world rankings and prepare to face a side ranked in the top three, with Ireland’s last five meetings against Australia all ending in Irish victories. The most recent, in Dublin last November, saw Australian-born fullback Mack Hansen score a first-half hat-trick as Ireland won by 27 points to close out Australia’s 15-Test season.

“I don’t really think we care what people think or if people are underestimating us,” Williams told reporters in Sydney. “We’ve got full belief in our team and our system and we’ve got confidence in each other to go out there and do a job. We’ve shown that at training the last few days and we’re keen to go out there and do it come Saturday.”

Australia’s last win over Ireland dates to June 9, 2018 — a gap of more than 2,940 days. Since then, Ireland have risen to the top of the world rankings, claimed back-to-back Six Nations titles in 2023 and 2024, and established themselves as one of the northern hemisphere’s dominant forces.

The match is the opening fixture of the newly launched Nations Championship, a competition that brings together the Six Nations nations and the Rugby Championship sides — the Wallabies, Springboks, All Blacks and Los Pumas — alongside Fiji and Japan. Each southern hemisphere team will host three northern hemisphere opponents in July before a second block of fixtures in November, with standings determining seedings for an inaugural Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium.

Williams acknowledged the weight of the occasion. “We obviously know it’s really important to start well for this Nations Championship,” he said. “Ireland, they’re a quality side, top three in the world and have been really consistent over the past few years. We’ve had a really good training week… we’re really looking forward to getting out there and putting on a good performance on home soil.”

The match has already sold out, according to Rugby Australia, who confirmed the news on June 8. After Saturday’s clash, the Wallabies host France in Brisbane before travelling to Perth to face Italy, rounding out their Nations Championship schedule against England, Scotland and Wales later in the year.